Substantive & Line Editing

FOR YOUR MEMOIR
You have completed the first, or maybe the second or third, draft of your memoir. You have tinkered with your own words for so long that you can no longer tell what reads well and what doesn't. You need an outside reader--but not just any reader. Someone attuned to both the elements of story and the power of prose.

The elements of story:
  • Does the story captivate readers from beginning to end?
  • Does the dialogue sound real and develop the characters?
  • Are dramatic events shown in scenes?
  • Are shifts in time handled smoothly?
  • Does the description draw on the senses?
  • Is the voice authentic?

The power of prose:
  • Are images and metaphors fresh and original?
  • Does the rhythm, length, and variety of sentences reinforce the meaning?
  • Are modifiers in the right place?
  • Are adjectives and adverbs used judiciously?
  • Could the prose be more concise?
  • Are the word choices precise?​

​​I edit with both a logical mind and a poetic mind.  I am attuned to the meaning and the music of language—the sound and rhythm of your words and sentences. The edited manuscript will sound just like you. It will sing!​

FOR YOUR NONFICTION BOOK

You have written a nonfiction book on a subject you care about. You are reasonably satisfied with the structure, but you want to ensure that your argument is persuasive, your paragraphs cohesive, your sentences well constructed, and your words well chosen. 

A substantive and line edit ensures that your book is not only informative but enjoyable for readers. 

​What do you get?

  • An editorial letter addressing any remaining "big picture" issues and summarizing the line edit.
  • Comments and queries in the margins. I flag specific passages that need attention and make suggestions for revision. But any significant rewriting should be done by you, because this is your book.
  • Support. I'll communicate with you in whatever way works best: email, phone, Zoom/Skype, or in person.
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A line edit examines every paragraph and sentence—every branch of the tree.
Writing a memoir is an emotional journey that is both personal and daunting. I was fortunate to work with Ellie on mine. I was dealing with someone who not only did a wonderful job on the structural and stylistic editing, but also understood my feelings and thoughts. She sensed what I wanted to convey. Her insights and new perspectives shifted the story beyond what I was doing on my own, helped me find my voice and made me a better writer. 
—Gordon Miller, author and artist
Ellie Barton copy edited International Migration and the Governance of Religious Diversity, a book co-edited by Matthias Koenig (of Gottingen University in Germany) and myself.  I have worked with a number of copy editors, and I found Ellie’s editing instincts and rigour to be exceptional.  Not only was she able to correct and standardize the writing styles of the volume’s authors, but she was also able to bring to our attention a large number of passages that were either far too abstract or simply did not make logical sense.  She not only alerted us to these problems but also proposed solutions – often rewriting paragraphs such that the author’s point became far more lucid and compelling (and one should bear in mind that the authors we selected are international leaders in their fields). In this sense she went way above and beyond the call of a copy editor, and in so doing, significantly enriched the final product.
​—Paul Bramadat, director, Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria