Pricing varies – get in touch for a quote
(Writers who use this service are also entitled to a 10% discount on my proofreading services for the same comic or graphic novel)
Line and copyediting for comics and graphic novels
What are line editing and copyediting?
Line editing is one of my favourite types of editing. It takes place once the bigger picture elements of the story are in place, but there’s still scope for changes to the text, and it’s all about keeping the reader engaged on every single page – the story might be what keeps them reading, but line editing is what ensures that they’ll enjoy the journey. It’s about style, as well as substance.
Copyediting is about ensuring your writing is clear, consistent, and correct. This includes everything from checking the timeline of your comic all adds up to making sure elements of your script are consistently formatted (and correcting any spelling errors that crop up along the way).
The two types of editing often take place side by side, though line editing focuses on the effectiveness of your writing while copyediting focuses on consistency and correctness.
Having your comic line/copyedited when it’s still in script form can save lots of time and hassle down the line. You should, of course, still do a final proofread when your work is ready for publication, but it’s far easier to make changes and corrections to a Word document than it is to make them when the lettering is already on the page – or worse, when an incorrectly spelled word has already been incorporated into finished artwork…
What’s included in this service?
This is a combined line editing and copy-editing service that includes comments and track changes throughout your script on the following areas, along with suggestions for how to address any issues identified:
- Authenticity and consistency of characters
- Dialogue
- Pace
- Tenses
- Flow (including repetition and awkward phrasing)
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation
- Consistency
- Clarity
- Basic fact-checking
- Art direction
I’ll also include a style sheet recording key style decisions (“OK” vs “okay” etc.) to help ensure consistency through the comic. This style sheet is especially useful if your comic is part of a planned series or shared universe as it can be used to ensure consistency in all of the future ones too!
What does a line and copyedited script look like?
See below an example from a comic script with some of the corrections and comments I might make during a line and copyedit.
(Best viewed in a desktop browser. Images and embedded files may not load correctly on mobile or tablet.)
Ready for a line and copyedit?
Great! You can send me a message here.
If you’re looking for another type of editing, check out all the services I offer here.
TESTIMONIAL
“Kate worked through the whole comic and weeded out the awkward parts and dialogue! It was nerve wracking letting someone read ‘The Snow Cat Prince’ for the first time that wasn’t one of my family members, but Kate was extremely professional, quick and kind.”
DINA NORLUND, ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR OF THE SNOW CAT PRINCE
