Line & Copy Editor of Speculative Fiction

Tutin Editing

A photograph of me: short brunette hair, wearing glasses, and smiling at the camera.

“Kat was an asset when it came to editing my stories. Her concise and thoughtful feedback and edits helped me see the places where my story was lacking, and made the narrative of my story stronger as a whole. Not only do I recommend her work, but I plan to use her services again in the future as well.”

C. E. Clayton

About

My aim as an author has always been ensuring my stories are the best they can be so that the reader can envision the scene, feel the emotion, and, most of all, remember your story long after they have finished reading. As an editor, you can expect me to strive for the same with your stories. New or established, we artists could use that little extra help with identifying issues or maintaining style consistency. Most importantly, we want to achieve this through mutual collaboration, honesty, and trust. You can be rest assured that you will receive this from me.

  • Intermediate Copyediting for Fiction (Club Ed Freelancers, 2025)

  • Beginning Copyediting for Fiction (Club Ed Freelancers, 2025)

  • BA (Hons) Creative Writing (The Open College of the Arts, 2013–2020)

  • Editors Tea Club; 2026

  • LGBTQ Editors Association; 2026

  • ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors); Partner; 2025–present

  • EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association); Emerging Professional Member; 2025–present

  • Codex Writers' Group; 2023–present

  • Online Writing Workshop; 2022–2023

Copy Editing

£0.016/word

A standard service which addresses the technical elements of your manuscript, such as:

  • Punctuation

  • Grammar

  • Spelling

  • Typography

  • Usage (e.g. misused phrases)

  • Indexing of characters, places, worldbuilding, and timeline

  • Fact-checking

  • Legality

  • Tense

  • Consistency and continuity

  • Minor formatting adjustments (paragraph indents, scene/page breaks, ensuring chapter headings are the same size)

Deliverables include an annotated manuscript, a clean copy, a style sheet, a query sheet (if applicable), and an additional pass.Final checks for typesetting, layout, and formatting are not included in this service. Those fall under proofreading.

Line & Copy Editing

£0.022/word

Combined service that addresses everything found in the copy edit, along with the following line additions:

  • Readability (splices/fragments, passive vs active voice, dangling modifiers)

  • Voice, style, tone, and mood

  • Pacing

  • Clarity

  • Flow

  • Word choice, showing vs telling, repetition, redundancies, ambiguities, and filter words

  • Point of view, such as head hopping

  • Narrative distance, metaphor, symbolism, and other techniques

  • Sensitivity issues, e.g. offensive or stereotypical language

Deliverables include an annotated manuscript, a clean copy, a style sheet, a query sheet (if applicable), and an additional pass.

Process

01
Confirmation

We have a chat via email or Discord, trading samples if necessary, for as long as you need before making any commitments to ensure we are compatible.

02
Contract

If we are in agreement, we must both sign a contract, which outlines clauses such as price (termination, refunds), schedule, confidentiality, copyright, and my stance against the use of artificial intelligence.

03
Credit

Once signed, an invoice will be sent. The standard is an upfront 50% deposit with the final 50% upon the delivery of completed work. This may vary if there are other factors, such as booking in advance or having a budget.

04
Commencement

Work commences once the deposit (or deposits depending on what is decided during the Credit step) has been paid. Documents should be Word (.doc/.docx) or PDFs. Note that the latter is suitable only for reading purposes, not annotations.

05
Completion

All relevant documents will be delivered to you, after which you will send the final payment.

06
Correspondence

We can, if you so wish, continue correspondence via email or Discord should you have any questions regarding my feedback until you are satisfied that your needs have been met.

“I’ve worked with several editors on my story, but Kat has been my greatest asset by far. I initially hired her for line editing on the first book of my ongoing series, and she consistently went above and beyond my expectations. Her feedback didn’t just improve the prose, she also helped me identify where the story was falling short, and has helped me shape the book I was truly trying to write. Her insight, clarity, and attention to detail were invaluable to the whole process. I fully intend to work with her again as the series continues, and I highly recommend her to any writer seeking constructive feedback delivered with precision and care.”

S. A. Perchez/Auren Vale

FAQ

What is Speculative Fiction?

Speculative fiction covers a variety of genres, primarily the genres (and their subgenres) that are fantasy, science fiction, horror, and historical fiction.This can be magical realism, or apocalyptic fiction, or supernatural horror, or cosmic historical fiction.I'll edit almost anything speculative, excluding military or hard science fiction.

What's your position on AI?

I will not edit anything that has been created with or processed through generative AI, such as ChatGPT or other LLMs (Large Language Models).I'm fine with assistive tools and software such as PerfectIt, Harper, or Word, and others that do not use generative AI in any way.Personally, I will only use Word and PerfectIt on your manuscript as an aid, not a replacement, to check and record consistency, spelling, and grammar.

Do you offer samples?

I provide free sample edits (first 1,000 words, or near enough), which are then deducted from the overall cost.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes, a one-off 10% discount. However, if you have a budget, I'm open to negotiating prices and/or payment plans.

What style guides and/or dictionaries do you use?

Unless an alternative is requested, The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard for fiction. However, it is used as a guide, not a rulebook.For dictionaries, Merriam-Webster for the US, and Oxford and Cambridge for the UK. Collins may be used as a secondary dictionary for either region.Let me know if you have an alternative preference for a style guide or dictionary.

How Does the Additional Pass Work?

You can have a second pass of your manuscript once you have either accepted or rejected my edits, made your own changes, and/or responded to my comments. Scheduling for the second pass is determined after completion and delivery of the initial edit.

How long will the editing take?

Turnaround times can vary from two weeks to two months. It all depends on word count, service, and if you have a deadline.

How Do I Pay You?

I use Wise, which allows payments to be made via their platform, card, or bank transfer.

“Working with Kat was such a gift. She didn’t just read my manuscript — she sat with it, observed it carefully, and treated it with genuine attention. Her feedback was thoughtful, clear, and incredibly useful without ever feeling discouraging or rushed. As a writer, you always hope the person reading your work will truly understand what you’re trying to create, and she did. She pointed out strengths and highlighted areas needing refinement in a way that felt encouraging rather than overwhelming. I’m deeply grateful for her time, her insight, and the care she put into my story. I highly recommend her to any author who wants honest, meaningful feedback that helps elevate their work.”

Candace M. Ellowen

Contact

You can either use the intake form if you are looking to work together. For general enquires, use the form below. In either case, you can expect a response within 48 hours.

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Resources

Books

Websites

Organistations

  • EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association, US)

  • ACES (The Society of Editors, US)

  • CIEP (The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, UK)

  • ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors)

  • SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association)

Critique Groups

Software & Apps