The Scribe Method The Best Way to Write and Publish Your Non-Fiction Book

Lock In Your Manuscript: Copyediting

When we say you need a “finished manuscript” before starting the publishing process, we don’t mean a draft that’s “almost there” or a file with just a few typos left. We mean a manuscript that is fully polished and ready to be turned into a book.

Why does this matter? Because every change you make after the formatting and layout process begins can add hours of work and hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars in additional costs. Taking the time to finalize your manuscript before publishing is one of the smartest investments you can make in your book’s success.

Step 1: Hire a Professional Copyeditor

Let’s be clear: you need at least one professional copyeditor to review your book.

Spell-check won’t catch everything. Your friends and family aren’t professional editors. Even if you’re confident your manuscript is clean, you’re likely overlooking errors. Studies show that the average person catches only about 60% of mistakes, while professional editors typically catch around 85%—which is why, at Scribe, we have two different professionals review every manuscript.

A copyeditor will catch common errors such as:

  • The difference between an en dash and an em dash
  • Sentences ending in prepositions
  • Overuse of conjunctions at the start of sentences

Even small mistakes can make your book seem unprofessional. Worse, if your book has too many typos, Amazon may remove it from their platform.

Where to Find Professional Copyeditors

There are two ways to hire a copyeditor: through editing services or freelance marketplaces.

Editing Services

These services charge a flat fee and handle the process for you. Expect to pay around $250–$750 depending on length and complexity.

Recommended services:

Freelance Marketplaces

Marketplaces allow you to hire an independent editor, often at an hourly rate ($20–$30/hour) or per-word rate (0.75–1 cent per word).

Recommended marketplaces:

The advantage of hiring directly is that you can choose an editor best suited to your project and communicate your unique needs.

Step 2: Working with Your Copyeditor

Once you’ve hired a copyeditor, follow these steps to get the most out of the process:

  1. Define the Role

Copyediting isn’t just about fixing typos. Some editors provide light editing (fixing errors), while others offer heavy editing (improving clarity and structure). Be clear about what you need.

  1. Explain Your Audience

Different books have different tones. Is your book formal or conversational? Are you using American or British English? Make sure your editor understands your style and readership.

  1. Highlight Areas of Concern

If you know you struggle with certain errors (e.g., switching between past and present tense), let your editor know. The more context they have, the better job they’ll do.

Step 3: Reviewing Edits & Finalizing Your Manuscript

Once your editor has finished, they’ll return a Word document with tracked changes. Here’s how to handle it:

  • Accept obvious fixes (grammar, punctuation, typos).
  • Review suggested rewordings and decide if they match your voice.
  • Reject any changes that don’t fit your style.

Some corrections are subjective, so trust your instincts while respecting the expertise of your editor.

Step 4: Lock In Your Manuscript & Move Forward

At some point, you have to stop editing and move forward. No manuscript will ever be 100% perfect, but spending months trying to fix tiny details won’t make a meaningful difference to readers.

Once your manuscript is finalized, it’s time to move on to the publishing phase!

Ready to Take the Next Step?

For a step-by-step guide to publishing your book, access the free online copy of The Scribe Method here.

Prefer a hard copy? Buy the book here.