Novel Editing Services: Professional Novel Editors for Fiction Authors
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8,000+ clients in 65+ countries | 140 Million+ words edited since 2010
The Dissertation Solution's professional novel editing services connect fiction authors with native English novel editors who know their genre. Every editor is a native English speaker from the United States, the United Kingdom, or Canada, and no AI tools are used at any stage. You choose your own editor by genre expertise and verified client ratings before you submit.
Our fiction editing services cover novels, novellas, and short stories in every genre, from literary fiction to romance, crime, fantasy, and horror. You can book developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, or novel proofreading, depending on where your manuscript is.
The The Dissertation Solution difference
The Dissertation Solution is one of the few novel editing services that lets you choose your own editor directly. You aren't assigned an editor. You browse public profiles, compare genre expertise and credentials, and read verified client ratings before you submit. A thriller editor and a literary fiction editor bring different expertise to the same novel. The Dissertation Solution puts that match in your hands.
Quick answer: what is novel editing?
The service. A native English editor with genre experience edits your fiction manuscript at the level you need: developmental, line editing, copy editing, or proofreading.
Editor selection. You choose your own editor by genre, credentials, and ratings. 100% human, no AI at any stage.
What you get. Track Changes edits you can accept or reject, a style sheet for copy edits, and constructive comments.
Try first. A free sample edit of your first 300 words lets you evaluate an editor before you commit.
Pricing. Per word, based on turnaround. Copy editing and proofreading start at $0.021 per word on turnarounds longer than 7 days, about $1,680 for an 80,000-word novel.
Not sure which editor is right for your novel?
Browse editor profiles by genre expertise, credentials, and verified client ratings, and message any editor before you submit. Request a free sample edit of your first 300 words before you commit.
Request a Free Sample EditOur Novel Editing Services
- Developmental editing for novels. A big-picture assessment of structure, plot, pacing, character development, point of view, and theme. The editor checks whether the opening holds attention, the inciting incident is well placed, the character arc pays off, and the ending delivers. You get a detailed editorial letter with inline notes. It's the right service when your novel needs structural work before copy editing.
- Line editing for novels. Sentence- and paragraph-level work on the quality of your prose. A fiction line editor checks whether each scene lands, the narrative voice stays consistent, pacing within scenes works, and dialogue sounds natural aloud. It's especially useful when moving a revised draft toward submission-ready prose.
- Copy editing for novels. Technical correction of grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency, and continuity. A novel copy editor tracks character names, physical descriptions, invented terms, timeline logic, and setting details across the manuscript. You also get a style sheet documenting every editorial decision.
- Novel proofreading. A final error check on your formatted, near-final manuscript before publication or submission. The Dissertation Solution's professional proofreading services catch errors introduced during layout and any that slipped through earlier. Proofreading isn't a substitute for copy editing.
- Query letter editing for novels. If you're pursuing traditional publication, your query letter is what gets your novel in front of agents. An edited query letter makes sure your pitch, comparable titles, and bio do their jobs. See our guide to how to write a query letter.
What Our Novel Editing Service Includes
When you submit your novel, your chosen editor reviews and improves it across every dimension that matters to readers, agents, and publishers:
- Assessment of plot structure, pacing, and narrative arc from opening to close
- Evaluation of character development, consistent motivation, and authentic dialogue
- Point of view review, with no unintentional head-hopping within scenes
- Voice consistency across chapters, including those drafted at different times
- Correction of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typographical errors throughout
- Improvements to sentence clarity, word choice, and paragraph rhythm
- Continuity checks for names, descriptions, timelines, invented terms, and settings
- Track Changes markup in Microsoft Word so you can review, accept, or reject every edit
- Constructive comments on sections that may benefit from revision or development
- All editing done by a verified native English speaker from the USA, UK, or Canada
100%
Human editing, no AI
2 Hours
Fastest turnaround
5.0 / 5
Google Reviews rating
BBB A+
Accredited since 2010
65+
Countries served
24/7
Available year-round
Fiction Editing Services by Genre
Our novel editors cover fiction across every genre and length. Browse editor profiles to find an editor whose genre background matches your manuscript.
Literary Fiction Editing
Literary fiction editors, many with MFA credentials, pay close attention to voice, interiority, prose rhythm, and theme. They know the craft expectations and market conventions of literary fiction.
Commercial Fiction Editing
Commercial fiction editors focus on pacing, plot construction, and the readability that keeps a broad readership turning pages.
Thriller and Suspense Novel Editing
Thriller and suspense editors understand the rate of revelation, what the reader knows versus the protagonist, rising threat, and the timing of the midpoint turn.
Mystery and Crime Novel Editing
Mystery and crime editors know the detective novel, cozy mystery, procedural, and psychological crime novel. They check fair-play clues, red herrings, and the logic of the solution. Crime novel proofreading is available for finished manuscripts.
Romance Novel Editing
Romance editors read widely in the genre. They know how the central relationship develops, the emotional beats readers expect, and the satisfying resolution the genre promises.
Fantasy Novel Editing
Fantasy editors work with world-building, invented terminology, ensemble casts, magic systems, and the structural demands of multi-book series.
Science Fiction and Dystopian Novel Editing
Science fiction editors cover hard SF, space opera, near-future speculative fiction, and dystopian novels. They check that invented technology and societies stay internally consistent.
Horror Novel Editing
Horror editors focus on pacing, atmosphere, and the careful management of dread, revelation, and consequence.
Historical Fiction and Western Novel Editing
Historical fiction editors, including those who work on westerns, check period-accurate detail and help historical settings feel lived in rather than researched.
Adventure Novel Editing
Adventure editors keep action sequences clear, stakes rising, and momentum steady from one set piece to the next.
Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction Editing
YA and middle grade editors know age-appropriate voice, pacing, and themes, and what agents and publishers in these categories expect.
Debut Novels and First Manuscripts
Editors experienced with first-time novelists bring their full attention to manuscripts at every stage of development.
Short Story and Novella Editing
Not every fiction project is novel-length. The Dissertation Solution editors also edit short stories and novellas, whether you're submitting to literary magazines, entering a contest, or publishing a novella on its own. Short fiction leaves little room for slack, so editors focus on a tight opening, economical scenes, and an ending that lands. Because pricing is per word with no minimum, a short story costs only what its length requires. Novella proofreading is also available for finished manuscripts.
Why Genre Expertise Matters in Novel Editing
The most important match between a novelist and an editor isn't credentials or rates. It's genre. An editor who reads widely in your genre knows what its readers expect and what its structural conventions are. They also know where manuscripts in that genre usually go wrong. They can tell a choice that serves the genre from one that undermines it, and explain why.
A thriller editor might flag a literary novel's deliberate pacing as a problem when it's a feature. A literary fiction editor might push a thriller toward interiority and away from the momentum the genre needs. For novel editing, genre expertise isn't a bonus. It's a prerequisite.
The Dissertation Solution's editor profiles show each editor's genre background before you submit. You can filter by genre, read reviews from authors of similar projects, and message editors before committing. For more on how fiction and nonfiction editing differ, read our article on fiction editing vs. nonfiction editing.
Why Choose The Dissertation Solution for Novel Editing?
- You choose your own editor. Browse editor profiles by genre expertise, credentials, and verified ratings, and message any editor before you submit.
- Subject-matter experts, not just grammar checkers. You choose an editor whose genre background matches your manuscript, so your novel is reviewed by someone who understands its readers and conventions.
- Recommended by the Boston University Economics Department. Faculty at a major research university list The Dissertation Solution as a recommended editing resource.
- 100% human editing, no AI. Every novel is reviewed entirely by a qualified human editor. AI tools miss what matters most in fiction: voice, continuity, genre conventions, and character motivation.
- Your voice, your story. A good edit makes your novel more itself. Every suggestion serves your work, and you decide what to accept.
- Free sample edit of your first 300 words. See the editor's skill, touch, and grasp of your genre before you commit to a full edit.
- Clear communication every step of the way. Message your editor directly before, during, and after the edit.
- Real-time progress tracking. The Documents section of your Client Console shows your live order status, so you always know where your manuscript stands.
- Transparent pricing, no hidden fees. Use the instant price calculator to see your exact cost, with no subscriptions or minimums. For a full breakdown, see our guide to book editing costs.
- Same-day editing available. 2-hour, 4-hour, and 8-hour options for qualifying documents, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Woman-Founded. Purpose-Driven. People First.
The Dissertation Solution was founded in 2010 by Patti Fisher, a professor of consumer economics and graduate of The Ohio State University, after seeing firsthand the need for high-quality, personalized editing support for writers at every level. Every client who submits a document at The Dissertation Solution connects directly with a real editor, receives a personal response, and is treated as an individual rather than a transaction. That is the mission The Dissertation Solution has maintained for 15 years, and it is reflected in every review we receive.
How to Get Started with Novel Editing
Getting your novel edited at The Dissertation Solution is straightforward. Here's how it works:
- Create an account. Register for an The Dissertation Solution client account when ready.
- Choose your editor. Browse editor profiles by genre, credentials, and ratings. Message editors about your manuscript and request a free sample edit of your first 300 words.
- Submit your manuscript. Click "Submit a Document" and give your word count, turnaround, genre, audience, publishing path, and any passages you're unsure about.
- Pay securely. Complete payment through Stripe or PayPal. Use the instant price calculator to confirm your cost first.
- Track progress. Your editor reviews your manuscript entirely by hand, with no AI tools. Follow the live status in your Client Console.
- Download your manuscript. Get the edited file from the Documents section of your Client Console, with every change in Track Changes and comments explaining revisions.
What Novel Editing Clients Say About The Dissertation Solution
"WriteAid provided invaluable edits and suggestions for my 94,000-word novel. It had already been edited several times, so I was amazed that she was able to come up with so many ways to improve it. She found obscure mistakes, pointed out repetitive phrasing, and found instances where more active or descriptive words could be substituted. She didn't make changes just to make changes or to add her own voice, as some editors might. Instead, her suggestions enhanced the story and voice, which should be the goal of all great editors. In addition to excellent editing, she added reactions as a reader to different events while suggesting areas where the tension and stakes could be increased. All her suggestions made the novel and characters more compelling. I'm truly grateful and would highly recommend her to anyone."
Sheila, Verified The Dissertation Solution client
"BookDoc's edits were thoughtful and precise. He identified areas where the reader might be confused, then either offered a suggestion or left it for me to solve the problem. I highly recommend his expertise, and would gladly work with him on my next novel."
Loralyn, Verified The Dissertation Solution client
"WriteAid did an excellent job editing my query letter and summary. Her attention to detail helped make the language more active and compelling. I highly recommend her editing skills and will seek them out again."
Verified The Dissertation Solution client, novel query letter and synopsis
Novel Editing Prices
Novel editing prices are based on word count and turnaround time, with no hidden fees, contracts, or minimums. The lowest rate, $0.021 per word, applies to long manuscripts on turnarounds longer than 7 days. Faster turnarounds use higher per-word rates, and some editors offer discounts of up to 20%. Indicative copy editing and proofreading prices at common novel lengths, from slowest to fastest:
| Manuscript Length | 7-Day | 5-Day | 3-Day | 1-Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 words | ~$1,440 | ~$1,620 | ~$1,824 | ~$2,100 |
| 80,000 words | ~$1,920 | ~$2,160 | ~$2,432 | ~$2,800 |
| 100,000 words | ~$2,400 | ~$2,700 | ~$3,040 | ~$3,500 |
| 120,000 words | ~$2,880 | ~$3,240 | ~$3,648 | ~$4,200 |
Prices are estimates for copy editing and proofreading. Turnarounds longer than 7 days drop to $0.021 per word. Developmental and line editing use higher per-word rates. Use the instant price calculator for an exact quote, or read our guide to book editing costs.
Novel Editing Resources and Related Services
Our book editing services page covers editing for fiction and nonfiction authors at every career stage. For memoir and life writing, see memoir editing services. To decide which editorial stage your novel needs, read our guide to what copy editing is.
Before you send your manuscript, work through our checklist on how to edit a novel. For timing, see how long book editing takes. If you're querying agents, our guide on how to write a query letter covers what agents need from a fiction pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Novel Editing Services
What is a novel editing service?
It's a professional editorial review of a fiction manuscript. Depending on the level, a novel editor works on structure such as plot, pacing, and character (developmental editing) or on prose and voice (line editing). Copy editing covers grammar and consistency, and proofreading catches final surface errors. Genre expertise matters because different genres have different conventions and reader expectations.
What does a novel editor do?
A novel editor reads your manuscript as both an expert reader and a craft specialist. Depending on the service, they assess structure, plot, pacing, and character, improve prose and voice, correct grammar and continuity, or do a final proofread. You get your manuscript back with Track Changes and comments, and you decide which suggestions to accept.
How much does novel editing cost?
Copy editing and proofreading start at $0.021 per word on turnarounds longer than 7 days, about $1,680 for an 80,000-word novel. At a 7-day turnaround, the same novel costs about $1,920. Faster turnarounds and developmental or line editing use higher per-word rates. Use the instant price calculator for an exact quote, or read our guide to book editing costs.
Do I need developmental editing or copy editing for my novel?
It depends on where your novel is. Structural issues with plot, pacing, character, or point of view call for developmental editing. Solid structure with prose that needs work calls for line editing. If structure and prose work and you need a thorough technical review, choose copy editing. If you're unsure, describe your manuscript to an editor for a specific recommendation. For more, read what copy editing is and how it differs from other stages.
Do you edit short stories and novellas?
Yes. Our editors edit short stories and novellas for literary magazine submissions, contests, and standalone publication. They focus on a tight opening, economical scenes, and an ending that lands. Pricing is per word with no minimum, so a short story costs only what its length requires.
Why does genre expertise matter for novel editing?
Different genres have different structural conventions, pacing standards, and reader expectations. An editor who reads widely in your genre can tell a choice that serves it from one that undermines it. A thriller editor may flag a literary novel's deliberate pacing as a problem. A literary fiction editor may push a thriller away from the momentum it needs. The Dissertation Solution lets you choose an editor by genre background.
Can I choose my own novel editor?
Yes. The Dissertation Solution is one of the few editing services that lets you choose your own editor directly. Browse profiles by genre expertise, credentials, and verified ratings, and message any editor before you submit. You can also request a free sample edit of your first 300 words.
Do you use AI to edit novels?
No. Every novel is reviewed entirely by a qualified human editor from the US, UK, or Canada. No AI grammar checkers, AI writing assistants, or automated tools are used at any stage. AI tools miss what matters most in fiction, including voice, continuity, genre conventions, and character motivation.
How long does novel editing take?
It depends on the type of editing and your word count. Rush options start at 2 hours for qualifying documents, available 24/7. Longer manuscripts and deeper editing such as developmental editing take more time. Use the instant price calculator to see every option, or read how long book editing takes.
Do you edit query letters for novels?
Yes. Our editors edit query letters for novelists pursuing traditional publication. An edited query letter makes sure your pitch, comparable titles, and bio do their jobs before the letter reaches an agent. For more, read how to write a query letter.
Page last reviewed September 2026. Content reviewed and edited by Patti F., The Dissertation Solution Founder and Editor. The Dissertation Solution was founded in 2010 by Patti Fisher, PhD, and has provided human-only editing and proofreading services to fiction authors, researchers, students, and business professionals for 16 years, with 140 million+ words edited for 8,000+ clients in 65+ countries. Multiple Gold and Bronze Stevie Award winner. Less than 5% acceptance rate for editor applicants, with native English editors from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. No AI tools are used at any stage. BBB A+ accredited since 2010, with 5.0/5 Google Reviews and 5.0/5 Facebook Reviews. Recommended by the Boston University Economics Department, University of San Diego, University of Michigan, UCLA, University of Missouri, and more.