How we edit.
Six stages from manuscript intake through to KDP publication. Three human editorial passes — structural, line, voice — with AI-assisted analysis on comp titles, readability, and metadata. A typical 60,000–100,000-word manuscript takes six to ten weeks end to end.
The editorial process.
From manuscript to KDP, six stages, six to ten weeks for a typical book. Three human editorial passes — structural, line, voice — with AI-assisted analysis on comp titles, readability, and metadata. Every AI output is reviewed by an editor before it touches the manuscript.
- Days 1–2
Manuscript intake
Authors and agencies submit manuscripts through the intake form. We verify the word count, confirm the genre classification, and assign the manuscript to an editor. You receive a tracking ID by email.
- Tracking ID
- Word count verified
- Editor assigned
- Days 3–5
AI-assisted analysis
Models handle the parts that don't need a human: comparable-title research, readability scoring, and a first pass at metadata. An editor reviews every output before it goes anywhere near the manuscript.
- Comp titles list
- Readability score
- Draft metadata
- Weeks 1–3
Structural edit
Our editors review the manuscript for structure, pacing, and argument. Structural notes are written up and shared with the author before any line-level work begins — that's the order Claude Kendall codified in 1947, and it still works.
- Structural notes
- Author conversation
- Revised outline
- Weeks 3–5
Line edit
Sentence-level editing for clarity, rhythm, and consistency. Every change is tracked. The author sees the edited manuscript and accepts, rejects, or queries each edit.
- Tracked line edits
- Style sheet
- Author review
- Weeks 5–7
Voice pass
A final pass to make sure the author's voice is consistent throughout. This is the pass that catches the small drifts — a chapter that reads differently from the rest, a paragraph that has slipped out of register.
- Voice pass
- Consistency check
- Sign-off
- Weeks 7–8
Production & KDP upload
Formatting, final metadata, cover check, and publication through Amazon KDP. We send the author the live link and the dashboard entry to track placement in the first weeks after launch.
- Formatted manuscript
- KDP metadata
- Live listing
Estimate your edit.
Drag the word count, pick a tier, and you'll see what a typical edit costs and how long it takes. These are honest ranges, not a quote — every manuscript is different, and we send a formal quote after the first read.
Your estimate
- Structural edit
- Line edit (tracked)
- Voice pass
- Comp-title research (AI-assisted, editor-reviewed)
- Metadata and KDP categories
- Formatting for KDP upload
Tell us what you're working on.
We read every submission and reply within two business days.
Submit a manuscript