Book Editing Portfolio

Explore examples of my book editing work, organized by the type of editing each project received.

Developmental & Line Editing

Tackling developmental edits means we do a deep dive into the structure of your book… the shape of the overall narrative and the information or story it conveys. Line edits focus on the flow and cadence of your prose, refining without stamping out your voice. I frequently work with authors to do a combination of both to ensure the book resonates deeply with your readers.

Book cover of "Not As Advertised" by Violet K. Avery. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this romance novel.
Book cover of "Stolen Moments" by A.B. Jackson. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this MM romance novel.
Book cover of "Stolen Hearts" by A.B. Jackson. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this MM romance novel.
Book cover of "Stolen Romance" by A.B. Jackson. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this MM romance novel.
Book cover of "The Christmas Market Mashup" by Lexi Haddock. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this romance novel.
Book cover of "TwentyOne Olive Trees" by Laura Formentini. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "Emotional Mastery for Relationships" by Arda Ozdemir. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "The Journey Within" by Arda Ozdemir. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "It's Not Them, It's You" by Logan Kingson. Developmental and line editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.

The Process

Logan came to me with a phenomenal manuscript about the power of taking control and building the kind of life you want through your own choices and emotional maturity. We worked together over multiple rounds to do a combo Developmental/Line edit that finessed the narrative, reinforced concepts without repetition, and ensured style consistency throughout.

“Working with Dakota was amazing and helped me get my book to a much better place and ready for publication! As an Indie author, it’s so important to work with the right people.

“Dakota shares her expertise and recommendations while also being respectful of the fact that ultimately, things are my choice. I’m thrilled to have worked with her on this recent book and will definitely utilize her services again!”

~ Logan Kingston, LCSW, MS Ed.

Line & Copy Editing

Are you an Oxford comma lover? Me too! Line and copy editing elevates your author voice—refining the prose for maximum impact, sharpening the flow and rhythm, and smoothing out any bits that might give the reader pause—while also tackling the niceties of CMOS style, grammar, and punctuation. I almost always do a two-pass process to make sure your book is in its Sunday-best before publication.

Book cover of "Faces of Grief" by Samantha Ruth. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "4 Days in Paris" by Lexi Haddock. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this romance book.
Book cover of "The Paris Predicament" by Lexi Haddock. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this romance book.
Book cover of "The Fish Dress" by Carol Parker. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this fiction book.
Book cover of "Expiration Date" by Mardine Perrins. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this medical thriller book.
Book cover of "Compliance Paradox" by Molly Klote. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this medical thriller book.
Book cover of "Subscription Box Basics" by Julie Ball. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this non fiction business book.
Book cover of "What businesses need to know right now" by Nettie Owens. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this non fiction business book.
Book cover of "Neverboss" by Kevin Crenshaw. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this non fiction business book.
Book cover of "Life Happens, Are You Ready?" by Michael Biederstadt. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "Soaring Beyond" by Maria Katharina Inglesby. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "the other F-word" by Sara Stamp. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "What It Means To Serve" by Dr Dale Weaver. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this memoir.
Book cover of "The Gospel According to a Black Woman" by Ebony Adedayo. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this memoir.
Book cover of "The Able Queen" by Rainy Horvath. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this memoir.
Book cover of "The Boy Who Burped" by Beth Lewis. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this childrens book.
Book cover of "The Crystal Beads" by Patricia Black-Gould. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this childrens book.
Book cover of "Ditch the Fear and Just Write It" by Alexa Bigwarfe. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this self help book.
Book cover of "Famous Seaweed Soup" by Antoinette Truglio Martin. Line and copy editing services provided by Dakota for this childrens book.

The Process

I loved working on this darling romance series from Alexa/Lexie! Each one features incredible descriptions of French cuisine, landmarks, and culture that made me want to travel. We worked together in multi-round Line/Copy edits to refine sentence structures, elevate descriptions, and ensure consistency with the Chicago Manual of Style and across the series for a smooth reading experience.

“Dakota is the best, most thorough editor I have ever worked with. As a publisher, I have worked with many! But Dakota is who I choose for my personal books.

“She helped me shape 4 Days in Paris and all 3 books in my Sparks in Paris series from a good book to a great book. There’s no one I’d rather use. I have also hired her for nonfiction works. She’s diligent and patient and truly knows her profession.”

~ Alexa Bigwarfe / Lexi Haddock, Author, Founder of the Women in Publishing Summit, Authority and Business Growth Strategist

Let’s Talk About Your Manuscript

If you’re working on a manuscript and looking for thoughtful editorial guidance, I’d love to learn more about your project.

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