Professional editing for reporters, critics, and investigative storytellers.
Report with Confidence—Write with Clarity
In journalism, every word counts. Whether you’re breaking news, crafting longform features, or building a personal brand through essays and op-eds, your writing needs to be clear, compelling, and credible. At Flatpage, we provide specialized editorial support for journalists at all stages of their careers, helping you refine your work and strengthen your voice without compromising your style or speed.
We work with reporters, independent journalists, and media professionals across platforms and beats. Our editors understand the demands of deadline-driven environments, the ethics of factual reporting, and the importance of structure, rhythm, and tone in impactful storytelling. From pitching and drafting to editing and revising, we offer collaborative support that aligns with your journalistic goals.
Whether you’re developing an investigative series, submitting a feature to a national outlet, preparing a book-length work of narrative nonfiction, or updating your professional bio and portfolio, we’ll help you elevate your writing and sharpen your message. Our work stays behind the scenes—your byline stays front and center.
Your Flatpage Advantage
Shape Longform Projects
Organize reporting, interviews, and research into cohesive, compelling structures for book manuscripts, essay collections, or extended features.
Clarify Complex Narratives
Refine deep reporting and multi-thread storytelling into clear, accessible narratives that resonate with broad audiences.
Strengthen Voice and Style
Maintain your distinctive journalistic voice while enhancing tone, flow, and engagement across longer works.
Edit for Accuracy and Consistency
Ensure factual precision, narrative consistency, and adherence to style guidelines.
Prepare for Publishing Success
Receive expert support on proposals, agent submissions, and manuscript development to navigate the book publishing process.
Meet Project Milestones
Stay on track with flexible, responsive editorial partnerships that support the longer timelines of major writing projects.
Collaborate With Journalism-Savvy Editors
Work with editors who understand investigative depth, storytelling dynamics, and the unique publishing demands of longform nonfiction.
Feature Articles
Investigative Projects
Book Manuscripts
Book Proposals
Op-Eds & Commentary
Essays & Personal Narratives
Website & Newsletter Content
Professional Bios & Portfolios
Coaching
Coaching offers personalized support for journalists transitioning into longform nonfiction. Whether you’re developing a book idea, revising chapters, or preparing a book proposal, we provide editorial feedback and strategic guidance to help you move your project forward with confidence.
Developmental editing helps you shape the structure and arc of longform nonfiction projects. Whether you’re working on a deeply reported book, a collection of essays, or an extended narrative, we help you organize material, clarify storylines, and build a strong foundation to keep readers engaged through a full-length manuscript.
Line editing refines your manuscript at the sentence and paragraph level, focusing on tone, flow, and reader engagement. Our editors help you preserve your journalistic voice while improving word choice, rhythm, and clarity, ensuring that every page maintains energy and focus throughout a long work.
Copyediting addresses the grammar, punctuation, spelling, and stylistic consistency of your manuscript. We work with various editorial style guides (such as the Chicago Manual of Style, AP Style, or publisher-specific guidelines) to ensure your full-length project is clean, professional, and ready for agent submission, publisher review, or production.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final polish before publication. Once your manuscript is typeset or designed, we perform a detailed check for typographical errors, formatting inconsistencies, and minor mistakes, ensuring that your final version is fully publication-ready.
Indexing
Indexing creates a professional back-of-book index for longform nonfiction projects. A well-organized index improves accessibility and usability, helping readers and researchers navigate complex topics and strengthening the overall impact of your publication.
Strong stories start with clear writing.
Pricing
Minimum project budget $100
Coaching
Each 60-minute session includes up to one additional hour of reading/research (e.g., reading a book chapter or manuscript). It does not include editing of the manuscript itself (see other services below).
One session
$225
Six sessions
$1,215
Twelve sessions
$2,430
Developmental Editing
Front/back matter or citations/bibliographies not included.
Manuscript Assessment—Report + Call
Up to 50k words
$0.05 per word
50k words and up
$0.04 per word
Full Developmental Edit—Draft markup + Report + Call
Front/back matter or citations/bibliographies not included.
Line Edit
Up to 50k words
$0.06 per word
50k words and up
$0.05 per word
Graduate Student Line Edit For dissertations and theses (only one editorial pass included). Proof of enrollment required.
$0.04 per word
Copyediting
Our editorial manager can help you determine the level of copyediting your text needs.
Light Copyedit Correct grammar and punctuation, apply style guide to text and citations
$0.04 per word
Medium Copyedit Correct grammar and punctuation, improve word choice or sentence flow, apply style guide to text and correct citations
$0.05 per word
Heavy Copyedit Correct language, grammar, and punctuation; reformat text; apply style guide to text; overhaul citations
$0.06 per word
Grad Student Copyedit For dissertations and theses (only one editorial pass included). Proof of enrollment required.
$0.03 per word
Proofreading
Basic Proofread
$0.03 per word
Indexing
Per indexable page (PDF page proofs only); count includes body text, foot- or endnotes, illustrations, and appendices but does not include front/back matter or bibliography.
$6 per indexable page
Other Services
Citations Apply a house or style manual to foot- or endnotes and/or bibliography (CMOS, APA, MLA, others)
Per citation (not per note)
$1.50
Convert biblio <—> notes (per note citation)
$2.50
Manuscript Formatting Correcting layout issues, including front matter, pagination, figures and tables, headings, and page margins according to a style guide (e.g., CMOS, APA, or university guidelines)
An art historian wanted to publish a book manuscript based on her PhD dissertation with a university press. She needed assistance from a former acquisitions editor who could help her tailor her book proposal and answer her questions about the pitching process.
An academic author needed help weaving together the distinct threads of research in his academic book manuscript, which had already undergone peer review at a university press. After a long writing process, he sought an outside editor who could assist him with tightening the text and making it intelligible for scholars in different disciplines.
An academic writer in the field of music needed to significantly cut down the word count of her textbook manuscript to fit her publisher’s requirements. Our line editor helped her seamlessly reduce the length while retaining the argumentative crux of the text.
A previously published nonfiction author wanted to transform and update her book about dental hygiene for a new edition. She needed developmental and line editing assistance in order to better integrate new research and reorganize her chapters before submitting the revised manuscript to her publisher.
An early-career academic was developing a book manuscript from her dissertation research and needed assistance from a book coach as she developed a new direction for her first book’s thesis.
