This is an edit where the author feels they can handle their own proofreading. They have not yet completed their work in progress and want direction.

It is for the author who wants to develop their story and needs experienced assessment of the text, together with creative recommendations. No on the page changes are made but changes you need to make on micro and macro level are flagged up.

You come to this edit with an agenda which you set. Some examples:

• I am not sure of my character development, what is missing?
• The plot is too dense at the midpoint, what do you recommend for tension?
• How am I handling the time shifts?
• Have I chosen the correct narrator?

From this read through I make three sets of notes from the tables above:

• Copy Edit Notes – how you can develop your language, tone, line length style etc to marry with story
• Story Notes – how you can develop your story on the arc level.
• Margin Notes – provided for cross reference. These are in your manuscript.

This is the best idea for those who are in the middle of a work in progress who need direction and don’t need grammar punctuation and spelling edits.