Presenting Our Stories
Editorial tools for writers preparing their manuscripts to meet readers
A manuscript can feel finished long before it feels ready to share.
At this stage, the larger work of storytelling is all but complete. The structure holds. The voice feels established. And yet small uncertainties remain: sentences that read unevenly, punctuation choices second-guessed, the quiet worry that something minor might distract from the story itself.
The Presenting Our Stories: Editorial Toolkit focuses on this final phase of writing by helping authors refine clarity, consistency, and flow so their work can be encountered with ease and presented with confidence.
The resources below offer focused ways to review your manuscript depending on where your attention is currently drawn.
Where are you getting stuck?
“My writing feels finished, but parts still read awkwardly.”
You sense moments where clarity or flow could improve, but you’re not sure exactly what to look for during revision.
Self-Editing Checklist for Fiction & Nonfiction
A focused review designed to help you notice common line-level patterns that affect readability and coherence.
“Some sentences just don’t sound right.”
The story works, but wording sometimes seems heavy, repetitive, or harder to read than you intended.
Sentence Structure Swipe File
A collection of alternative phrasing patterns you can experiment with to improve rhythm and flow while preserving your voice.
“I’m almost ready to share this, but I’m worried I’ve overlooked mistakes.”
You want a calm, structured final review before sending your manuscript to readers, agents, or publishers.
The Final Pass Proofreading Checklist
A step-by-step guide for reviewing spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and formatting at the last stage before sharing.
“I’m never fully confident about punctuation choices.”
You want clear guidance on commas, em dashes, semicolons, dialogue punctuation, and consistency.
Common Punctuation Pitfalls Guide
A practical reference for punctuation writers most often second-guess during revision.
About Presenting Our Stories
All of these resources are part of Presenting Our Stories, my line editing, copyediting, and proofreading service for manuscripts nearing completion.
At this stage, editing is less about changing a story and more about supporting how it is experienced. Working line by line and paragraph by paragraph, I help writers refine grammar, punctuation, clarity, consistency, flow, and voice—bringing the manuscript into cohesive, readable form while preserving what makes the work theirs.
Many writers discover that polishing is not simply technical work. It is the transition between writing a story and presenting it.
If these guides help you notice patterns that you can’t quite resolve alone, you may be reaching the point where professional editorial attention becomes useful.
Not sure which guide fits?
Start anywhere. Many writers find more than one resource helpful at this stage.