Copy/Line Editing my 31,000 word book: (Addiction, Procrastination, and Laziness: A Proactive Guide to the Psychology of Motivation)

My book—Addiction, Procrastination, and Laziness: A Proactive Guide to the Psychology of Motivation—is currently selling on Amazon: [login to view URL] Word count: ~31,000 I want to tighten it up a bit, before turning it into an audiobook. I already edited it once for flow, rhythm, and clarity. And now I want it edited for brevity and word-choice. (I've also been told that there are a few grammar and even spelling errors.) To judge whether you are the right editor for me, I first need to see a sample edit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the more specific requirements of the job (my editing do's and don'ts): (1a) DO: I want edits on the sentence level. Edits that change one or two words a paragraph are not extensive enough; and edits that delete or change whole paragraphs are too radical. But if a sentence can be reworded or rearranged to make it shorter or sound smoother, that is precisely what I want. (1b) DON’T: Do not delete (or, for that matter, add) whole sentences (and certainly not paragraphs). You may split one sentence into two (or more). You may combine multiple sentences into a single one. You may even rewrite a sentence, if you think you can manage it. But don’t simply delete one, UNLESS the sentence truly adds nothing new, and merely restates what is said immediately before or after it. (2a) DO: Cut words, not information. Every point and I include in the book is there for a reason. If a sentence makes two points, do not cut one of them for the sake of brevity. If the same point can be made more elegantly, or in less words, perfect: That’s what I’m looking for. (2b) DON’T: Do not cut or alter meaning for the sake of brevity or elegance. If something slightly different can be said in less words, don’t make that change. If less can be said in less words, do not do it. (3) DO: Understand rhythm and flow. A seemingly unnecessary word or syllable might be providing that one extra beat that makes sentence (or paragraph) flow smoothly. Check if the text reads better or worse after the change. (4) DON’T: Do not replace the author’s voice with your own. If you favor a particular turn of phrase, transition, or lead in to a point that is distinctive to you (i.e. your own manner of talking and writing), and this is different from the author’s; do not put it in. Preserve the author’s voice. (5) DON’T: Do not change pronouns merely to accommodate “gender neutrality.” Most of the pronouns I use are “he.” Do not change this to “he or she,” and certainly not “he/she,” and most definitely not “they.” An occasional change of “he” to “she” (or even to “he or she”) may be acceptable, if it genuinely does make the text a little better. But don’t just do this arbitrarily. (6) DO: Use the Microsoft Word tracking feature for your edits. (7) DO: Make comments and suggestions if you have a question or criticism; or for pointing out if something is unclear, or inaccurate, or deficient in some other way.