Yes, we strongly recommend completing developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading before formatting. Formatting locks in the layout, so any text changes made afterward (beyond minor fixes) can shift pagination, headers, and page counts, requiring a re-format. If you haven’t been edited yet, we’re happy to recommend trusted editors we’ve worked with.

Ideally, send your full text in reading order — title page, dedication, chapters, and back matter — in one document. Note where you’d like chapter breaks, part dividers, images, or special elements like poems, letters, or text messages so we can style them distinctly. You don’t need to format anything yourself; just flag anything unusual.

Formatting is a layout service, not a proofreading pass, so we don’t edit your prose. That said, if we notice an obvious typo or formatting inconsistency (like a stray tab or duplicated paragraph), we’ll flag it for you to confirm rather than silently changing your words. If you’d like a proofread, ask us about our [proofreading add-on / editing partners].

Minor changes (a sentence or a few words) can usually be worked into your revision rounds at no extra charge. Larger changes, like adding or removing a chapter, may require a partial or full re-format and could affect turnaround time and cost. We’ll always let you know before doing additional billable work.