I would first read your manuscript all the way through and make extensive notes for myself on the key elements of the book. For fiction, this could include plotting, characterisation, or pacing, but for non-fiction that could include things like argument structure, consistency of tone or narrative voice. However, each book is different, and my notes and final edit will be tailored towards the particular needs of your project.

After compiling my notes, I would go back through the text once more and undertake a close line edit, this time highlighting anything for you that I feel isn’t working as well as it could. I would leave comments in the document detailing my specific issues and suggest how you might want to approach improving those particular areas. I would highlight sections I think could be moved, and indicate where and how I think you could move them.

Once I’d completed my second read-through, I would return to my notes and put together a detailed report for you that lays out my overall thoughts on the book. The aim of this report would be to highlight the areas in which your manuscript excels and which parts require some attention. As opposed to the marked-up manuscript, this report would be more focused on big-picture issues such as pacing or plot structure. However, if I've spotted any consistent 'habits' that I think are worth pointing out (such as overuse of certain words), I'll mention those here too so you can be aware of them when undertaking future projects.

Once I've sent the manuscript and report back to you, we could then set up a one-hour call to talk through the edit. This would be your opportunity to ask for clarification on any points I raised, ask any questions you feel may not have been covered, or discuss possible solutions to problems raised in my report.