After painstakingly climbing to the top, sometimes it’s hard to see the entire mountain.
Developmental editing and manuscript or chapter assessments can provide you an expert, birds-eye view of your manuscript, identifying strengths and challenge spots to prepare you for your next rewrite or edit.
We’ll work collaboratively to strengthen your current work-in-progress and build your overall writing and self-editing skills to set you on a path to success for all subsequent projects.
Developmental Editing
0.05/cents per word
A Developmental Edit is the most comprehensive developmental service I offer: we’ll cover all the high-level elements of your WIP, along with extensive in-manuscript notes and edits.
Whereas a Manuscript Assessment provides comprehensive feedback and a plan for further editing, a Developmental Edit puts that plan into action for you.
Developmental Edits Include:
- A holistic report (typically 25+ pages) addressing reader expectations for target genre and audience, theme, plots and subplots, characterization and character arcs, structure, pacing, worldbuilding/setting, narration and perspective, and writing style. This includes detailed discussion of successes and challenge points, and actionable advice to help plan your next steps for rewriting, further editing, or publication
- A Scene Editing Plan (provided as excel file) that guides you scene by scene in the edits implemented in the manuscript developmental edit
- Inline comments and edits (utilizing Word Track Changes) throughout work to implement the needs addressed in the developmental report
- A character map to help you visualize character arcs
- A one-hour follow-up consultation to discuss your developmental edit, answer questions, and plan next steps for your manuscript
Manuscript Assessments
Are you seeking an outside, professional perspective on your finished manuscript? Not quite ready for a full developmental edit? Feel confident in your own self-editing skillset? A Manuscript Assessment may be right for you!
Manuscript Assessments provide a birds-eye view of your writing to help identify strengths and challenges as you take the next step.
Simple
0.02/cents per word
Simple Manuscript Assessments Include:
- A holistic report (typically 20+ pages) addressing plots and subplots, characterization and character arcs, structure, pacing, worldbuilding/setting, narration and perspective, and writing style. This includes detailed discussion of successes and challenge points, and actionable advice to help plan your next steps for rewriting, further editing, or publication
- A one-hour follow-up consultation to discuss your manuscript assessment, answer questions, and plan next steps for your manuscript
Comprehensive
0.04/cents per word
Comprehensive Manuscript Assessments Include:
- A holistic report (typically 25+ pages) addressing reader expectations for target genre and audience, theme, plots and subplots, characterization and character arcs, structure, pacing, worldbuilding/setting, narration and perspective, and writing style. This includes detailed discussion of successes and challenge points, and actionable advice to help plan your next steps for rewriting, further editing, or publication
- A Scene Editing Plan (provided as excel file) that provides a scene-by-scene possible editing plan to kickstart your creative process for future edits and revisions
- A character map to help you visualize character arcs
- A one-hour follow-up consultation to discuss your manuscript assessment, answer questions, and plan next steps for your manuscript
First Chapter
Flat project fee of $100
(up to 5,000 words)
Your first chapter is the critical test for readers, publishers, reviewers, and agents to connect with your text and keep turning the page.
This assessment is ideal for those wanting to give their first chapter specialized attention, or for those wanting professional feedback on their story start before drafting the entire manuscript.
First Chapter Assessments Include:
- A holistic report (typically 3-5 pages) addressing the introduction of main characters and narrative stakes, pacing, narration and perspective, and writing style.
Story Start
Flat project rate of $425
(up to 20,000 words)
Similar to the First Chapter Assessment, this option allows you to perfect your story opening and development as you move towards your story’s midpoint.
Story Start Assessments Include:
- A holistic report (typically 10+ pages) addressing the introduction of characters and character development, plot development, narrative stakes, pacing, narration and perspective, and writing style. Also included is a detailed discussion of the overall successes and challenge points within the manuscript chapters.