Services

I work on manuscripts long and short, offering:

  • Big-Picture Editing (Developmental Edit or Manuscript Evaluation)
  • Line Editing and Copyediting
  • Comprehensive (two-pass) editing
  • Chapter-by-chapter editorial coaching
  • Outline critiques and story development
  • Book proposal development
  • Consultations for both Writers and Editors


Developmental Edit:

This is a close reading and thorough analysis of your manuscript that gives you an editor’s unvarnished opinion on big-picture story elements. It unpacks what works and what needs work. In fiction, the latter might include structural problems, pacing issues, plot holes, characterization and point of view issues, scene dynamics and dialogue, setting and description.

In non-fiction, the developmental edit focuses on content, structure, flow, clarity, and tone. It helps you hone in on what your readers will be looking for and arrive at the optimum structure to deliver it to them.

You will get: a heavily annotated manuscript and a detailed (12-15 page) editorial letter identifying your manuscript’s biggest strengths and weaknesses, with revision suggestions explained in depth. You’ll also get a book map, which is an overview analysis of your book. You will refer to this feedback again and again as you revise. Great both for early drafts and for writers who have polished their sentences but need to go back and rethink structure, plot or other big-picture issues.

Cost: varies by MS length–estimate 4 cents/word USD and up

Request a free, no-obligation sample edit


Manuscript Evaluation:

You’ve finished a draft and are looking for editorial guidance without investing in the expense or potentially overwhelming detail of a full-on developmental or substantive edit.

This evaluation is a close reading of your manuscript, annotations throughout the text, and a 5-7 page editorial letter that gives you an overview on its strengths and weaknesses, my unvarnished opinion on the book’s readiness for submission / publication, and suggestions on where to focus your revision efforts.

Cost: varies by MS length–estimate 2.5 cents/word USD and up

Request a free, no-obligation sample edit


Comprehensive Edit:

This is a two-pass process: first a manuscript evaluation as described above, then line edits and copyedits on your revised manuscript along with feedback on your revision and any additional big-picture suggestions.

Cost: varies by MS length–estimate 6 cents/word USD and up

Request a free, no-obligation sample edit


Line Edit and Copyedit:

Line editing addresses clarity and flow, sentence structure, redundancies and ambiguity. It aims for consistency and grace. Copyediting addresses spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar and word usage. There is overlap between the two. The goal of both is to preserve the writer’s natural tone while removing errors.

For book-length manuscripts I will usually line edit and copyedit in the same pass, often after having done a big-picture pass (either MS evaluation or developmental edit). For short pieces, line editing and copyediting can help tremendously in taking the piece from ‘meh’ to very good or great (depending on the original level of the prose).

Cost: 3.5 cents/word and up

Request a free, no-obligation sample edit


Editorial Coaching:

Get your book on track with an intensive editing and coaching experience.

You will get: ongoing editorial coaching in chunks of 5,000-10,000 words (or whatever length would benefit you the most), revision comments, memos outlining strengths and weaknesses of each section, targeted resources (articles, exercises) to strengthen your writing weaknesses, and optional video meetings to discuss your writing, set goals and overcome challenges.

If you have a stalled project or are losing momentum, this mentoring and editorial service is the perfect combination to get you closer to those two most wonderful words in the writer’s lexicon: THE END.

Cost: 5 cents/word plus 100 USD/hour for meetings

Request a free, no-obligation proposal or book a paid consultation on Calendly


Synopsis / Outline Critique and Story Development (Fiction):

Work out the flaws in your novel’s big-picture elements before you get too far into the writing with this efficient approach. Less expensive than getting an edit on a completed manuscript. Useful for any writer who knows they have trouble with narrative arc, structure, pacing, character motivations or other big-picture elements. You will write 2-3 versions of the novel’s premise and a 5-10 page synopsis as part of this exchange (instructions will be provided).

Cost: Varies

Request a free, no-obligation proposal or book a paid consultation on Calendly


Book Proposal Development (Nonfiction):

Before you write the book, write a proposal. This document helps you hone in on who the book is for and what your particular slant on the topic is, so you can make those hundreds of decisions that writing a nonfiction book entails. I will guide you through the process of honing your book’s premise, and evaluating comparative titles, identifying your readership. Then you will write the book proposal’s rough draft based on information I provide. I’ll give you big-picture feedback on the proposal. After you revise, I’ll polish your prose by line editing and and copyediting to bring it to the standards expected by agents and publishers.

Cost: Varies

Request a free, no-obligation proposal or book a paid consultation on Calendly


For Writers or Editors: 60-Minute Consultation

Writers: Need a sounding board or a professional consultation? One hour with me can save you hundreds of hours (not to mention hundreds or thousands of dollars) of wheel-spinning. Talk with me about your book, your series, your writing goals, a sticky craft issue, traditional vs. indie publishing…or any writing-related topic that needs an objective perspective and craft / industry knowledge.

Cost: 100 USD/hour

Visit my Calendly page and book a consultation

Editors: Need a sounding board or a professional consultation? One hour with me can save you hundreds of hours (not to mention hundreds or thousands of dollars) of wheel-spinning. Talk with me about your editing business, editorial processes and systems, your career trajectory, how to write and edit simultaneously, how to present yourself, to niche or not to niche, how to market your services…or any editing-related topic that needs an objective perspective and craft / industry knowledge.

Cost: 100 USD/hour

Visit my Calendly page and book a consultation

How to decide?

If you have a book-length manuscript (fiction, nonfiction or memoir), find more information here.

If you write short stories, visit here.

Still not sure? Contact me and start a conversation.