My services
I work with writers who want to make sure their work is as clear and complete as possible before submitting to agents and publishers. While I’m open to a variety of projects, my sweet spots are historical fiction, literary fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction. I particularly enjoy paring large manuscripts to acceptable submission size in a way that says more, not less.
Developmental edit and line edit package
• A developmental edit (sometimes called a comprehensive edit) looks at the big picture to determine whether structure, presentation of stakes, historical information, characterization, world-building, plot, conflict, theme, and related elements lead to a compelling narrative.
• A line edit analyzes the work sentence by sentence, improving syntax, pacing, style, tone, clarity, voice, and word choice.
• If a dev edit looks at the forest, a line edit looks at each tree. I consider the line edit an essential partner to the dev edit, helping establish what the work wants to be. If something isn’t working at the structural level, the line edit helps reveals it and often leads to a solution, especially as I provide alternate wording or ideas to improve.
• My dev and line edit package includes track changes and comments in the manuscript itself, plus an editorial letter regarding the overall project, sent electronically via email attachment. This is followed by a one-hour consultation via Zoom, in which we discuss doable next steps.
• A writer typically pays for a dev edit first, then a line edit. I offer both together in one package, as that is the way my mind works.
• $5,000-6,000 for a dev and a line edit in one package, for a manuscript up to 100,000 words.
Manuscript critique
• A manuscript critique analyzes structure, presentation of stakes, conflict, characterization, setting/world-building, plot, conflict, tone, theme, and pacing to make sure everything comes together to make the project work as a whole.
• The manuscript critique includes an editorial letter noting what is working and ways to improve elements that need work. Unlike a developmental/line edit, it does not include extensive edits and comments in the manuscript via track changes. At the conclusion of the project, an hour-long consultation, usually via Zoom, is included to discuss next steps.
• Cost $1,800-3000 depending on manuscript length and scope.
Submission package edit
• A submission package edit focuses on query letter, project overview or synopsis, and sample pages.
• A query letter describes your book, establishes target audience, includes comp titles, and provides a brief author bio, all in one page.
• A project overview or synopsis is a one- or two-page summary of what happens in your book.
• Sample pages provide an excerpt of your book, usually the first ten pages or first few chapters, depending on the targeted agent’s specifications.
• Cost $800.