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Editorial Services

Manuscript Critique

I will evaluate all big-picture aspects of your novel, such as plot and character development. I also offer advice on crucial smaller-picture issues, such as showing vs. telling. When you hire me for a Manuscript Critique, you get:

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  • A 15- to 20-page Editorial Report assessing the application of major storytelling elements in your novel, including plot structure, character arc, theme, pacing, voice, descriptions, dialogue, and much more. Your novel will also be assessed for its fit with your intended genre and target audience.

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  • A Game Plan for you to use as you tackle the biggest areas for improvement indicated in your Editorial Report.

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  • A Story Map, which is a scene-by-scene reverse outline of your novel. This helps you see your story’s full plot from a bird’s-eye view and shows you where structural issues at the story and scene level may need to be resolved. It also identifies any glaring inconsistencies and plot holes.

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  • Email follow-ups so you can ask any questions you may have about my feedback. You are also welcome to update your Story Map based on my feedback and send me the new version to look at.

Developmental Edit

The Developmental Edit takes the Manuscript Critique a step further, as you will also receive a copy of your manuscript chock full of specific advice. I will also do some light editing to show you precisely how to resolve recurring issues with your story, both big and small. If you choose a Developmental Edit, you get:

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  • The same Editorial Report and Game Plan included in the Manuscript Critique.​​

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  • An expanded version of the Story Map. In this version, I also provide commentary on each scene indicating the specific strengths and weaknesses of your story’s plot, as well as suggestions for improvement.

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  • A copy of your full manuscript with an average of one to two comments per page indicating precisely where potential problems (and flashes of brilliance) arise. In addition to guiding you as you apply the feedback provided in your Editorial Report, my comments will indicate various small issues that weren’t severe enough to include in the report. I will also do some light editing to show you how you might go about fixing recurring problems in your manuscript.

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  • Email follow-ups so you can ask any questions you may have about my feedback. You are also welcome to update your Story Map based on my feedback and send me the new version to look at.

What exactly do you get when you hire me to edit your novel?

 

My editing style is friendly and supportive but also highly objective, with my feedback being very heavily based on storytelling theory and current trends in the middle grade and young adult markets. While I will let you know what aspects of your novel are working well, my feedback primarily focuses on opportunities for improvement so that you can put the best book possible out into the world.

 

My typical editing process looks like this:

 

1. I read your manuscript straight through so I can experience your novel as your readers will. I may highlight especially strong passages, as well as those that I know will need work, but I don’t take any detailed notes at this stage.

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2. I review your Client Questionnaire, which will be sent to you before the editing process begins, and compare it to my initial impressions of your story. If there are any glaring discrepancies (e.g., if I thought your book was intended for middle grade readers but you’ve stated that your target audience is young adults), I will bring these to your attention in your Editorial Report.

 

3. I read your manuscript again, this time as an editor. I take notes that will later be transformed into your Editorial Report, and I stop after each scene to enter key details about plot and character development into your Story Map. For full developmental edits, I also add detailed notes to the Story Map to highlight strong and weak points.

 

4. After the second read-through of your novel, I go through the completed Story Map from start to finish to pinpoint exactly where plot structure, scene structure, character arc, and thematic elements need more development. For full developmental edits, I also offer specific suggestions on how you could resolve these problems.

 

5. I convert the notes I took during Step 3 into an Editorial Report. While every story has different needs, the typical areas that I organize my feedback into are:

  • main plot structure

  • subplot structure

  • scene structure

  • theme

  • analyses of the protagonist, antagonist, and the most important secondary characters

  • backstory

  • worldbuilding

  • showing vs. telling

  • setting

  • dialogue

  • voice, tone, and style

  • point of view

  • pacing

  • any topics that you specifically mentioned in your Client Questionnaire

  • any unique issues that I noticed while reading your manuscript

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6. Once I’ve finished writing the Editorial Report, I review it and add a plan of attack at the end, showing you specifically how to move forward as you continue working on your novel.

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7. For full developmental edits, I work my way through your manuscript a third time, adding an average of one to two in-text comments per page to highlight specific instances of the problems noted in your Editorial Report. I also point out small issues that may require your attention but were not worthy of inclusion in the Editorial Report. As I do this, I will also do some light editing as needed (with Track Changes enabled) to show you how you might go about implementing my advice.

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Rates

 

Since I am new to the profession of developmental editing and still learning on the job to some extent, I am currently offering my services for free.

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