EDITING SERVICES
Feedback from readers can be helpful, but feedback from
an experienced editor can help you pinpoint problems and take your story to
the next level.
That’s why I specialize in
developmental editing, which addresses the “big picture” elements of
your manuscript. Are your characters complex and compelling? Is your plot
built upon a chain of cause-and-effect? How is your story’s promise
reflected in the theme, character arcs, and plot events?
I analyze all of the major story elements, point out
strengths and weaknesses, and suggest specific ways you might improve your
manuscript. Plus, I give you tools that can help you as you embark on
revisions, such as a questionnaire to help you dig deeper into
your protagonist, brainstorming methods, and techniques to analyze the effectiveness of
individual scenes.
Why work with me?
I’m an award-winning novelist with nearly a decade of
experience as a writing teacher and staff member of the Odyssey Critique
Service. I have taught workshops for professionals as well as beginning
writers on topics ranging from enhancing the emotional impact of a story to
creating realistic dialogue to the building blocks of writing a novel.
What you get
· Two reads of your submission so I can really dig into your story.
·
Line edits and comments within the body of your manuscript.
·
An analysis of the "big picture" elements: premise and
promise; theme; world; characters; plot; setting and description; POV.
· Feedback on pacing, style, and emotional resonance.
·
Suggestions for improvement that can serve as a road map to
guide you through revisions.
· Tools to help you address your problem areas.
· One email follow-up to discuss any questions you might have about your critique.
The length of my analysis
depends on how much material you submit. For a full novel of
100,000 words, you can expect to receive 25-30 single-spaced pages of feedback. For a
short story, editing comments generally run 5-7 pages.
If cost is a concern, you may submit the opening chapters of your novel plus a synopsis of the entire story. I'll send you guidelines to help you create an outline that covers all the bases.
Pricing
When I began offering my services, I was appalled at the prices some editorial services charged. $2,500 for a basic copy edit. $8,000 for an “advanced” edit. And those were the so-called “student” prices! While I believe all writers should invest time, energy, and money in improving their craft, I don’t believe we have to bankrupt ourselves in the process.
That’s why I keep my prices reasonable. For a short story (up to 7,500 words), it's a flat fee of $200. For longer works - including novels - it's 2 cents/word. High school and college students may qualify for a 5% discount on their first submission.
Ready to get started? Have questions? Contact me!