Editorial Services
When you’ve spent months or years working on a manuscript, it can be difficult to see it as a reader will. You may know something isn’t working without knowing exactly what the problem is, or which revision would make the greatest difference.
I approach every manuscript as a reader first, then use my editorial experience to identify where and why the story may be losing its impact. My feedback is candid, constructive, and focused on helping you determine what to tackle next.
First 50 Pages Critique | $300
Turnaround: 10 days
The opening of a novel has to establish your characters, world, conflict, and voice while giving the reader a reason to keep turning pages. I’ll provide a close critique of your first 50 pages, focusing on the quality and effectiveness of the writing and the experience those pages create for the reader.
Feedback may address prose and voice, point of view, characterization, dialogue, exposition, clarity, worldbuilding, scene-level pacing and tension, and recurring writing habits that may be weakening the manuscript.
Includes: Inline comments throughout your first 50 pages, plus a focused summary of your Top Three Craft Priorities, identifying the areas I believe would make the greatest difference to your writing and explaining why.
You may also include an optional one-page synopsis or story overview if you’d like me to consider how effectively the opening sets up the larger story.
Query Package Assessment | $150
Turnaround: 10 days
Your query package has a lot of work to do in very little space. I’ll review your query letter, synopsis, and first 10 pages with an eye toward how effectively they work both individually and together.
Feedback may address your query’s hook, clarity, stakes, character, structure, genre positioning, and comps; whether your synopsis clearly communicates the novel’s story and character arc; and whether your opening pages deliver on the promise of the pitch and compel the reader to continue.
Includes: Detailed feedback on your query letter and synopsis, comments on your first 10 pages, and specific recommendations for revision.
Full Manuscript Assessment | Starting at $750
Turnaround: Up to one month
When you’ve revised a novel until you can no longer see the forest for the plot holes, a fresh reader can help you understand how the manuscript is working as a whole. I’ll read your complete novel and provide a comprehensive assessment of the reader experience and the larger craft issues affecting the story.
Depending on the needs of your manuscript, feedback may address plot and structure, character development and arcs, conflict, tension and stakes, pacing, narrative momentum, the effectiveness of the opening and ending, genre expectations, and recurring craft issues. Rather than cataloguing every possible change, I’ll focus on the issues I believe matter most.
Includes: A comprehensive editorial assessment and your Top Five Revision Priorities, identifying the changes I believe would make the greatest difference to the manuscript.
This service does not include inline comments or review of a revised manuscript.
Price:
Up to 80k words | $750
80k–100k words | $850
100k–120k words | $950
Over 120k words please inquire for a custom quote.