Services: Developmental Editing (Content Editing)

Developmental Editing

Rate begins at .025 per word

Is the foundation of your story sound? If not, my story-level developmental edit will point out the strengths and weaknesses in your storytelling and give you the building blocks necessary to revise your manuscript.

My insights and recommendations will be reflected in an “author letter” and in Track Changes comments in Microsoft Word. I may suggest major revisions to your story. I will provide some light line editing in select areas to give you an idea about the types of comprehensive changes you’ll need to make to strengthen your manuscript; however, I will not rewrite or revise the entire manuscript for you because it’s important that your book reflect your unique voice.

Based on the author letter and my comments and markups in Track Changes, you’ll learn more about your writing craft and will gain insights to help you grow stronger as an author.

This service includes 2 hours of follow-up communication to discuss or review changes after they’ve been incorporated. Additional developmental passes are available for an extra fee. No copyediting or proofreading is provided with a developmental edit. After you’ve incorporated changes, a round of line editing with copyediting can be added as a separate service.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING ADDRESSES THESE AREAS:

  • Plot
  • Character motivation
  • Pacing
  • Dramatic tension and conflict
  • Characterization
  • Narrative tone and language
  • Overall structure
  • Conflict
  • Setting and worldbuilding
  • Dialogue
  • Showing vs. telling
  • Point of view, including head hopping

If you’re on a tight budget and want a professional’s insights about what’s working in your story and what’s not, check out my Manuscript Critique service. Or, if you’d like to get an early idea about whether your story is working, a Mini Developmental Edit of your first three chapters is available.

The per-word rate listed is a starting rate. I will individualize your quote based on a manuscript assessment and brief sample line edit, so I can determine how long it will take to complete your project. All editing quotes reflect my hourly rate of $50. There is a $75 minimum for all projects.

Thorough, Thoughtful Word-Prowith a
specialized
editing certificate

Line Editing

Addresses tone, flow, pacing, dialogue and narrative structure, repetition, and more at the sentence and paragraph levels. Click here for more details and rates.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING

Tackles story-level issues such as plot, conflict, characterization, worldbuilding, credibility, showing vs. telling, and point of view. Click here for more details and rates.

INDIES-ONLY COPYEDITING

Designed for indie authors on a budget, this basic service focuses on mechanical errors in grammar, syntax, punctuation, consistency, spelling, and style. For indie fiction only. Click here for more details. Click here for more details and rates.

Proofreading

A final check for straggling errors, typos, missing words, and punctuation and spelling errors. Click here for more details and rates.

Other Services

Other available services include manuscript critiquing, help with your book blurb, book synopsis, query letter, or book proposal, and writer coaching. Click here for more details and rates.
My schedule fills quickly. Please book early.