Services

Rates

All rates are determined by the scope of work and based on recommendations from the Editorial Freelancers Association, of which I am a member and the founder of the Colorado chapter. Please CONTACT ME for a consultation and cost estimate for your project.

Editorial Assessments

Editorial Assessments (also called Manuscript Assessments) are thorough, multipage reports discussing your manuscript from a high-level, birds-eye view.

Editorial Assessments offer big-picture editorial advice regarding things like overall organization/framework, general writing tone/style, overall timeline, major plot points, general use of setting, development of major characters, word count, and marketability. Editorial Assessments provide examples to highlight strengths/weaknesses and note areas that need special attention, but they do not include rewrites nor problem-solving solutions for complex issues. Editorial Assessments do not include a Marked-Up Manuscript.

Editorial Assessments are a good option for authors on a tight budget as they offer summarized yet specific feedback that may be applied directly to the manuscript.

Foci of Editorial Assessments:

• Major strengths/weaknesses

• Overall organization/framework

• General writing tone/style/flow

• Overall timeline

• Major plot points

• General use of setting

• Development of major characters

• Word count

• Marketability

Deliverables for Editorial Assessments:

• Multipage editorial report discussing your manuscript’s strengths/weaknesses and offering specific suggestions for improvement

• Thirty minutes of phone or Zoom consultation after edit concludes to discuss questions

Development Editing

Developmental Edits (also called Substantive Edits and Content Edits) are the most detailed edit available.

Development Edits involve a comprehensive, holistic, deep dive into a manuscript, and frequently include suggestions regarding organization/framework, theme, writing tone/voice, pacing, word count, clarity, consistency, and, when appropriate, timeline, narrative arcs, plot, setting, and character development. They often suggest tweaking, adding, or cutting portions of text. Development Edits offer suggestions on the writing itself to ensure it flows smoothly, and is accessible and organized. They also recommend solutions for problematic areas, including identifying any “holes” in the manuscript. Due to liability reasons, Developmental Edits do not include fact checking. 

Development Edits are most helpful if word count (length) is a concern because they will include suggestions of where to cut or add—while always preserving your voice and message. 

Deliverables for Development Edits include a Marked-Up Manuscript and an Editorial Letter that discusses substantive issues and offers suggestions for improvement. (Some editors only provide an Editorial Letter, but I’ve found most manuscripts benefit from both.) Developmental edits also include one hour of phone or Zoom consultation after the edit concludes to discuss questions.

FAQ: What is included in a “marked-up manuscript” for a Developmental Edit?

Using “track changes” in Microsoft Word, the editor offers comments in the Marked-Up Manuscript to point out problematic elements, suggest places to cut/expand, and note areas that need revision. Reorganization, rewriting, and recasting are completed as necessary in the manuscript itself, also using “track changes,” but the majority of rewrites are done by the author to maintain the author’s organic writing style. (If significant rewriting is needed, a Line Edit would be more appropriate.) Developmental Edits will suggest revisions that are grammatically correct but do not include a copyedit of the final manuscript. 

Foci of Developmental Edits:

• Organization/framework

• Writing tone/voice

• Pacing/flow

• Clarity

• Consistency

• Themes

• Narrative arcs

• Plot, including plot “holes”

• Timeline

• Setting/world building

• Major and minor character development

• Word count

• Marketability

Deliverables for Developmental Edits:

• Editorial Letter discussing overall impressions of your manuscript including strengths and weaknesses

• Marked-Up Manuscript (using “track changes” so you may accept/reject editorial recommendations as you see fit)

• One hour of phone or Zoom consultation after edit concludes to discuss questions

Line Editing

Line Edits offer revisions on the page, scene/section, paragraph, and line levels.

Line Edits address the prose, including paragraph/sentence structure, word choices, language techniques, writer’s “tics” (repetitive phrasing or structure), writing tone/voice, pacing/flow, clarity, and consistency, etc. Due to liability reasons, Line Edits do not include fact checking.

Deliverables for a Line Edit include a Marked-Up Manuscript and an Editorial Letter—all tailored to your unique manuscript. Line edits also include one hour of phone or Zoom consultation after the edit concludes to discuss questions.

Foci of Line Edits:

• Paragraph/sentence structure

• Word choices

• Language techniques

• Writer’s “tics” (repetitive phrasing or structure)

• Writing tone/voice

• Pacing/flow

• Clarity

• Consistency

Deliverables for Line Edits:

• Editorial Letter discussing overall impressions of the manuscript including strengths and weaknesses

• Marked-Up Manuscript (using “track changes” so you have control of all revisions)

• One hour of phone or Zoom consultation after edit concludes to discuss questions