Developmental Editing

I will read your manuscript with an eagle eye towards how the larger structural pieces-plot, characters, relationships, etc.-come together to form the most cohesive whole. Are plot developments natural, interesting, and believable? Would it make sense to move or cut a particular scene? Are the characters consistent? Do relationships feel relatable and develop believably? You will receive back an annotated manuscript as well as an editorial letter providing feedback and detailed suggestions.

Line Editing

I will comb carefully through your manuscript at the sentence level with a focus on presenting your voice in the most polished manner possible. Does dialogue sound stilted? Could paragraphs be eliminated to speed up pacing? Is word choice precise? Are there clunky sentence formulations? You will receive back an annotated manuscript as well as an editorial letter providing an overview with suggestions to keep in mind while revising. This edit often works best as a follow up to a developmental edit; in that case, I will also provide feedback on changes made in line with earlier editorial suggestions.

Manuscript Critique

Not sure exactly which subgenre your book fits best into? Looking for feedback on overall strengths and weaknesses, or just one or two specific issues? Curious about what an acquisition editor’s gut reaction would be to your work? I will read your manuscript and provide a 1-page general assessment and recommendations OR response to your specific questions/concerns.

Career Consultation

At a traditional publishing house, an editor’s job (in addition to editing!) is to constantly be selling her books, first to the publisher and/or editorial board in order to acquire a project, then to other departments (including marketing, publicity, and sales), and ultimately to account buyers and readers. During a 1-hr phone call, I will bring my experience positioning hundreds of books for publication to bear on your brand: what are the most effective sales handles for you and your work? Who is your audience, and how can you best reach them?