Developmental Editing
Do you have a novel, memoir, or other creative writing project that is in serious need of some TLC?
Are you ready for more feedback than your best friend saying “I loved it!”?
Do you wish you had a book professional on your team who could tell you whether your characters are vibrant on the page, find your plot holes, discuss your thematic development, and more?
I’m a trained creative writing professional, award-winning author, and experienced developmental editor, and I’d love to work with you on your project!
What is “developmental editing”?
Developmental editing focuses on big picture feedback. A developmental edit considers character development, world-building, story logic, plot holes, pacing, and generally answers the question: “Does this story work?”
As developmental editor, my goal is to help you put together a revision plan that will prepare your project for its next step, whether that is publication, querying, or sharing with your friends and family.
Usually, this comes earlier in your project than other edits—perhaps after you’ve finished a first draft, or after you’ve gotten beta reader and workshop feedback.
What is not developmental editing?
When people think of “editing,” they often imagine someone with a red pen correcting your typos, fact-checking your history, or suggesting better sentence flow. That’s copyediting or line editing, and that is not included in my editing packages.
Why hire me?
I’m an experienced developmental editor! With Booktrope and Pink Fish Press, I edited 10+ published books, ranging from literary fiction to fantasy to memoirs.
As a romance author, I’ve kept my editing skills sharp by regularly serving as beta reader to my peers.
I’m an award-winning author, so I understand what it takes to craft a story and receive feedback about it.
I majored in creative writing at Northwestern University, led writing workshops, and edited a campus literary magazine, so I am experienced at sharing feedback with my fellow writers.
Pricing
My standard package is $800 for a project of up to 100,000 words. This includes:
A developmental edit letter with feedback on plot and story logic, character development, world-building, themes, and other “big picture” questions about your story
A 60-minute Zoom call to discuss my feedback and help you decide next steps for your project
For projects of more than 100,000 words, in-line comments, or other customizations, please reach out!
Reach out about a developmental edit!