Full-Novel Developmental Edit

Your story has potential. Let's unlock it. Can't seem to move forward on your novel? Every novelist has experienced this; you are not alone! 

What is developmental editing? 

Developmental editing focuses on the big-picture elements of your manuscript—plot, structure, character development, and pacing—to ensure your story works as a cohesive, compelling whole. My developmental edit will analyze:

• Overall strengths of the manuscript
• Story-level analysis - Plot & Structure, Character Development, and Setting & World-building
• Craft-level analysis - Point of View & Voice, Scene Construction, Opening & Ending
• Market and genre considerations
• Revision priorities
• Next steps

Perfect for: The novelist with a great idea and a rough draft.

The result: At completion, you'll receive an editorial breakdown (8-10 pages) which covers the above components of analysis. This will provide you with a clear map for moving forward with revisions that will elevate your novel to its best self. 

Timeline: 8-12 weeks 

Polish your prose to perfection. Line editing focuses on the craft of your writing and enhances clarity, flow, and style while preserving your unique voice. I'll work sentence by sentence to eliminate awkward phrasing, tighten passages, and ensure your prose reads smoothly and engages the reader.

What line editing addresses:

• Sentence structure and flow
• Word choice and precision
• Tone and voice consistency
• Clarity and readability
• Transitions between paragraphs and sections
• Eliminating redundancy

Perfect for: Manuscripts that are structurally sound but need refinement at the sentence level. This service transforms good writing into great writing, ensuring every sentence serves your story effectively.

The result: Polished, professional prose that draws readers in and keeps them turning pages.

Timeline: 8-10 weeks 

Grammar check for grown-ups.

Your plot works, your characters are compelling, and the line-level writing is good, but every time you go back to your manuscript, you find another error. Ugh! 

What is copy editing?

Copy editing focuses on the sentence level of your manuscript: grammar, punctuation, syntax, word choice, and flow. Sometimes called proofreading.

• Grammar, punctuation, and syntax errors
• Repetitive phrasing and awkward constructions
• Timeline and factual inconsistencies
• Character and setting details for internal consistency

Perfect for: The novelist who's ready to query but wants that one final clean-up edit. 

The result: You'll receive your manuscript with corrections in tracked changes and comments where clarity is needed.

Timeline: 4-6 weeks

Make your opening irresistible. Your novel's first pages are crucial. They determine whether agents request more, whether editors keep reading, and whether readers buy your book. Get professional feedback on your opening to ensure it hooks from page one and sets up your story for success.

What you'll receive:

• Detailed feedback on your opening's effectiveness and impact
• Line-by-line notes highlighting strengths and areas for improvement
• Hook analysis (Does your first paragraph grab attention?)
• Character introduction assessment  (Are readers immediately invested?)
• Pacing and tension evaluation (Does the story pull readers forward?)
• Voice and tone consistency check
• Genre expectations (Does your opening deliver what readers expect?)
• Actionable revision suggestions to strengthen your opening

Why the first 20 pages matter: Agents typically decide within the first few pages whether to keep reading. Readers make purchase decisions based on the opening. Your manuscript's fate often hinges on these crucial pages.

Perfect for:

• Authors preparing to query agents
• Authors whose submissions aren't generating requests
• Authors who want to perfect their opening before investing in full editing
• Anyone seeking targeted feedback on their novel's beginning scenes

Timeline: 2 weeks  Format: Annotated manuscript + 1-2 page summary letter

Your novel deserves a query that gets noticed. A compelling manuscript needs an equally compelling query letter to land in front of agents and publishers. 

What you'll receive:

• Professional critique of your existing query letter
• Revised version that hooks from the first line

Why this matters: Even the best manuscripts get rejected due to weak query letters. Agents receive hundreds of queries weekly. Yours needs to stand out in their inbox and compel them to request pages.

Perfect for: Writers ready to submit to agents, authors whose queries aren't generating requests, or anyone who wants their query professionally polished before submission.

Timeline: 5-7 business days