Fiction Critiques & Editing

I deliver manuscript critiques and editing for complete or partial manuscripts. Pricing is calculated on a per-word basis for most services.

A Few Work Notes:

I use standard American English and the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style for all book edits. If you have a different style guide that you’d like to see followed for your web content, I’m willing to work with that, too. I use Microsoft Word’s in-text comments and Track Changes features for most editing jobs, and I accept payment through PayPal or credit card unless otherwise agreed upon ahead of time.

Request a sample or quote.

Manuscript Critiques

  • What is this?
  • If you’ve finished your manuscript and want to know where to focus your revisions, I will do a close reading of your book and point out big-picture aspects that need to be addressed. You will receive a multi-page analysis of your story’s structure, pacing, character development, viewpoint, continuity, clarity, style, and common errors. I’ll address your story’s strengths and weaknesses, giving you an idea of what I loved about your book and what I would suggest strengthening.
    The letter itself is pretty thorough, but if you want a little more, I also include the add-on of chapter feedback. With this add-on, I’ll write up comments and suggestions (a paragraph on average) for each chapter or equivalent section to review that chapter’s arc, place in the story, and specific strengths and weaknesses.
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  • What will it cost? With the critique letter alone, $0.01/word ($100/10k words). With the chapter feedback add-on, the total comes to $0.015/word ($150/10k words). There is a $25 letter fee added to all critiques of short projects (under 25k words).
  • If you book a second critique pass at a later date, the second pass may be eligible for a discount; ask me for details when booking your project.

Developmental Editing

  • What is this? If you’re looking for an edit that offers the big-picture feedback of the manuscript critique and chapter comments as well as scene-by-scene feedback in the manuscript itself, I provide in-depth developmental editing for full or partial manuscripts. With these edits, you’ll receive the analysis letter and chapter comments described above as well as annotations in your manuscript, where I will include an average of 1-3 in-text comments per page, adding focused suggestions as well as feedback on where I was confused, intrigued, bored, skeptical, or caught up in the story.
  • What will it cost? Developmental edits cost $0.02/word ($200/10k words).

Line Editing

  • What is this? If you’re happy with where the content of your manuscript is and want to make sure your story sounds good, I provide line editing to address and fix issues with wording, dialogue, flow, and style while preserving your voice and intent. I will fix most obvious grammar errors, but this won’t include a full copyedit unless you request a combo edit.
  • What will it cost? Line edits cost $0.02-$0.04/word based on work needed.

Copyediting

  • What is this? If your manuscript has been revised on a larger scale and is ready to be polished, I provide copyediting services to match where your manuscript is at. Basic copyedits will focus on grammar, punctuation, word usage, and other technicalities. For manuscripts that need a little more tuning up, I will also fix issues with dialogue, formatting, and anything else we identify based on a sample edit.
  • What will it cost? Copyedits cost $0.02-$0.04/word based on work needed.
  • Need more than one level of editing? Ask me about multi-pass combos and discounts.

Query Letter & First Five Edits

  • What is this? If your manuscript is ready to be submitted to an agent, publisher, or contest, I will do an in-depth line edit with feedback on your first five pages (up to 1500 words) as well as a two-pass critique and edit of your query letter.
  • What will it cost? $65 flat fee.

Not sure what you need? Get in touch about your project.