Developmental Editing and Manuscript Evaluation

Editing is more of an art than a science, and I’m not going to use some cooked-up, one-size-fits-all formula. Nor will I turn your book into the book I would have written. Whether you’re an author of fiction or nonfiction, I’ll help make your book its best possible self so you can reach more readers.

Developmental editing focuses on big-picture items like plot, organization, chapter and scene structure, character development, point of view, setting and description, the hook, the tortured middle, the climax and conclusion, pacing, and so on. It includes two related services. First, I’ll read your manuscript with great care and write a ten-to-twenty-page (single-spaced) editorial letter that includes an overview of the manuscript and actionable, concrete steps for improving it. Additionally, I’ll add margin notes to the manuscript itself that point out troublesome sections, paragraphs, sentences, and even words—with surgical precision—so you’ll know exactly what needs attention and how to fix it.

Manuscript evaluation is a lighter and less expensive version of developmental editing for authors who may not need as much granular feedback but still want to find out what isn’t quite working and how to fix it. I’ll read your manuscript with great care and write a ten-to-twenty-page (single-spaced) editorial letter that includes an overview of the manuscript and actionable, concrete steps for improving it, but I won’t add margin notes to the manuscript itself.

Developmental editing and manuscript evaluation both answer the following questions: 

• Does the opening grab the reader’s attention and refuse to let go?
• Does my novel have any plot holes or illogical turns of events?
• Is my nonfiction book properly organized?
• Are my characters believable and well-rounded enough that readers can imagine them as real people outside the confines of the story?
• Does the pacing feel right?
• Am I clearly explaining everything in the right order, or will readers feel overwhelmed or lost?
• Are there any boring parts that I should cut or revise?
• Are my suspense scenes actually suspenseful?
• How about my setting and description? Can readers “see” my story as if it’s a movie playing in their minds? Do I have too much or not enough?
• Does the dialogue sound right?
• Is the climax satisfying?
• Am I missing anything key?
• Does my book meet audience expectations and deliver on its promise?
• Will readers want to buy my next book after they finish this one?

Line Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading

No publisher would ever skip copy editing. They wouldn’t survive if they didn’t publish clean books.

And every publisher relies on The Chicago Manual of Style to ensure quality and consistency across the industry. I use it too and can cite it from memory, so you can expect the same level of professional service from me.

And while I may be a grammar, punctuation, and word usage geek, I am no grammar cop. Only bad editors say you can’t break the rules if you know what you’re doing and your voice and style are better for it.

Everything is transparent, and all edits are optional. I track all the edits, and you’re free to reject any that don’t feel quite right for you. (I break a few rules in my own writing, although I do it carefully and with my eyes open.) And I’ll explain why I make changes if the reason isn’t obvious so you can trust that I’m not editing arbitrarily or imposing mysterious rules from above.

I certainly won’t step on your style or voice. A quality line editor and copy editor enhances an author’s authentic style and voice by removing errors, awkward phrasing, and lack of clarity that can get in the way.

Line editing improves paragraph structure, transitions, information flow, sentence construction, clarity, awkward phrasing, wordiness, logic, dialogue mechanics, the excessive use of passive voice, and more so that your writing is clear and compelling. Line edits are always suggestions as there’s no single, objectively correct way to line edit a manuscript. It’s an art, and ultimately it comes down to the editor’s skill, experience, and professional judgment. Line editing and copy editing can be combined into a single service if you want.

Email me and ask for a free sample edit and estimate so you’ll know exactly what you’ll get from me, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.

Copy editing is about the little things: grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, typos, and so on, that distract and annoy readers. No author can afford to skip this. Copy editing and line editing can be combined into a single service if you want.

Email me and ask for a free sample edit and estimate so you’ll know exactly what you’ll get from me, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.

Proofreading is the final and sometimes optional stage before publication after a manuscript has been copyedited. A proofreader makes one last clean-up pass through the manuscript to fix stray errors. It’s less labor intensive than copy editing and therefore less expensive, but it can’t replace copy editing. Email me and ask for a free sample edit and estimate so you’ll know exactly what you’ll get from me, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.

If you’re not sure what you need, that’s okay. Send me an email, and we’ll figure it out together.

Publishing

Your book is ready for publication. Now what?

Traditional publishers only pay around 8 percent royalties. While you can earn up to 70 percent royalties if you go with a hybrid publisher, they charge twice as much for services as freelancers do. All you need to sell your books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Google Play, Kobo, and more is an editor and a designer. You may want or need some help with publishing and marketing, but you can do both yourself without too much trouble if you want to save money and aren’t afraid of learning new things.

I can edit your book and send you on your merry way if that’s all you need help with, but so many of my clients also want design, publishing, and marketing services that I founded a company called Ink Lab Editing and Publishing that provides everything you might need, from editing and design to publishing and beyond. We can be a one-stop shop if you want, and because our overhead is virtually zero, we only charge half as much as hybrid publishers for the exact same services. Visit our website to learn more.