Substantive Fiction Editing:
A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out areas for improvement, they also include notes, suggestions, and tips for improving the manuscript.
A substantive edit includes:
Fiction-writing evaluation, including:
- Characterization
- Relatability
- Believability
- Goals/motivation/conflict
- Backstory
- Plot development
- Hook
- Transitional elements
- Introduction/conclusion
- Subplots
- Setting
- Genre-specific notes
- General writing techniques
- Point-of-view
- Showing vs. telling
- Dialogue
- Including the five senses
- Assessment of basic writing skills
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Formatting
- Pacing
- Voice
- Overall assessment of the story and writing strengths and weaknesses
- Fiction Fliers to explain various fiction-writing techniques (as needed)
Rate: $0.035/word
Who needs a substantive edit?
Perfect for new writers (unpublished or who have not yet secured an agent or publisher) or for experienced writers who are writing in a new genre.
Fiction Line Editing:
After the substantive edit, the line edit looks at your manuscript line-by-line to help transform a good story into a great novel.
A line edit will help you:
- Tighten your writing
- Find ways to improve the natural flow of the piece
- Correct continuity issues
- Replace good words with better words (to capture and engage your reader’s attention)
- Polish your story
Rate: $0.025-.03/word
Who needs a line edit?
When agents and publishers are requesting to read sample chapters or the full manuscript but the novel still hasn’t garnered a contract, try a line edit.
Developmental Fiction Editing:
A full, substantive edit with most of changes made for you! You’ll still receive the same comments, suggestions, and tips regarding characterization and plot, but the editor will make as many of the edits for you as possible.
A developmental edit includes:
- Communication between editor and author to clarify issues for editing
- Correcting/rewriting trouble areas, including:
- Inconsistencies (spellings, descriptions, etc.)
- Telling
- Passive voice
- Point-of-view
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Reorganizing for clarity and flow
The editor will send two copies of the manuscript: one with changes marked and a clean copy with all changes made.
Rate: $0.04-.05/word
Novel Critique:
In a hurry? Are finances tight? Consider a critique. Get an assessment of your manuscript without the line-by-line comments and edits. A critique includes:
- Overall assessment of the story and writing strengths and weaknesses
- Comments and suggestions at the end of each chapter
- Fiction Fliers to explain various fiction-writing techniques (as needed)
- Recommendations for the next step
Rate: $2/page (1” margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced)
The cost of a critique can be applied toward a substantive, developmental, or line edit.
Novel Assessment:
Get an assessment of your manuscript from an industry profession. An assessment includes:
- Overall impression of the story and its marketability
- Review writing strengths and weaknesses
- Recommendations for the next step
Rate: $1/page (1” margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced)
The cost of an assessment can be applied toward a substantive, developmental, or line edit.
Chapter Assessments:
Assessment of writing skills, strengths, weaknesses, and challenges, plus recommendations for next steps
One chapter: $50 (up to 15 pages; 1” margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced)
Three chapters: $125 (up to 50 pages; 1” margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced)
Fiction Coaching:
Whether you have an idea that needs development or skills that need honing, I will work with you to strengthen your writing and help prepare it for publication. No need to have a complete manuscript. I can help with that too! As your coach, you can expect:
- Manuscript development, from initial concept to completion
- Strengthening your weaknesses
- Learning to self-edit
- Market research
- Brainstorming
Fiction coaching includes a first chapter critique plus critiques of subsequent chapters, correspondence to discuss the chapters, and help as needed to learn and understand fiction writing techniques.
Coaching rates vary depending on manuscript length, quality, and needs. Contact me for more information on coaching and availability!
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Copyediting (provided by Irene Chambers, Onward Editing)
- Close-up technicalities
- Review and correction of spelling, capitalization, grammar, usage, typos
- Also, word and line spacing, consistency of terms, hyphenation, style
- Formatting of dialogue, numbers, spacing, headings, tables, references
- Targeted Skills Sheets for future reference
- Style Sheet for manuscript
- 2.5¢ per word and up
Proofreading (provided by Irene Chambers, Onward Editing)
- Last step before publishing
- Final, intense review to catch stray errors
- Spelling, capitalization, grammar, punctuation, usage, typos, formatting
- For manuscripts in publishable formatting and previously reviewed by an editor
- 1.5 ¢ per word and up
