Substantive Editing Services
A look 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, tips for improving the manuscript, and flyers for future review.
A substantive edit includes:
Characterization
Relatability • Believability
Goals/Motivation/Conflict • Backstory
Plot Development
Hook • Transitional elements
Introduction/Conclusion • Subplots
General writing techniques
Point-of-view • Showing vs. telling
Dialogue • Sensory Details
Setting
Genre-Specific Notes
Assessment of Basic Writing Skills
Grammar • Punctuation
Formatting • Pacing •Voice
Overall assessment of the story and writing strengths and weaknesses
Fiction flyers to explain various fiction-writing techniques (as needed)
Style Sheet for Manuscript
Base Rate: $0.04/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Perfect for new writers (unpublished or who have not yet secured an agent or publisher) or for experienced writers who are writing in a new genre.