An in-depth, high-level critique that centers on your story’s movement and its textual execution. I identify what’s working, what could use more work, and how to align your vision with the strongest version of your manuscript.
Many resources aid the way I think about the components of writing—what a narrative can be and do—the various ways a narrative can move and invent itself. There are more resources than I can hope to recollect here; but, to provide you with a brief overview of what informs the way(s) I’d approach your manuscript, here’s a brief list of some resources I hold in high regard:
Aspects of the Novel (E.M. Forster), Essentials of the Theory of Fiction (eds. Michael J. Hoffman & Patrick D. Murphy), Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping (Matthew Salesses), How to Read Now: Essays (Elaine Castillo), “Paranoid Reading and Reparative Reading, Or, You’re So Paranoid, You Probably Think This Essay is About You” (Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick), How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill (ed. Jericho Brown), and Eudora Welty’s essays on writing.
In addition to the standard “big picture” elements like story and character arcs, plot structure, narrative voice, style, and narrative control, I also read for:
My skillset is best suited for manuscripts that fall within the literary fiction category.
An avowal: I will never share your writing with Artificial Intelligence nor use it to assist in the editing of your work.
Thank you for challenging me to focus on elements I don't often consider while respecting my style and intent.
Your critiques were informative and made me reflect heavily on how to improve and expand on my concepts.
This service is for prose manuscripts of every length: short story or essay (both individual stories or essays and story or essay collections), novelette, novella, and novel or memoir.
An editorial letter plus line comments and an optional post-feedback call to discuss any concerns or follow-up questions you may have. Plus, you can submit up to two revisions for developmental feedback at no additional cost.
The price for this service is project-based. Price is affected by factors such as manuscript length, language complexity, and genre considerations, as these factors determine the time, energy, and effort levels required to provide the highest quality feedback. Generally, my prices correspond with mid-tier industry standards.
The guarantee: The price that I quote you is the price that you will pay. There are no hidden or additional fees, even if your project turns out to take more time and effort than I anticipated.
To get started with a quote, initiate the process below.
You'll submit a request for the service (via the above "REQUEST AN EDIT" button). Based on the information you provide, I'll let you know if I'm able to meet your request.
If I accept your request, you'll send a 1,000 word sample of your manuscript, which I'll review, edit, and return to you.
Based on the sample, I will also send along a quote for the full manuscript edit.
The flat rate for the sample edit is $35. The feedback is yours to keep and use as you see fit, even if you choose not to move forward with my service. If you choose to move forward with my service, the $35 gets deducted from the price of the full service.
Turnaround times vary. My ideal time for a book-length manuscript is around two months from the date your invoice is settled (you can settle your invoice electronically [split payments available] or via barter), with shorter turnaround times for shorter works. However, this service is provided on a first come, first served basis. This means the actual turnaround is contingent upon the number of projects I've agreed to service at the time.
I am able to offer content + copyediting and even proofreading. However, if you're seeking a developmental edit it's because you know that there are parts of your project that need to shift, parts that need to go, and/or new parts that need to be brought in. The structure and appearance of your manuscript will change. For this reason, I do not offer the option to tack these other editing forms onto the developmental edit.
If you'd like me to perform a line + copyedit after you've revised your manuscript, we can discuss that.
