Developmental Edit

The developmental edit is the first stage in the editing process. It looks at the big picture, seeing the story as a whole and how all the pieces fit together.

During this edit, I figure out what’s working and what isn’t, and provide suggestions on how to strengthen those weaknesses. Some of these areas might include (but are not limited to) overall structure and pacing, conflict and tension, sub-plots, character arcs, viewpoints, and sticking the landing (i.e. crafting an ending that make your readers turn the last page and sit in awed/shocked/tearful silence for a few minutes/hours/days). I highlight specific instances in the document to show you exactly what I’m talking about.

I also tell you what you’re doing well. Writing can be such a solitary endeavour that it’s hard to know what’s working and what isn’t. I’ll show you both aspects of your writing.

I work in Microsoft Word using the Track Changes and Comments functions, allowing you to see and action my suggestions as you see fit. You’ll remain in full control—it’s your story, after all! I’ll also provide an approximately 10-page editorial report, summarising the key areas to focus on during your revisions. This is a handy document to refer back to, even when working on future manuscripts.

$0.035 AUD per word. Turnaround is 4–6 weeks. For quicker timelines, enquire about a customised quote.

Manuscript Critique

This is similar to a developmental edit in that I’ll look at any overarching issues (and what’s working well), and give you guidance on things to work on during your next draft.

However, as this service does not include in-text comments, it can be a cheaper alternative for the writer on a budget.

I’ll provide a ~10-page editorial report that focuses on the key areas of structure, tension and flow, characterisation, and plot, as well as anything else that needs mentioning.

$300 AUD per manuscript, between 60,000 and 80,000 words. Turnaround is 2–4 weeks. For quicker timelines and lower/higher wordcounts, please enquire about a customised quote.