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We offer editorial assessment and developmental editing as well as coaching/support sessions.
Editorial Assessment
What it is:
An editorial assessment is the first step in getting feedback on a novel draft, often after a first full (not rough) draft. An assessment looks at the “big picture” items such as plot, characters, and overall structure to evaluate what is working--and what isn’t--in the story. [Note: as former academics and student advisors, we can also assess dissertations, especially those relating to Creative Writing or English degrees; other disciplines depending on topic.]
What you get:
You’ll receive written feedback (1-3 pages, depending on the length of the draft sent) assessing the work. We can also offer advice on possible fixes to improve the piece. This level of editing doesn’t include copyediting or proofreading, though we do expect to receive a draft that has had a preliminary proofread so that it is easy to read without a lot of distracting mistakes. This edit can be supplemented with a one-on-one video session to discuss the feedback and offer next steps (see Support/Coaching Sessions below for details).
Want a sample?
If your budget doesn’t allow assessment of a full draft, we can also look at excerpts of one or more chapters after an initial email detailing the elements you want feedback on or specific questions you have; however, keep in mind that assessment of an excerpt will be limited in scope so elements such as plot, story structure, and character arc will be difficult without seeing a full draft.
Scheduling:
Depending on the length of the draft and the assessor’s current schedule, an editorial assessment can take a few weeks. We will discuss a delivery date with you.
Cost:
Editorial Assessment is charged by the word at £0.015/word.
Developmental Editing
What it is:
Developmental editing is the next step after an assessment and is a more in-depth analysis of your draft. Writing a novel is a challenge, and sometimes we find ourselves with thousands of words–hundreds of pages–and no objectivity anymore. It’s not working, or not working well, and we just don’t know where it’s gone wrong, or how to fix it. A developmental editor will read your draft with an eye towards the market (what readers and the publishing industry expect), but does not guarantee a publishing deal. However, getting a developmental edit can get you closer to a publication-ready manuscript. [Note: as former academics and student advisors, we can also help with dissertations, especially those relating to Creative Writing or English degrees; other disciplines depending on topic.]
What you get:
A developmental edit includes written feedback of a novel draft: some of it will comprise comments written on the draft itself (via comments on Track Changes), as well as a report breaking down the draft chapter by chapter, including a short summary of each chapter and describing how the draft is working with attention to various “big picture” writing elements such as characterization, story structure, plot, pacing, description, dialogue, etc. We can also offer advice on possible fixes to improve the piece. This level of editing doesn’t include any sort of copyediting or proofreading,
though we do expect to receive a draft that has had a preliminary proofread so that it is easy to read without a lot of distracting mistakes. This edit can be supplemented with a one-on-one video session to discuss the feedback and offer next steps (see Support/Coaching Sessions below for more info).
Want a sample?
Because this can be a big-ticket item for a writer, we do offer a sample edit of one or more chapters so that you can assess whether or not a full developmental edit will help you. The rate is the same, but if you then hire us to do a full developmental edit on the whole manuscript we will deduct the cost of the sample edit from the overall bill.
Scheduling:
Depending on the length of the draft and the assessor’s current schedule, an editorial assessment can take a few weeks. We will discuss a delivery date with you. Because of the depth of analysis that goes into developmental editing, it will on average take longer to do than an editorial assessment.
Cost:
Developmental Editing is charged by the word at £0.03/word.
Support/Coaching Sessions
What it is:
Beginner and advanced writers often find themselves stuck, and we're here to help! You can book a one-time support session or schedule a series of coaching sessions. We are both experienced in spending time with writers, from beginning to advanced. See list below for some topics we help with. We are here to support and advise, not to try to strong-arm you to do anything "our way".
What you get:
These sessions are live one-on-one via a video platform. However, they do not include reading drafts of your work (see Editorial Assessment and Developmental Editing for that; though you can add in support/coaching if you decide to go with the editing choices here).
Cost:
Support/Coaching sessions are held online and 30-minutes long at £50/half-hour. Ask about discounts for multiple bookings!
What we can help you with:
Dealing with how to start or finish a writing project
Overcoming writer's block
Considering where you are in your writing career and what your next moves could be
Examining what might be the best path forward, such as traditional publishing, small-press publishing, or self-publishing
Are you a student or academic? As former academics and student advisors, we can be a sounding board on various topics.
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