Manuscript Development

Manuscript development is 4c per word, for works of 80k+ words.

To calculate your total, take your word count and multiply by 0.04. For example, a 90k word manuscript would be 90,000 x 0.04 = $3,600. 

Shorter manuscripts of 50k – 79k words are 4.5c per word. (Word count multiplied by 0.045.)

Epic manuscripts (150k+ words), novellas, and short stories are quoted on a case-by-case basis.

If you are working with a longer manuscript, please feel free to contact me for a custom quote. Some (but not all) projects qualify for a reduced rate, depending on the intensity of feedback required.

In short, voice recordings cover more ground, in greater depth, than the equivalent written report. After many years of providing this service I’ve also discovered that audio notes (paired with written notes) are the best way to guide a writer through insights and explore new ideas and solutions.

Yes, in addition to spoken feedback you will receive a 15 – 30 page report of in-depth scene and chapter notes, covering every plot point.

90% of the writers I work with choose to invest in manuscript assessment and development. If a draft hasn’t yet gone through any form of professional development we’ll likely need to strengthen the structure, character and plot arcs, pace, theme, and other key storytelling elements, before addressing final considerations like grammar and word usage. After all, it wouldn’t make sense to spend your editing dollars on perfecting a few lines of dialogue if the structural recommendations then call for cutting or re-writing that scene altogether.

In short, it’s a more intensive process, shaping the manuscript at a scene/chapter level and including a detailed written report in addition to the topline audio notes.

If manuscript development focuses on the story from a scene and chapter perspective, structural edits narrow down even further to analyze the text on a line and paragraph basis. This is achieved by inserting comments throughout the draft that highlight clunky sentences, moments of confusion, tense changes, inconsistencies and much more. For the greater majority of manuscripts however, big picture elements need to be strengthened before refining the work on a line-by-line basis.

The wait time for bookings generally runs at about 8 weeks and can be longer at certain times of the year. Once the process begins, most manuscript edits are completed within 10 – 14 working days.

The majority of writers take their assessment feedback and implement it into an advanced draft, which is then ready for submission to agents and publishers, or if they plan to self-publish, ready for copy editing and proofreading. Some writers decide to overhaul their initial draft altogether and will seek an additional round of assessment to get feedback on the changes. There is no right or wrong way to develop a novel as every writer and manuscript is different. The majority, however, find one round of development to be sufficient.

After the developmental edit has been completed, I answer your questions and ensure the recommendations are clear and actionable. My top priority is to leave you feeling excited and inspired by the new opportunities presented, versus conflicted or overwhelmed. If you rewrite your story and want me to assess the latest draft, I categorize that as a new job and will propose a fee for the project.

As a developmental editor, it’s harder to provide effective feedback on a fragment of your story, read out of context. For that reason, all edits are performed on complete manuscripts.

I’m happy to develop novellas and short stories. The rates quoted above are all for long form works of 50k+ words, so if you have a custom project feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to provide a quote.

“First, thank you for your VERY effective feedback. As a writing teacher, I know feedback is often overwhelming. That said, I do not find myself overwhelmed; I very much appreciate your extremely diligent notes. If anything, I find myself humbled. In all, I am thrilled…There is magic at play here—that of a very talented editor.”

– Dr. Mark John Isola

Author & English Professor, Tufts College

The first step is an Opening Hook Edit, where I perform a professional assessment of your opening scenes so you can determine firsthand if I’m the right editor for you. This also provides an opportunity for me to gauge what stage of evolution your story has reached, and which form of development will achieve the best results moving forward. If you want more information, you can also contact me, and I’ll be happy to answer your questions.