When, Why, and How Much

“As I wrote, I kept coming back to your advice, and a few instances in particular were commented on by agents as especially effective...Not only that, but one of the points I neglected a bit (immediately orienting the reader in time and space in new chapters/scenes) was brought up in editorial discussions as a revision suggestion (my bad). Your feedback proved to be spot on and invaluable! ”

-D, literary fiction

When to Hire Me

If you’re here, I’m assuming you have a full novel written. Congratulations! Generally I work with writers who have completed at least one draft of their novel. (If you don’t have one but still want to chat, please send a message anyway!)

There’s a timeline sweet spot for getting a developmental edit. If you haven’t sent your book to beta readers or even done a few drafts on your own, then it’s probable the issues I would find would be issues that you or your beta readers could have found without me. And you don’t want to pay someone for edits you could have done on your own!

On the other hand, if you have combed through your book on your own, over and over, and you find yourself absolutely set on things like chapter order and on each specific character, you may find it much harder to accept any big suggestions from me.

So that’s why I always suggest looking for a developmental editor when you have been through your book a few times but are still able to hold things like character development and plot loosely. That will enable you to be able to take suggestions with an open mind.

Why to Hire Me

I have a BA and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska, and am trained by the Editorial Freelancer’s Association. I have been working with authors for just over four years now, with many of them going on to self-publish with great reviews, land contracts with indie presses, and sign with agents. I have had 100% positive reviews, and you can check some of those out throughout the website.

I’m also happy to provide sample edits so you can get a sense of how I work. You can send me a five hundred to seven hundred word excerpt  from the middle of the novel and I will provide a free line edit sample.

Prices

In general, developmental and comprehensive edits are the most expensive kind of edits because of the amount of work that editors have to do. (See the section below for what you’ll get when I edit your manuscript.) That said, I do my best to walk the line between getting paid for my expertise and what is affordable for you. 

As a guide, the price for an average length book (between 70,000 and 90,000 words) is $1800, split into two or more installments, and a book between 40,000 and 60,000 words will cost $1200. (Exceptions to this price might exist if we’ve worked together before or if you want a second pass.)

 

My turnaround time for a manuscript below 95,000 words is 3 weeks.

What You Get with Your Developmental Edit

Each developmental edit will be delivered with two things: the original document back with comments on the text and an Editorial Essay. 

The original document will have my comments on every page. These comments can range from clarifying questions, rephrasing examples for awkward language, and style suggestions.

The Editorial Essay will be at least a 4,000 word essay that focuses on the bigger issues in your novel. (The exact length will depend on the number of issues, kinds of issues, and length of book.) This is where I will discuss things like character arc, plot holes, pacing, and other big picture items.

Note: I realize that notes on line edits issues like repetition and awkward language are not things that all developmental editors provide. But my goal as an editor is to raise your book up as many levels as I can. And I don’t see the point of fixing the structure of your current novel without teaching you how to write the next one better.

Simultaneously, I don’t think it’s helpful to you to correct line level issues while ignoring the totality of the book. Focusing on the most pressing issues of both developmental and line is the best way, in my opinion, to improve both your book and your writing, and to set you up for a future of writing well.

Things I Don't Do

My preferred genres are: Literary, Romance, Fantasy, and Mystery. While I have the most interest and experience in these genres, I am happy to work in almost any genre, but I won’t edit Erotica, books with sexual abuse triggers, or academic work. 

It’s important to realize that while I do focus on some line issues because I think that’s the best way to develop better writers, developmental editors are not copy editors. While I will sometimes correct a misspelling or grammatical error if I see it, my focus is on the bigger issues in your book. 

If these seem like things that would help you and your book, send me a message here, or reach out to book a call! I offer 15 minute consultation calls for free and would love to talk to you.

“I sent a huge file to Dana and she was able to complete the order very quickly. And she was so thorough. Her line edits were numerous but that's a good thing. She took the time to go through the entire story and every suggestion she offered made the story stronger and more cohesive.”

-N, cozy mystery