Developmental Editing
A developmental edit looks at your novel as a whole, focusing on the bigger picture elements of the story. This might include consideration of genre conventions and reader expectations, characterisation, character goals, motivations and conflict, narrative viewpoint, chapter and whole novel pace – but may include a whole host of other observations too. Traditionally, a developmental edit comes with a fully marked up manuscript and a letter of recommendation highlighting the strengths of your manuscript and key developmental issues that may need addressing. If you would like a more collaborative approach, developmental feedback can be delivered through one or more coaching sessions – the choice is yours!
Manuscript Assessment
A manuscript evaluation or assessment is a variation on a developmental edit that supports an author in identifying their manuscript’s strengths and key developmental issues. The edit will include assessment of the same structural and big picture areas as a developmental edit, but can be kinder to your budget.
Copy Editing
A copy edit looks at consistencies across a text, whether that be the capitalisation of particular words, hyphenation, punctuation or grammar. It will also make sure that characters are doing what they should be and there are no inconsistencies with characters trying to sit down when they already are, or changing their eye colour in the middle of a chapter. In some cases, a heavier copy edit may be required with some light line editing, which will look at sentence level style too.
Submission and Query Package
Whether you’ve had a go at putting together your submission package already, or you’re starting from scratch, my query and submission package offers advice and guidance in putting together your submissions to agents and publishers, as well as feedback on your query letter and submission chapters.
Can’t quite find what you’re looking for? Contact me and we can discuss your editing needs and look at a bespoke quote for your project.