• Story Services for Authors

    Three levels of professional editing feedback for indie fiction writers.

    Section image

  • “I have a manuscript.

    Which of these services do I need?”

    A/

    Developmental Edit

    Early stage manuscript. Ideally before line editing.

    B/

    Story Coaching

    In the process of writing or revising.

    C/

    Professional Beta Read

    Later stage manuscript.

    Absurdist doodle of an opened book with a tree popping out of the centre, its branches ending in magnifier and eyes, gloved hand in thumbs-up position, a cloud, and a sheaf of paper with an exclamation mark. Another sheet of paper with a checkmark is floating away on wings.
    Absurdist doodle of a lightbulb wearing a long coat, slippers, and a scarf. A faucet on one side of the bulb is dripping water onto a budding plant below.
    Absurdist doodle of a book held open with two hands. There is a ceiling lamp with wings attached to the back cover. There are a series of brick steps leading up to the bottom left edge of the book.

    Did you have one of those harsh English teachers who wrote blistering critiques in bright red all over your papers? You may expect professional editors to be the same — but we’re not!

    I’m not here to tear you down or compare you with the ideal; I’m with you to help you elevate your writing so it has the impact you want it to have for your readers.

    First, how are these services similar?

    Here’s how developmental editing, story coaching, and professional beta reading, are similar:

    • Focused on your intention: All three services provide valuable feedback based on your genre and what you want the readers to experience.
    • Being for both you and the reader: Each service helps clarify how your writing can keep the readers turning pages all the way to “The End.”
    • Progress, not perfection: All services illuminate top areas you can focus on to make the biggest improvements overall to the manuscript and keep you moving forward.
    • Not focused on sentence-level editing: Unlike your picky English teacher, these services generally ignore your grammar, punctuation, spelling, or word choices, though they might highlight repeated patterns to pay attention to.

  • How are these services different?

    Imagine you’re planning a multi-country journey.

    • Professional beta reading is similar to sending your itinerary to the friend who follows dozens of travel bloggers and asking for their opinion.
    • A story coach is similar to a personal travel agent whom you go to for advice and travel hacks.
    • A developmental editor is similar to a local tour guide providing you with a full itinerary and plenty of side-trip options based on your preferences, who also picks you up and drops you off from destination to destination.

  • Developmental Editing

    1

    Deep Structural Analysis

    Developmental editors provide a comprehensive examination of your story’s architecture. I’ll assess how well your plot unfolds, how characters interact and develop, and how each scene and chapter builds to create a cohesive narrative.

    2

    Complete Manuscript Annotations

    Developmental editors add comments throughout the manuscript document as they read. Many of these comments will be summarized in the editorial letter. Most comments will ask questions about your intention; very few, if any, will be about grammar or punctuation. Fear not these notes! Some will be huzzahs, too.

    3

    Comprehensive Guidance

    Developmental editors provide specific, targeted, craft-focused suggestions for improving plot arcs, character development, tension, pacing, world-building, and other key story elements.

  • Developmental edits cover:

    Genre expectations


    Tone


    Dialogue

    Point-of-view

    Pacing

    Absurdist illustration of a person in a hat holding a cone in either hand, three balls of what could be ice cream scoops in the one on the left and an arch of six more balls over the head from left cone to right.

    Structure

    World-building

    Story Goals

    Conflicts

    Characters and Cast

  • Story Coaching

    1

    Individualized guidance

    Authors who benefit from story coaching have very specific obstacles with their writing that they want to address to help them move forward. They will come to a coaching session with a short list of questions they wish to cover.

    2

    Targeted analysis

    Story coaching offers more specific feedback than beta reading, but doesn’t include the extensive revision strategies and in-manuscript notes you’d get from a developmental edit. Because of time limitation, story coaching might only focus on a single chapter or up to 20 pages of a manuscript.

    3

    Little time and cost investment

    Story coaching requires less time and money than a full developmental edit or beta reading. Frequency of scheduled sessions is up to you; you may only need one session, or you may want a series of check-ins during part of writing or revising a draft.

  • Story Coaching

    Live discussion

    Single chapter evaluation

    Topics chosen by you

    Absurdist illustration of an arm pretzeled into a leg with the hand placed on the left scale of a balance and the foot on the right, the right side lower than the left.

    Developmental Edit

    Month-long process

    Full manuscript evaluation

    5–20 page editorial letter + annotations

  • Professional Beta Reading

    1

    Final Stage Input

    Beta reading typically occurs towards the end of the editing and revision process, before the manuscript is finalized.

    (Alpha reading would be feedback on an early draft.)

    2

    Audience Perspective

    Beta reading offers feedback from a reader’s perspective instead of an editor’s. Beta readers tell you what they enjoyed in particular and overall; if they found some things unclear, confusing, or inconsistent; and how well they connected with your characters and story.

    3

    Non-Prescriptive Feedback

    Because beta reading is from a reader’s perspective, feedback does not come with advice or ideas on how to better craft the story. It is up to the author to translate what a beta reader says into what the underlying problem is — and then to come up with an appropriate solution.

  • Beta Reading

    Later stage

    No guidance for author

    Reader’s perspective

    Absurdist illustration of a candelabra. A pocket watch sits on the left candleholder. A lit and partially melted candle sits on the right candleholder, lower than the left side. Draped over the centre candleholder is a pencil, though the end of it turns into hair strands.

    Developmental Edit

    Early stages (ideally)

    Detailed diagnosis

    Editor’s perspective

  • Ready To Get Feedback?

    You drafted it. Let me help you craft it.

    Section image

    Developmental Editing

    For committed authors

    2.5¢/word

    maximum 120k words

    • In-depth report on major story structure aspects (plot, character, dialogue, world, etc.)
    • Constructive structural revision action plan with suggested areas of improvement
    • In-manuscript page-by-page comments
    • 1-hour call to answer any follow-up questions
    • min. 5 week turnaround

    When in doubt:

    Section image

    Story Coaching

    For responsive writers

    $147

    per 90-min session

    • 2-hour consultation about any story development topic of your choice
    • OR: Analysis and feedback of one chapter of writing over video chat (or in person)
    Section image

    Professional Beta Read

    For all writers

    $197

    for up to 60k words†

    • Short report or reader impression of characters, plot, world, pacing, etc.
    • Feedback includes perceived story summary, kudos, confusions, and lingering questions.
    • min. 1 week turnaround

    † +$30/10k in whole or in part

    Section image

    First Chapter Sample Evaluation

    For all writers

    FREE

    for up to 10 pages

    • In-document page-by-page comments
    • 40-min follow-up meeting
    • Next steps action plan
    • min. 1 day turnaround

  • Need more clarification?

    Reach out for a chat about editing your project. I’m happy to answer questions.

Cookie Use
We use cookies to ensure a smooth browsing experience. By continuing we assume you accept the use of cookies.
Learn More