Developmental Editing & Critiques for Fiction and Nonfiction
Where do things stand right now with your manuscript? Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?
- You're unsure about the manuscript's structure, or whether the plot of your fiction story makes sense.
- You're curious whether the characters are well-rounded and believable, or whether their motivations are clear.
- You're concerned about the pacing, or whether the manuscript may be too long (or too short).
These are some of the issues that a developmental edit or critique can address. I can help you with all of the above, while staying true to your creative vision, unique voice, and your reasons for writing the project. Because what matters to you about your manuscript matters to me, too!
I work in American English, and my developmental editing and critique services focus on these genres:
- Speculative fiction (e.g., fantasy, mythological retellings, magical realism, science fiction)
- Literary fiction
- YA fiction, including YA fantasy and YA contemporary fiction
- Memoir
- Self-help and personal development nonfiction
- Business books
- Creative nonfiction
I typically work on novel-length manuscripts. But if you've got a great short story or essay collection, an individual short story or essay, or a hybrid collection (e.g., poetry and memoir) that falls under these genres? Or maybe you've got an outline of an as-yet unwritten project that you'd like feedback on? I love working on those, too!
And if you're curious about which themes I'm experienced with as an editor? Or which topics I'm most excited about? Well, if your manuscript touches on any of the following, chances are it'll be a good fit:
- Grief and loss
- Trauma recovery
- Family stories (including loss of a child and miscarriage)
- Spirituality and spiritual growth
- Mental health
- Holistic health and wellness
- Creativity and/or the craft of writing
- Travel stories (especially international travel)
- Music
- The natural world, including the environmental crisis
Here are the developmental editing and critique services I offer. If your project involves two or more rounds of work (e.g., developmental edit followed by a copy edit, manuscript critique followed by a line edit), I can offer a combo package of all the services you're considering as a discounted rate.
Please note that while I don't list my rates here, I'm happy to discuss them with you privately. That being said, if your manuscript is about 80,000 words long, expect an estimate between US $3,200 and US $3,600 depending on the service(s) you're interested in.
Developmental Editing
Pricing varies depending on manuscript length and amount of time needed. I'll provide an estimate upon completion of a sample edit.
I’ll read your manuscript and evaluate its “nuts and bolts”: plot, characters, worldbuilding (if applicable), structure, pacing, and any specific areas of concern you want addressed. Then I'll perform a deep-dive structural edit of the manuscript based on my findings and write an editorial letter that summarizes these edits and other big-picture feedback based on our agreed-upon scope of work.
Depending on what I find as part of the developmental edit, I may also perform light line editing to demonstrate potential improvements to the manuscript's prose.
This service includes:
- Two (2) pass-throughs in a single round of structural/big-picture editing (and, in some cases, light line editing).
- Three (3) copies of your manuscript in MS Word: one containing tracked changes and comments, a clean copy of the edited version containing only comments, and (as a courtesy) your original manuscript.
- An editorial report in letter format that covers the project's strengths, areas of improvement, questions to consider, and suggestions for revising the project.
- AS NEEDED: Addenda to the report, such as a scene grid (for fiction), a timeline (for memoir), etc. that's appropriate for your project
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
Manuscript Critique
Pricing varies depending on manuscript length and amount of time needed. I'll provide an estimate upon completion of a sample edit.
I’ll read your manuscript and evaluate its “nuts and bolts”: plot, characters, worldbuilding (if applicable), structure, pacing, and any specific areas of concern you want to see addressed. Then I’ll write an editorial letter with big-picture feedback on the manuscript’s strengths and suggestions for areas that could use improvement. In a manuscript critique, I make no changes to the manuscript itself.
This service includes:
- An editorial report in letter format that covers the project's strengths, areas of improvement, questions to consider, and suggestions for revising the project.
- AS NEEDED: Addenda to the report, such as a scene grid (for fiction), a timeline (for memoir), etc. that's appropriate for your project
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
Targeted Developmental Edit or Critique
Pricing varies depending on manuscript length and amount of time needed. I'll provide an estimate upon completion of a sample edit.
Looking for feedback on only certain elements of your manuscript? Or maybe the word count is well above industry guidelines, and you need help shortening the manuscript in appropriate, meaningful ways? I can tailor a developmental edit or a critique to address your specific needs. And if I find other glaring errors you may want to consider revising? I'll make note of them as well.
This service includes:
- Targeted Developmental Edit: Everything described earlier for a typical developmental edit, but only addressing the areas agreed upon for your project's scope of work.
- Targeted Critique: Everything described earlier for a typical critique, but only addressing the areas agreed upon for your project's scope of work.
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
Outline Critique
Pricing varies depending on outline length and amount of time needed. Outline must be at least 18 pages (double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman or similar font) in MS Word or Adobe PDF.
Got a detailed outline for your story but haven't started writing the first draft yet? I can review your outline to ensure the story's structure is solid, each scene has a purpose, and the main character(s) show a potential for growth or change. Like with a manuscript critique, I make no changes to the outline itself.
This service includes:
- An editorial report in letter format with feedback on the story's plot, character development, and other big-picture questions or concerns you have.
- A chapter/scene grid that shows how well your story aligns with the Hero's Journey (character arc) and/or the traditional three-act story structure.
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
First 50 Pages Critique
Pricing varies depending on the amount of time needed. The manuscript excerpt must be formatted according to industry standards (1-inch margins, double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman) in MS Word or Adobe PDF.
This is a shorter, budget-friendly alternative to a full manuscript critique. I'll review the first fifty (50) pages of your manuscript**, then write an editorial letter that explains which aspects of the story work well, which ones need strengthening, and what to look out for as you revise the rest of the manuscript. Like with a full manuscript critique, I make no changes to the first fifty pages.
**Per industry standards for formatting manuscripts, this is equivalent to the first 12,500 words.
This service includes:
- An editorial report in letter format with feedback on the story's plot, characters, pacing, worldbuilding (if applicable), setting, etc. so far, as well as what to watch out for beyond the the first fifty pages.
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
Do any of these services sound like what you're looking for?
Great! Send me an email or book your free consultation call now. Make sure you share with me your manuscript’s title, genre, target age group, word/page count, and project deadline. I'm happy to provide a free sample edit of a 2,000-word excerpt of your manuscript and/or (upon request) other samples of my work.
Testimonials for Developmental Editing and Critiques
Sara pushed me as a writer to create the best novel that I am capable of. Her detailed feedback and prompts opened up the story, allowing me to produce a more emotional connection between the characters and the reader, while helping me to see my blind spots.
Jeffery A. Smith, author of Shroud of Whispers and others
Most of the feedback focused on improving the story, but Sara also pointed out the aspects that were well done. Whether it was an “LOL” for a good bit of humor, pointing out a good turn of phrase, or recognizing a well-realized character, these sprinkled throughout the manuscript were great confidence boosters.
Sara's work was detailed and professionally done. On top of all that, she is super easy to work with, and I am proud to call her my editor.
I was somewhat apprehensive about approaching Sara for help with my writing. I’m relatively new at this, and I was reluctant to share my 32,000-word novella with anyone, let alone a writing coach. But I also knew that I needed professional help if I were to "up my game."
John Heard, short story author
Finding Sara turned out to be a fortuitous event for me. She gave me a lengthy targeted critique of my work full of specific suggestions for improvement, with examples to support her recommendations. She even added helpful links to writing resources. Her critique also focused on the positive aspects of my writing. This was important for me, as writing can be a lonely endeavor and getting good feedback was important.
Thanks to Sara’s help, I now feel I’m ready to move ahead using her specific recommendations. Working with her was incredibly easy and enjoyable.
It was truly wonderful working with Sara from Heart of the Story. I hired her to look over my novel outline. Her outline critique was very insightful and inspiring to continue my writing journey. The report was very thorough, detailed, and clear to understand. It made a big difference to get a second set of eyes on my outline, and Sara saw things that I didn't see myself. She offered valid suggestions to make my chapters stronger. I will definitely be working with her again once I have a first draft of my book.
Alicia Lundgren, YA fantasy author
To check out what other writers have said about working with me, click here to read more testimonials.
