Novel Editing Services

Using my deep love and knowledge of the speculative fiction genre to help authors bring their vision to fruition is one of my greatest pleasures, and I would be thrilled to do this for you. Here's a look at the novel editing services I offer and what you can expect from them.

Manuscript Critique

coloured pencils lined up in a rainbow

A manuscript critique is an in-depth edit focusing on the big picture aspects of your story. If you are a newer author, an author with a budget, or you are particularly good at applying broad spectrum advice to your work, this may be the service for you. It will teach you about the basics of story telling (plot, structure, characterization, theme, etc.) and provide a few examples of what works well and where your manuscript can be improved.

What you’ll get: a comprehensive editorial report (typically between 8 to 15 pages) assessing the storytelling elements of your novel and suggesting ways to improve the work.

Substantive Editing

A substantive edit is an in-depth edit focusing on the big picture aspects of the story. If you are a newer author or an author trying your hand at a new genre, this type of edit is what you need. It will teach you about the basics of story telling (plot, structure, characterization, theme, etc.) and provide you with specific in text examples of how to apply this knowledge to your novel. A substantive edit will help you bring your novel even closer to the story you’ve been imagining.

As a speculative fiction specialist, I leverage my background in outdoor adventure naturalism to ensure the worlds and creatures you’ve created are believable and engaging.

What you’ll get: a comprehensive editorial report (typically between 8 to 15 pages) assessing the storytelling elements of your novel, plus edits and notes in the manuscript pages.

Stylistic Editing

A stylistic edit is all about readability and flow. This type of editing is for authors looking to tighten their prose and strengthen their authorial voice. It will clarify meaning, improve sentence construction, and ensure reading level and tone are appropriate for the intended audience. In a stylistic edit, I go through your manuscript line-by-line to ensure your words and sentences are hitting the right notes and staying true to your melody.

What you’ll get: an expanded editorial report (typically between 3 to 8 pages) detailing your writing style strengths and weaknesses, edits and notes in the manuscript pages, and a style sheet if you don't already have one.

Copy Editing

This service is reserved for publishers and indie clients whose manuscript has already been through both a substantive and stylistic edit.

A copy edit focuses on the mechanics of grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, and style. It ensures the overall consistency and correctness of a document. Copy editing also includes suggestions to improve clarity and scene organization.

What you’ll get: a basic editorial report (typically between 2 to 5 pages) detailing your writing strengths and weaknesses, edits and notes in the manuscript pages, and a style sheet if you don’t already have one.

Coaching

As a writing coach, I help speculative fiction writers flesh out their story ideas and get those ideas onto paper in the form of a workable draft. I strive to create safe, supportive environments for writers to explore and expand their storytelling skills. In my group coaching and one-on-one coaching sessions, I have helped many writers complete a wide variety of projects including novels, plays, short stories, and poetry anthologies.

Rates

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Rates will vary depending on the novel editing services you request. All quotes are in Canadian dollars. A 50% deposit is required to hold your place in my schedule. Payment plans are available upon request.