One of my fiction editing services
What it is
A fiction developmental edit includes an initial round of reading, during which I take careful notes on all the big-picture elements that are helping or hindering your work at both the book-level and chapter-level. That includes attention to character, plot, worldbuilding, narrative flow, pacing, cohesion, voice, and overall satisfaction as a reader. I also consider your specific genre conventions, chosen readership, and your goals for the text, to see if you are on track to successfully meet them.
Then, in a second round of reading, I will go into the text and leave you questions, comments, suggestions, and generative challenges in the margins, to help you along the path to revision. Depending on your preferences, I may also relocate text to fix issues with organization or tweak sentences that are key to your written clarity.
Finally, I will draft an editorial report detailing all my findings and revision suggestions. When appropriate, I also provide a proposed new outline for the text.
“Alex certainly has a talent for creative development. I was amazed by how they make connections between characters and historical archetypes and genuine emotion. As I read their brilliant and detailed letter, I had the recurring thought: ‘Wow. I never thought of that.’”
Dave K.
When it’s helpful
I most often provide this service to authors who are looking for deep, hands-on developmental assistance, especially in the following situations:
- when you need hands-on brainstorming, generative critique, character development, world-building assistance, and paragraph-level feedback on a project at any stage in its formation
- when you need a detailed and specific set of recommendations on your manuscript, prior to querying for agents or diving into self-publishing
- when you need a detailed and specific set of recommendations on how to incorporate writing-group, beta-reader, or rejection feedback
- when you’re staring down editorial feedback from your agent or publisher and need detailed and specific recommendations on how to apply their requested changes
How much it costs
$150 + $.03-$.07/wd after 5k words
That range per word reflects the variety of texts I look at, whether or not they use my particular fiction-writing expertise or historical knowledge bases, how much work they’ll require, and if I am working double-time as a cultural consultant (sensitivity reader). I also use that range to affect a sliding scale that makes space for writers from traditionally under-represented groups.
Lodestar Editing & Coaching 