Give Each Chapter the Care It Needs
A developmental edit goes one step further than an editorial assessment. Not only does it examine the foundations of your novel, but it delves into each chapter to make sure the plot, characters, and theme are ringing true. By the end, you will have a 10-20 page document detailing how to refine your novel, as well as in-manuscript comments analyzing individual issues.
Accepted Genres
I specialize in editing novels for young-adult and middle-grade audiences in the following genres:
- Fantasy
- Dystopian
- Science Fiction
However, if you have a heartfelt story that falls into a different genre, I am open to considering it. If you would like to work with me, send in a request, and we will discuss your work together to see if it is a good fit.
“My experience with Laura was more than I could have hoped for. . . . She took what I loved about my story and helped me see ways to improve it while still maintaining my voice.”
–Sam
How a Developmental Edit Works
- Request a developmental edit. Use the form below to tell me a little bit about yourself and your novel. I’ll ask a few questions about your writing experience, your novel’s thematic direction, and your publishing goals. This will help us see if my services will be a good fit for your story.
- Discuss the details. If my services are a good fit, we will move forward to scheduling your edit. I will let you know when I can begin, and how long the edit should take. I will usually have a developmental edit done in 4-6 weeks. I will also send you an invoice for a down payment.
- Let me soak up your story. This is where I not only read your novel, but swim in it. I will read, reread, and thoroughly considered the foundations of your novel so I can authentically support your story’s theme. After that, I will send you a preview of the edit letter with an invoice for the remaining fee. Once that fee is paid, the full edit letter and analyzed manuscript will be sent as PDFs.
- Claim your free brainstorming session. After you’ve received your edit, you can claim a free brainstorming session over video call or email. You can ask any questions you have and use me as a sounding board for your ideas. The video call (or time to compose an email response) can take take as long as you would like, up to forty minutes. This session will help launch you into your revisions as you take your novel to the next level.
And that’s it! If this is the opportunity your story has been waiting for, fill out the request form at the bottom of the page. I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on.
Frequently Asked Questions
When in my writing process should I get a developmental edit? Because developmental editing works with the underlying structure of your story, it should come before any line-level edits. Some authors come to me once they have a readable manuscript, but they aren’t sure how to finish pulling together the themes and plots. Others come when they feel their manuscript is complete, but their beta readers or instinct tell them something is missing. I am excited to meet your story in any of these stages. However, since a developmental edit is quite thorough, it is usually better (and more economical) to polish the manuscript as much as you can on your own before submitting it.
Is a developmental edit the same as an editorial assessment? While an editorial assessment and developmental edit both examine the foundations of your novel, a developmental edit is more thorough. With a developmental edit, you will receive in-manuscript notes addressing individual issues chapter by chapter. Most writers only pay for an editorial assessment or a developmental edit on a book, depending on the depth of feedback they prefer. If this is your first time seeking out editing services, I would recommend the editorial assessment. It will offer you deep insight both on your manuscript and writing style while being more budget-friendly. However, if you are looking to thoroughly polish your story, the developmental edit would be a better fit.
How does a developmental edit fit with my publishing goals? A developmental edit is especially useful for preparing a new author’s book for querying, or a veteran author’s book for self-publishing. Traditional publishing houses will often provide their authors with editors that will do the more thorough, chapter-level editing. However, this editing process can sometimes feel rushed. If you feel that you are not getting the support your story needs, paying for an outside editorial assessment or developmental edit can help you write the book you are yearning to share with the world.
Pricing and Discounts
| Up to 60,000 words | $795 | |
| 60,001-80,000 words | $895 | |
| 80,001-100,000 words | $1,095 | |
| 100,001-120,000 words | $1,495 | |
| Above 120,000 words | Inquire |
Series Discount: I offer a 10% discount when editing a subsequent novel in the same series.
Second-Look Discount: I offer a 20% discount when developmentally editing the same manuscript after revisions.
Luminous Editing 