Editorial Assessments

Find the Core of Your Story

An editorial assessment will help you align the foundations of your novel (plot, character, and theme) so your message rings clear. You will get an in-depth edit letter analyzing what is and isn’t working, and giving clear information and inspiration for creating the book you want.

Accepted Genres

I specialize in middle-grade and young-adult fiction in the following genres:

However, if you have a theme-rich 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 to see if it is a good fit.

What You’ll Get

“I felt fully seen and supported in my writing. She took what I loved about my story and helped me see ways to improve it while still maintaining my voice. . . . I can give the highest recommendation and assure you that, with Laura, you are in amazing hands!” –Samantha

How an Editorial Assessment Works

1. Request an assessment. Contact me through the form below and we’ll make sure I’m the right editor for your needs.
2. Hop on the schedule. If my services are a good fit, we’ll put you on the schedule! I will just need $75 up front to hold your spot. The edit is usually done 2-4 weeks after the starting time.
3. Await your hand-crafted assessment. After I’ve soaked in your story, I will send you a preview of the assessment with an invoice for the remaining fee. Once that fee is paid, the full edit and book map are yours!
4. Claim your free brainstorming session. I will email you in the next few days to set up a video call. For forty minutes, we can brainstorm solutions and go over questions–whatever you and your story need.

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.

Pricing and Discounts

Series Discount: I offer a 5% discount when editing a subsequent novel in the same series.

Second-Look Discount: I offer a 10% discount when assessing the same manuscript after revisions.

“Laura is the kind of editor who takes the time to understand your story in-depth. Her thoughtful feedback letter helps you recognize your personal strengths, as well as identifies areas in which your story could grow. I absolutely loved the clear and constructive manner in which she helped me come up with ways to revise my manuscript to help it shine.” –Kieryn

Frequently Asked Questions

When in my writing process should I get an editorial assessment? Because an assessment 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 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.

How is an editorial assessment different from an outline or developmental edit? An editorial assessment is more in-depth than an outline edit simply because I will have read your entire manuscript. With an outline edit, I will only have seen your outline. By reading your whole manuscript, I can better analyze the nuances of your book, addressing things like foreshadowing, consistency, character portrayal, and theme authenticity. However, while the editorial assessment is more thorough than an outline edit, it is less thorough than a developmental edit. With a developmental edit, you will receive in-manuscript notes pointing out individual examples of bigger issues and flagging chapter-specific concerns, as well as a more detailed edit letter focused on tightening every level of your story. An editorial assessment is a great choice for newer writers who are ready to take their character arcs and plot to the next level without getting distracted by everything that could be polished.

How does an editorial assessment fit with my publishing goals? An editorial assessment is an important tool for any publishing journey. Whether you are preparing to query agents, self publish, or submit to a publishing house, an editorial assessment or developmental edit will help you communicate the story you want. Though a traditional publishing house will often provide their authors with editors, even these authors often find an outside edit of their early drafts essential as they search for the most impactful way to share their vision.

What is a book map? A book map is a visual outline of your book. It is a fantastic way to see the progression of your plot and character arcs. You can learn more about book maps at My Approach.

Request an Editorial Assessment