Reveal the Core of Your Story with Clear-Sighted Editing
I am excited to explore the core of your novel with you. An editorial assessment will give you a deep look at what is and isn’t working in your story and help you align the foundations of your novel (plot, character, and theme) so that your message rings clear. By the end, you will have a 10-20 page document ready to help you refine your novel.
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.
“Laura is a phenomenal editor who opened a new world of writing to me with her services. She critiqued my writing in a way no one had ever done before, and thoroughly explained the ways my piece could improve. . . . I look forward to working with her again in the future!“
–Solange
How an Editorial Assessment Works
- Request an assessment. 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 an assessment done in 2-4 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 final assessment with an invoice for the remaining fee. Once that fee is paid, the full assessment will be sent as a PDF.
- Claim your free brainstorming session. After you’ve received your assessment, 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 as long as you 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 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 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.
Is an editorial assessment the same as a developmental edit? 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.
How does an editorial assessment fit with my publishing goals? An editorial assessment is an important tool for any publishing journey. It is integral to preparing a new author’s book for querying or a veteran author’s book for publishing. Though a traditional publishing house will often provide their authors with editors, even these authors find an outside editorial assessment of their early drafts useful as they search for the best way to articulate their vision.
Pricing and Discounts
| Up to 60,000 words | $495 | |
| 60,001-80,000 words | $575 | |
| 80,001-100,000 words | $675 | |
| 100,001-120,000 words | $795 | |
| 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 assessing the same manuscript after revisions.
Luminous Editing 