Editorial Services
At Edge of August, I offer a range of personalized editorial services to help you elevate your writing, whether you’re just starting out or polishing your final draft. Below, you’ll find the services I provide, along with estimated pricing—because I believe in transparency. Pricing varies because manuscripts do— some may need longer turnaround times and others may need more heavy lifting— but I am always willing to be open and honest about expected pricing on a free consultation call. Which is why if you want to see what it might be like working together before you commit, I offer free edit samples of work up to 5,000 words.
Editorial Assessment
Sometimes you don't need hundreds of comments throughout your manuscript—you need an experienced editor to step back, see the whole picture, and tell you what matters most.
An Editorial Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your manuscript from a developmental perspective, designed for writers who want a clear roadmap for revision without the extensive in-line editing of a full developmental edit. It's ideal for authors who are comfortable tackling revisions independently but want professional guidance before diving into their next draft.
I'll read your manuscript in its entirety and evaluate the elements that make a story succeed: structure, pacing, character development, worldbuilding, point of view, theme, and overall narrative cohesion. More importantly, I'll identify the areas that will have the greatest impact on your manuscript so you can focus your energy where it matters most.
Rather than overwhelming you with hundreds of comments, I'll provide a thoughtful editorial letter that explains why something isn't working, how it affects the reader's experience, and where your revision efforts will have the greatest return.
Your Editorial Assessment includes:
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A complete read-through of your manuscript.
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A comprehensive editorial letter outlining your manuscript's greatest strengths and highest-priority areas for revision.
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Feedback on story structure, pacing, character development, dialogue, point of view, worldbuilding, theme, and overall reader experience.
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An assessment of your manuscript's genre positioning, audience expectations, and narrative effectiveness.
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A one-hour strategy session to discuss the editorial letter, answer questions, and help you create a revision plan.
If you're looking for a clear, actionable guide to your next draft—but don't need the detailed in-line feedback of a developmental edit—an Editorial Assessment is often the perfect place to begin.
Developmental Edit
You've finished your manuscript. Congratulations! Now comes one of the most important stages of the writing process: understanding what your story truly needs to become the strongest version of itself.
A developmental edit is a deep, collaborative examination of your manuscript as a whole. Rather than focusing on grammar or sentence-level polish, we'll look at the big-picture elements that determine whether a story resonates with readers like structure, pacing, character development, plot, point of view, worldbuilding, theme, and emotional impact.
Drawing on over a decade of experience working with one of the top literary agencies in the United States, I'll read your manuscript with both an editor's eye and an agent's perspective. Together, we'll identify what's already working, uncover the areas holding the story back, and develop a clear, actionable roadmap for revision.
My goal isn't to rewrite your book or impose my vision on your work. It's to help you better understand your own story so you can revise with confidence while preserving the voice that makes your writing uniquely yours.
Every developmental edit includes:
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A complete, in-depth read of your manuscript.
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A comprehensive editorial letter outlining the manuscript's strengths, opportunities, and revision priorities.
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Detailed in-line comments throughout the manuscript with specific suggestions, questions, and observations.
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Feedback on story structure, pacing, character arcs, dialogue, point of view, worldbuilding, theme, and reader engagement.
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An assessment of genre expectations, market positioning, and overall narrative cohesion.
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A one-hour strategy session to walk through your editorial letter, answer questions, and discuss your revision plan.
When we're finished, you'll have a clear understanding of your manuscript, a practical strategy for strengthening it, and the confidence to tackle your next draft with purpose.
Pricing varies depending on manuscript length, genre, and the scope of editorial work required.
Author Coaching
Writing can be a long journey, but you don’t have to go it alone. I’ll offer regular support and guidance throughout your writing process. From setting goals to giving feedback on chapters as you write, we’ll work together to ensure you stay on track and motivated. Coaching is customized to your needs, whether you’re outlining your first book or revising your final draft. Book coaching is my most tailorable service and I'm more than happy to work with the author to find how I can be of most benefit to them and their story.
Unlike a traditional edit, coaching is an ongoing collaboration. Together we'll set goals, solve story problems as they arise, review new pages, and create a process that keeps you making meaningful progress. Rather than waiting until you've finished an entire draft to discover what's not working, we'll identify issues early—saving you time, unnecessary revisions, and countless dead ends.
Because every writer works differently, coaching is fully customized to your goals. Some authors want accountability and regular check-ins. Others want developmental feedback on new chapters as they write. Many want both. We'll build a rhythm that fits your writing process and gives you the support you need at every stage.
A typical coaching package includes:
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A monthly strategy session to discuss your progress, challenges, and next steps.
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Developmental editorial feedback on up to 10,000 new words each month.
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Ongoing support to troubleshoot story, structure, pacing, character development, and publishing questions.
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Personalized writing goals and accountability to help you maintain momentum between sessions.
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Email support for questions that come up throughout the month.
The goal is to help you write the strongest book possible while making the journey feel less overwhelming and far more enjoyable.
Starting at $450/month for up to 10,000 words. Coaching packages can be tailored to your writing pace and editorial needs.
Nonfiction Proposal
Nonfiction proposals are a unique challenge, but with my experience, I’ll help you craft a proposal that will capture the attention of agents and publishers. I have a record of creating NYT Bestselling Nonfiction book proposals that have garnered several 7-figure advances, and the proposals I was trained in creating are widely considered some of the best in the business. The proposal framework I use is the same one I learned and refined while working for authors like Dr. Edith Eger, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, Sir Stephen Hawking, Marc Randolph, Dr. Jane Goodall, and each of the titles you see in my portfolio. It's designed to present your expertise, your audience, and your book with the clarity publishers are looking for.This includes sections like: Keynote & Summary, Market Analysis, Highlights and Takeaways, Promotion & Publicity, Bio, and a full Annotated Table of Contents.
A great book idea isn't enough to secure a publishing deal. Before an editor ever reads a sample chapter, your proposal has to demonstrate that your book is timely, marketable, and positioned for success. You want to align what you want to say, how you want to say it, and why you should be the one telling us about it in the first place.
Whether you're starting from a rough concept or already have substantial material drafted, I'll work with you to shape a proposal that tells a compelling story—not just about your book, but about why you are the person to write it.
Throughout the process, you'll receive strategic feedback on every section, ensuring your proposal reflects both your expertise and the commercial potential of your project.
Starting at $2,500. Final pricing depends on the scope of the project, including the amount of existing material, research required, and the level of editorial development needed.
Free Consultation Call
Not sure where to begin? A half-hour consultation is a great starting point. We’ll discuss your project, assess what kind of help you need, and create a clear roadmap for your next steps. I’ll review a sample of your work of up to 5,000 words in advance to give you actionable feedback during our session.
Free service.
Something New!
Not sure which of these you fit? Perhaps a mix of different options? Reach out for a free consultation call and we can see what makes the most sense for your unique project and needs.
Alpha Read
Sometimes the hardest part of revising isn't knowing how to fix your manuscript—it's knowing what needs fixing in the first place.
An Alpha Read is designed for writers who have finished a rough draft but aren't quite ready for a full developmental edit. Maybe you know something isn't clicking, but you can't put your finger on why. Maybe you've been too close to the manuscript for too long. Or maybe this is your first novel, and you're looking for an experienced editorial eye before investing in more in-depth revisions.
During an Alpha Read, I'll evaluate your manuscript from a big-picture perspective, identifying what's working, where the story begins to lose its footing, and what deserves your attention as you move into the next draft. I'll also assess whether your genre, audience, point of view, and overall concept are aligned with the story you've actually written. (You'd be surprised how often a memoir turns out to be self-help—or a romance has accidentally become a sports novel.)
Think of it as a roadmap for revision: focused enough to point you in the right direction without the depth—or investment—of a full developmental edit.
What you'll receive
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A complete read-through of your manuscript.
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A one-hour strategy session to discuss your feedback, answer questions, and map out your next steps.
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Clear, actionable recommendations to help you approach your next revision with confidence.
If you're wondering whether your manuscript is working before committing to a full developmental edit, an Alpha Read is often the best place to begin.
There is a flat rate of $750 for this service, with additional payment for manuscripts over 150,000 words.
Request a Quote
Please reach out and let me know about your project. Describe what you're writing, which service you're interested in, what you'd like to get out of our editorial work together, and your manuscript's word count (if applicable). Please expect a response within three business days. Thank you very much!