Developmental Editing

Perfect Your Book

As a developmental editor, I'm your new secret weapon. If you peruse the 100 bestselling books, you'll notice that all of them have editors. All authors need a strong editor to help bring out their best work, and that's where I come in.

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FEATURED IN…

“Amy was the gift my book needed! I had written a memoir but it lacked a voice and emotion. Amy quickly found my voice, found my sub themes and rewrote my memoir. She brought me to tears when I read her rewrite outline as it was exactly what I had wanted and needed for my story. Amy works quickly, meets every deadline she sets and was so tapped into my vision and my story. The investment was worth every penny! She is incredibly talented and a pleasure to work with.”

— JEANNE, ENTREPRENEUR

My Developmental Editing Process

FREE DISCOVERY CALL

I love to start with a free discovery call so I can get to know you and your goals for your book. Everything begins with your intent and purpose for your story, and it's important for me to be on the same page with you before we start. After our call, I like to review where your draft is at, and from there I'll draft up a proposal and share a quote for how we can work together.

PROPOSAL AND PROJECT COMMENCEMENT

After I review your manuscript and we connect, I'll share with you my project quote. Once you’re ready to dive in, I’ll send over my contract and invoice for us to get started.

THE DEVELOPMENTAL EDIT

Each book requires a different approach, which is why my process molds to what will be the most effective route for your project. For books with structural changes, I'll provide a rewrite outline before I begin to make sure my changes are aligned with your vision for the story. For projects that require more line edits, I'll offer options of me just providing the notes for you, or implementing the line edits myself with tracked changes to save you time and you can approve or deny from there.

GHOSTWRITING SERVICES

If you'd like me to help ghostwrite any sections of the book you need more support on, I'd be happy to help break through writers' block with my done-for-you ghostwriting services. As an experienced ghostwriter, I can write in the established tone of your book and help augment any sections or storylines that need a little more love.

LINE-EDITING SERVICES

As part of my developmental editing services, I include a line-editing pass where I scrutinize every line of your book to ensure everything is worded properly and doesn't take away from the read. This pass includes fact-checking and ensuring there are no errors.

TAILORING AND THE FINAL PROOFREAD AND POLISH

As part of the final proofread and polish, I'll pull in another member of my team to do a pass to ensure any stray typos are caught and ensure a smooth, pleasant read. At this stage, I can also format the book for querying or for self-publishing. You'll walk away with a beautiful, publish-ready book.

PUBLISHING STRATEGY, BOOK DESIGN, AND NEXT STEPS

If you don't already have a plan in place for publication, I'd be happy to offer my recommendations based on your goals for your book. Every author prioritizes different things, and I'd be happy to share the pros and cons of different paths in the publishing world.

FAQ

What is developmental editing?

Developmental editing is the process by which an editor evaluates a manuscript for all elements of story: structure, pacing, characterization, themes, scene transitions, and more. A developmental editor's job is to set the writer up for success, to cover their blind spots, and to help uncover the true potential of the book and the author's vision for it.

How much does developmental editing cost?

If you're looking to hire an experienced freelance developmental editor like myself, the cost of a developmental edit can range anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000 depending on the state of the draft, if you're looking to have more done-for-you editing and ghostwriting help rather than notes alone, and what new elements might come into play when the editing process begins.

When should I hire a developmental editor?

You should hire a developmental editor when you've gotten your draft as far as you possibly can by yourself. Some developmental editors don't take unfinished drafts, whereas I'm happy to help you no matter where you're at. I'm an experienced ghostwriter and developmental editor, so I can guide you and support you through any stage of the process.

Are there any other book editing services I might need outside of developmental editing?

Other editors may only specialize in one part of the process (i.e. developmental editing alone, or line editing alone) but I'm your Swiss army knife and new secret weapon! I'm trained as a ghostwriter, developmental editor, and line editor, and I have proofreaders on my team who can ensure your book gets the attention it needs to bloom into a beautiful final draft. When I create my initial proposal, I'll share with you what I think your book needs, and we can go from there.

How long does a developmental edit take?

Every book is different, and because of that, I'll also share an estimated timeline with you in my project proposal. Generally, my developmental edits take less than a month to complete as I don't overbook myself and have chosen rates that allow me to focus deeply on your book from start to finish.

WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING

"I have talked to many author about my book before settling on Amy. Amy has a very creative way to make your story a reality the way you want. She is very patient and asked all the right questions as I am not the easiest person to understand. I would recommend anyone to Amy."
"If you are lucky enough to get a chance to work with Amy, grab it! She is a pleasure to work with, and quickly steered me in the right direction. The only way it could have been better is if I had found her a year earlier! Her communication is fantastic, she is reachable and makes herself available. She delivered everything ahead of schedule. Her insights have been invaluable. The best way to sum it up is that when I reviewed her details, I decided to pay 4 times what I had been planning to pay, and it was a very wise decision!"
"Amy is phenomenal. A true professional who goes above and beyond! Her insight, writing ability, experience, professionalism, creativity and feedback were invaluable for my project. I wish there were more than five stars because she deserves it. I'd definitely hire her again!"
"Hire Amy... that's all that needs to be said. Whatever copy materials that you are looking for, Amy will get it done at the highest caliber of quality. She is excellent with her communication, thorough research and she really knows how to nail exactly what you're looking for. My only advice is to provide her with as much detail as you possibly can and it'll produce the best results. I can tell that Amy prides herself on being the best in the business even if she would prefer to humble herself and say she's only ONE of the best. But no, She IS the best!”
"I couldn't be any happier with Amy's work on my project. She is an amazing writer. She followed my brand messaging guide to a "T" and she is extremely efficient with her time. She has excellent intuition and will find just the right words to communicate your message to your target audience."