About:

Ready to send that short story to a journal or competition, that pitch package to an agent, that grant application to a funding organization, or that novel to a publisher, but feel your submission could use some tidying up? Gail and Graham Anderson-Dargatz team up to give your project the attention it deserves. The clean sweep is an all-in-one: structural edits from Gail and a marked-up copy from Graham.

Gail will dig deep into your manuscript's themes, story goals, conflicts, structure, character arcs, pacing, point of view, and dialogue. Graham will help polish your manuscript, providing stylistic editing.

This is not a copy-editing or proofreading service and will not guarantee publication.

Especially when it comes to a book-length project, writers often feel their manuscript is further along than it actually is. Before starting the edit, Gail will quickly appraise your project. If she feels it isn't yet ready for a clean sweep, she'll direct you to one of our less expensive services, like a developmental edit or manuscript evaluation.

How it works:

Contact Gail's office to schedule your clean sweep and send us your manuscript. We'll send you an invoice, and once you've paid, we'll get to work. If you submit a book-length project, you can expect your notes within a month of your submission date. On short submissions, we'll get back to you within a week.

Manuscripts must be submitted by email as a single Word document in 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced. The clean sweep is highly time-consuming and detailed work. To keep the cost reasonable, there's no Zoom discussion or follow-up email exchange as there is for Gail's developmental edit service. 

Cost:

For projects under 5,000 words, the cost is $150. To purchase, click on the green button below.

For projects over 5,000 words, the first 5,000 words is $150 and then four and a half cents a word thereafter, plus GST/HST for your province. For example, a 20,000-word manuscript would cost $825 plus GST/HST, and an 80,000-word manuscript would cost $3525 plus GST/HST. To purchase, contact Gail's office with word count.

Writers hoping for feedback on a project outline or synopsis are better served by a blue pencil session, which allows for brainstorming.

To schedule your clean sweep, contact Gail's office: books@gailanderson-dargatz.ca.

Praise:

"Gail and Graham offered a fresh perspective on my work which allowed me to crack it open and completely revamp the narrative. Their insight and expertise on the developmental and line edits pushed my work to a new level."

— Lindsay Foran, RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award finalist, longlisted CBC Short Story Prize, 3Macs finalist

“Gail and Graham's complementary and aligned skill sets brought out the true potential of my novel. Gail's insightful big-picture questions helped me craft a more authentic storyline and add compelling conflict to my character arcs. Graham not only helped propel my pacing, but he cleaned up my bulky prose and delivered outstanding fact-checking. I'm already planning my next project with them!”

— Rina Nichols Rina Nichols, writer, Canada Council for the Arts grant recipient, shortlisted CANSCAIP 2023 Writing for Children competition YA category

Meet and Greet

Meet Gail for a 15-minute Zoom session to find out which one of Gail's services is right for you.

Fiction Mentorships

Gail's flagship course. In this one-on-one, private, four-month online mentorship, Gail will guide you as you build your fiction project.

Manuscript Evaluations

Looking for an editor’s perspective on your fiction project, but not yet ready for an in-depth developmental edit? A manuscript evaluation is the affordable next step between a beta reading and a developmental edit.

The Clean Sweep

Writing is messy. Clean it up! Get a detailed edit of your story, pitch package, grant application or fiction project of any length.

Blue Pencil Sessions

Not your average blue pencil session, this 45-minute consultation with Gail is a full workshop. Book at any time.

Alpha and Beta Reading Service

Alpha and beta readers give feedback on a manuscript from a reader’s perspective. Move your project forward with this affordable service.

Developmental Edits

Gail digs deep into your manuscript's big picture story elements - themes, story goals, conflicts and structure, character arcs, pacing, point of view, and dialogue - to help you develop your project to the fullest.

Writing Retreat

A perfect writing getaway in the beautiful Shuswap landscape found in so much of Gail's writing