Developmental Edits

About:

Gail's developmental editing service is for writers at all levels of experience including emerging writers, self-published authors and traditionally published writers. With more than thirty years of writing, teaching and editing experience, Gail works with writers of all fiction genres and memoir.

A developmental editor digs deep into a manuscript's themes, story goals, conflicts and structure, character arcs, pacing, point of view, and dialogue to help a writer develop their project to the fullest. Gail takes the developmental edit a step further, offering, where appropriate, a teaching edit that includes links and resources that help writers develop skills they can apply to future projects.

Writers can expect five to ten pages of in-depth notes on their project. The developmental editing package includes an initial half-hour Zoom meeting with Gail to discuss the writer's goals for the project, and a follow-up email exchange after Gail has sent the writer her notes.

To see what writers have to say about working with Gail, check out their praise to the right and testimonials below.

This is not a line-by-line or copy edit service. A developmental edit will not guarantee publication.

This service is designed for book-length manuscripts. For short stories, partial manuscripts and projects under 20,000 words, check out our manuscript evaluation and clean sweep services.

How it works:

The writer submits their manuscript by email on the first day of the scheduled month. Before Gail reads the manuscript, she will meet with the writer for a half-hour Zoom session to discuss the writer's goals for the project. Gail will then begin her edit. A developmental edit is highly time-consuming work, but Gail commits to compiling up to ten pages of detailed notes by the end of the same month. At that point, Gail will email her notes to the author. The writer then has the opportunity to email Gail up to ten questions within one week of receiving the notes. Gail will promptly email back her considered responses.

Manuscripts are submitted as a single Word document, in 12-point, Times New Roman, double-spaced.

When:

Click on the deposit button below to book your developmental edit. Gail will contact you immediately to discuss when you will submit.

Cost:

The cost is three and a half cents a word Canadian, plus GST/HST for your province.

For example, a 40,000-word manuscript would cost $1,400, plus GST/HST.  An 80,000-word manuscript would cost $2,800 plus GST/HST.

Again, a $250 (plus GST/HST) non-refundable deposit is due on registration to hold your seat for your scheduled month. If you move your edit to another month, you'll be asked to pay the deposit a second time, so please make sure you can commit to your chosen submission date. The full fee must be paid before Gail begins work on your project.

Grants for writers can often be used for professional development, including this developmental edit. Explore the Canada Council for the Arts and provincial arts councils to see if this funding is a possibility for you.

Not ready for a developmental edit? Check out our manuscript evaluation and beta-reading services, or book a meet-and-greet session with Gail to discuss which services are right for you.

For more information, email Gail's office.