editing Services
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Single-Chapter Feedback
Stuck on one chapter or wondering whether an important scene is working? This focused service provides detailed feedback on structure, pacing, dialogue, character motivation, point of view, and prose, without requiring you to submit the entire manuscript.
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Opening Chapters Review
Your opening chapters need to capture attention, establish the story, and give readers a reason to continue. I will assess the strength of your hook, pacing, character introduction, stakes, point of view, and narrative pull, with practical feedback to help you create a stronger beginning.
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Professional Beta Read
A professional beta read tells you how your book feels to an attentive and experienced reader. I will highlight where the story is engaging, where attention begins to drift, which characters connect, and any areas that feel confusing, rushed, or underdeveloped.
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Manuscript Assessment
Finished your draft but unsure what to revise next? A manuscript assessment gives you a professional overview of your book’s structure, pacing, characters, voice, and overall effectiveness, along with clear guidance on where to focus your next round of revisions.
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Developmental Editing
Developmental editing looks at the big picture of your manuscript. I will work closely with you on structure, plot, pacing, character development, point of view, emotional impact, and any larger issues preventing the story from reaching its full potential.
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Copyediting
Copyediting focuses on the clarity, consistency, and correctness of your writing. I will carefully review your manuscript for grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, word choice, repetition, and inconsistencies while preserving your individual voice and style.
single-chapter feedback
If you’re struggling with one important chapter, testing a new point of view, or wondering whether a scene is achieving what you intended, this feedback is perfect for your needs.
I will review a single chapter and provide focused feedback on elements such as scene structure, pacing, tension, character motivation, dialogue, point of view, clarity, and prose.
Where relevant, I will also consider how effectively the chapter appears to support the wider story, based on the background information you provide.
single-chapter feedback is a good fit for your needs if:
You are stuck on a particular chapter.
You want to test the strength of a scene before continuing.
You are experimenting with voice, structure, or point of view.
You want professional feedback on a smaller section of your work.
You are not yet ready for a full manuscript edit.
You will receive comments on the chapter and a written overview of its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for revision.
What you receive
Comments within the chapter, together with a written overview of its strengths and opportunities for revision.
Word limit
Up to 5,000 words. You may include up to 500 words of background information about the characters and wider story.
Turnaround time
Approximately seven to ten days.
Price
$175.
For chapters between 5,000 and 8,000 words, the price is $225.
Interested in this service?
Send me your manuscript details and I’ll confirm whether it is the right fit.
opening chapters review
Your opening chapters need to do a lot of work. They introduce the world of the story, establish the voice, give readers a reason to care, and must create enough momentum to keep them turning the pages.
I’ll review your opening chapters and provide feedback on the strength of the opening, character introduction, pacing, clarity, stakes, point of view, dialogue, and narrative pull.
I will also look at whether the opening creates the right expectations for the genre and the story’s promise and whether the story begins in the most effective place.
An opening chapters review is a good fit for your needs if:
You are preparing to query agents or submit to publishers.
You are beginning a new manuscript and want to know whether the opening works.
Readers are not continuing beyond the first few chapters.
You have rewritten the beginning several times and need an outside perspective.
You would like to get a feel for my editorial approach before booking a larger service.
You will receive comments on the manuscript along with a written summary explaining what is working and what may need further development.
What you receive
Comments and suggestions within the manuscript, plus a written editorial letter of approximately three to five pages.
Word limit
Up to 10,000 words. You may also include a short synopsis or description of the wider story for context.
Turnaround time
Approximately 10 to 14 days.
Price
$325.
Additional words can be included by arrangement.
Interested in this service?
Send me your manuscript details and I’ll confirm whether it is the right fit.
Professional beta read
A beta read focuses on the experience of reading your book.
Unlike developmental editing, which examines how the manuscript has been constructed and offers detailed solutions, a beta read tells you how the story is landing with an attentive and experienced reader.
I’ll read your manuscript from beginning to end and provide honest feedback on engagement, pacing, character connection, emotional impact, clarity, consistency, and the effectiveness of the ending.
I will note where I felt absorbed in the story, where my attention began to drift, which characters or relationships felt convincing, and where I became confused or wanted more.
A professional beta read is a good fit for your needs if:
You have revised your manuscript and want to know how it reads as a whole.
You want feedback before sending the book to an editor.
You have already worked with beta readers but need a more experienced perspective.
You want to understand the reader’s emotional response to the story.
You are wondering whether the manuscript is ready for the next stage.
You will receive a detailed reader report covering the overall experience of the book, along with specific observations about the story’s strongest and weakest moments.
What you receive
A detailed reader report of approximately six to ten pages, along with answers to up to five specific questions you would particularly like me to consider while reading.
This service does not include comments or corrections within the manuscript.
Manuscript length
Up to 120,000 words. Please contact me for a custom quote if your manuscript is longer.
Turnaround time
Approximately three to five weeks.
Price
$0.008 per word, with a minimum project fee of $300.
An 80,000-word manuscript would cost $640.
Interested in this service?
Send me your manuscript details and I’ll confirm whether it is the right fit.
MANUSCRIPT ASSESSMENT
A manuscript assessment gives you a professional overview of your completed draft without the price of a full developmental edit.
I’ll read your manuscript and provide a detailed editorial assessment covering the main elements of the book’s structure including plot, pacing, character development, point of view, narrative voice, emotional impact, and overall coherence.
Your assessment will explain what is working, where the manuscript may be losing momentum, and which of the main elements would benefit most from revision. The focus will be on the patterns and issues affecting the book as a whole.
A manuscript assessment is a good fit for your needs if:
You have completed a draft but are unsure what to revise next.
You want professional feedback before approaching agents or publishers.
You know something is not quite working but cannot identify the cause.
You want editorial guidance without committing to a full developmental edit.
What you receive
A detailed editorial report with clear, practical recommendations for your next revision approximately 10 to 15 pages in length, together with a 30-minute follow-up call to discuss your questions and next steps.
Manuscript length
Up to 120,000 words. Please contact me for a custom quote if your manuscript is longer.
Turnaround time
Approximately four to six weeks.
Price
$0.018 per word, with a minimum project fee of $650.
An 80,000-word manuscript would cost $1,440.
Interested in this service?
Send me your manuscript details and I’ll confirm whether it is the right fit.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
Developmental editing takes a deep look at the foundations of your manuscript.
I will work through your book closely, examining its structure, plot, pacing, character development, point of view, emotional impact, narrative voice, and internal logic. I will identify problems that may be weakening the story, explain why they are happening, and offer practical suggestions for addressing them.
This is a collaborative process rather than a list of instructions. My role is not to rewrite your book according to my preferences, but to understand what you are trying to achieve and help you achieve it more effectively.
Developmental editing addresses questions such as:
Does the story begin in the right place?
Are the central conflict and stakes strong enough?
Do the characters’ actions and motivations feel convincing?
Are important relationships fully developed?
Does the middle of the book maintain momentum?
Are there plot gaps, inconsistencies, or missed opportunities?
Does the ending provide a satisfying conclusion?
Is the manuscript delivering the emotional experience it promises?
This service is a good fit if you have completed a full draft and are ready to undertake a substantial revision. It is particularly useful if you know the manuscript is not yet working as well as it could, have received conflicting feedback, or need experienced guidance before preparing the book for publication or submission.
What You Receive
Detailed comments and suggestions throughout the manuscript
A comprehensive editorial letter of approximately 15 to 25 pages
Clear priorities for revision, so you know where to begin
A 60-minute follow-up call to discuss the feedback and your next steps
Email support for brief questions during the first 30 days of your revision
Developmental editing does not include copyediting or proofreading. At this stage, the focus is on strengthening the story rather than correcting the language line by line.
Manuscript Length
Up to 120,000 words.
Please contact me for a custom quote if your manuscript is longer than 120,000 words.
Turnaround Time
Approximately six to eight weeks.
The exact schedule will depend on the manuscript’s length and complexity and will be confirmed before booking.
Price
$0.035 per word, with a minimum project fee of $1,000.
An 80,000-word manuscript would cost $2,800.
Because every manuscript requires a different level of intervention, I will review a sample before confirming the final quote.
A 50% deposit reserves your place in my schedule. The remaining balance is due before the completed edit is returned.
Interested in this service?
Send me your manuscript details and I’ll confirm whether it is the right fit.
COPYEDITING
Copyediting focuses on the clarity, consistency, and correctness of your manuscript.
I will work carefully through the text to correct errors and improve readability while preserving your individual voice. The purpose is not to make every writer sound the same. It is to remove distractions, resolve inconsistencies, and ensure that your language communicates exactly what you intend.
Depending on the manuscript, a copyedit addresses:
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax
Awkward or unclear sentences
Word choice and unnecessary repetition
Overused words and phrases
Inconsistencies in names, dates, timelines, and details
Dialogue punctuation and formatting
Shifts in tense or point of view
Continuity errors
Capitalization, hyphenation, numbers, and other style decisions
Factual queries where something appears incorrect or unclear
I will make straightforward corrections directly and leave comments where a change requires your decision. I will not rewrite passages unnecessarily or flatten the qualities that make your writing recognizably yours.
This service is a good fit when the structure and content of your book are already settled and you are preparing the manuscript for publication, submission, or proofreading.
If the manuscript still requires substantial changes to its plot, structure, characters, or pacing, developmental editing should take place first.
What You Receive
A fully copyedited manuscript using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes
Editorial comments and queries where clarification is needed
A style sheet recording important decisions about spelling, capitalization, character details, timelines, and other points of consistency
A clean version of the manuscript with accepted corrections, if requested
Email support for brief questions about the edit for 14 days after delivery
Copyediting does not include major rewriting, line editing, developmental editing, formatting, or final proofreading after the manuscript has been typeset.
Manuscript Length
Up to 120,000 words.
Please contact me for a custom quote if your manuscript is longer than 120,000 words.
Turnaround Time
Approximately four to six weeks.
The exact schedule will depend on the length and condition of the manuscript and will be confirmed before booking.
Price
Rates begin at $0.025 per word, with a minimum project fee of $750.
An 80,000-word manuscript would begin at $2,000.
The final price will depend on the condition and complexity of the manuscript. I will review a sample before providing a firm quote, so you will know the full cost before deciding whether to book.
A 50% deposit reserves your place in my schedule. The remaining balance is due before the completed edit is returned.
Not Sure Which Service You Need?
Choosing the right kind of editorial support can be confusing, particularly if this is your first time working with an editor.
You can use the button below to send me a brief description of your manuscript, its genre and word count, and the stage you have reached. I will let you know which service I believe would be most useful.
I will never recommend a more extensive edit when a smaller service will give you what you need.
All prices are listed in US dollars. A final quote will be confirmed after I have reviewed a sample of your manuscript.
A 50% deposit reserves your place in my schedule, with the remaining balance due before the completed feedback is returned.
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Note: Billing is issued under my legal name, Jeannine Elizabeth Pettersson. All editorial services are provided as Elizabeth Pettersson.
