Transform Your Writing with Expert Developmental Editing Services
Unleash your full potential as a writer with specialized developmental editing services. Whether you’re crafting a novel, developing a screenplay, or penning a nonfiction piece, my comprehensive editing suite is designed to elevate your work to its highest quality.
My developmental editing service deepens your manuscript’s structure, themes, and overall flow. I analyze your plot, character development, and pacing, providing detailed feedback to enhance your narrative’s strength and coherence. I also help refine your vision, ensuring your story resonates with readers and stands out in a crowded marketplace.
Whether you’d like feedback on your short piece, a 5,000-word story or your entire book, I’ve got you covered. Whatever length your work is, I’ll read it closely and deliver:
- A memo outlining my overall feedback, thoughts and suggested changes.
- In-line comments on the story about aspects that can be improved.
- A one-on-one phone consultation with you to discuss a plan for the next steps.
This service is intended for writers who have completed a draft of their work and are eager for tough, honest, in-depth and actionable feedback about how it can be improved. (That doesn’t mean your work has to be finished; I’m happy to review works-in-progress and/or partial works, such as the first few chapters of your book.)
I’ll address big-picture issues like story structure, clarity, narrative arc and pacing, as well as many smaller opportunities for improvement throughout, and speak directly with you about how to rewrite and get your work publication-ready.
The critique service is offered in partnership with Narratively. Students of Narratively Academy receive discounts on developmental editing services.
What to Expect
Sensitivity Reading: Inclusive and Respectful
Now more than ever, it’s crucial that your work resonates with diverse audiences. My sensitivity reading service examines your manuscript through various cultural, gender, and social lenses, offering insights to improve inclusivity and accuracy. This critical review helps you connect with broader audiences while respecting cultural sensitivities.
Line Editing: Precision and Polish
Line by line, I scrutinize your manuscript for language use, clarity, and style. I refine your voice, enhance your word choice, and ensure consistency, making your prose clean and compelling. This meticulous process eliminates distractions, allowing your readers to immerse themselves fully in the world you’ve created.
Comprehensive Support Beyond the Edits
Each client receives a detailed memo outlining my feedback, thoughts, and suggestions for revisions—your roadmap to rewriting. Additionally, in-line comments throughout your manuscript provide specific guidance on how to enhance individual sections or elements. To top it off, I offer a one-on-one phone consultation to discuss the feedback in detail and plan your next steps. This personalized approach ensures you have the support and clarity to proceed confidently toward publication.
Empower Your Writing Journey
With a blend of critical insight and constructive feedback, I offer more than just an edit. It is a partnership in your writing journey. Empower yourself to deliver a polished, compelling manuscript ready to capture readers’ hearts and minds.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Our Developmental Editing Services
1. What exactly does developmental editing involve?
Developmental editing focuses on the big picture aspects of your manuscript, including plot, character development, pacing, and overall structure. It’s about refining your story’s framework before focusing on finer details like grammar and syntax.
2. How does sensitivity reading differ from general editing?
Sensitivity reading specifically examines your manuscript for cultural, gender, and social accuracy and sensitivity. It aims to identify potentially offensive content or inaccuracies regarding representation, helping to ensure your work is respectful and inclusive of diverse audiences.
3. What can I expect in the memo I receive with my critique?
The memo provides a comprehensive overview of the feedback on your manuscript. It includes a summary of my thoughts, detailed suggestions for improvements, and a clear plan for your next steps. This document serves as a guide for revising your manuscript based on my editorial advice.
4. How is the price determined for editing services?
My pricing is based on the total word count of your manuscript. I offer a per-word pricing model, which allows for transparent and scalable costs that adjust based on the length of your document. This method ensures you only pay for what you need.
5. What is included in the one-on-one phone consultation?
The phone consultation is an opportunity to discuss my feedback and your concerns in real-time. During this call, you can ask specific questions about the comments and suggestions, discuss potential revisions, and plan the next steps for your manuscript. This personalized interaction is designed to clarify any uncertainties and help you move forward effectively with your revisions.
6. Why should I hire you?
In hiring me, you gain a professional whose work has illuminated the pages and screens of top-tier media outlets, won awards, and—most importantly—moved hearts and minds. I commit to bringing the same passion, expertise, and critical insight to your project, ensuring it rises above the noise to make an impact that endures.
Transparent Pricing, Tailored to Your Needs
Our pricing model is straightforward and adaptable to your project’s scope — charged by the word to keep things simple and fair. You know upfront what you’re investing in, ensuring my services fit your budget and your manuscript’s specific needs.
Up to 2,500 words: $175
2,501 – 5,000 words: $300
5,001 – 10,000 words: $500
Book manuscripts and other projects over 10,000 words: $50 per 1,000 words
When booking a critique, specifically request to work with me. Once you book. we’ll email you ASAP to set things up.
Questions? Email academy@narratively.com.
Take the first step towards transforming your manuscript. Contact us today to learn how my editing services can refine your narrative and help you achieve your publishing goals.
Editor Bio
Winner of the New York Times Award for Outstanding Journalism, I am an acclaimed writer and filmmaker, specializing in first-person, narrative nonfiction that examines the meaning of community, connection, and identity in Black communities. My work was featured in Memoir Land, CNN.com, CNN Español, Hearst Magazines, The Times of Israel, New Worlder, Ebony, and Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel.
Currently, I am working on my memoir, Water in My Bones, and documentary film directorial debut, Return of the Black Madonna. Both projects trace my epic quest to learn to swim, dive, and map sunken slave ships with Black marine archeologists.
In addition, I produced and starred in Detroit Rising: How the Motor City Becomes a Restorative City, released in 2020. The five-part docuseries follows me as I witnessed restorative justice transform nearly every city sector during a time of racial reckoning. The series was an official selection of the San Francisco Independent Short Film Festival, called “illuminating” by The Mercury News, and won “Best Web Series” (2020) at the Cyrus International Film Festival.
Finally, I am the CEO and Founder of Woodbine Ventures, a media nonprofit dedicated to healing generational trauma and fostering Black joy through compelling storytelling and educational projects.