Get perspective on the big picture
You wrote a full draft of a book–congrats! But what’s next?
I want to give you the tools and motivation to revise it!
Find a path to the finish
Imagine waking up excited to revise your manuscript, clear about which changes are right for your vision for your book.
But right now, you’re feeling stuck, having received so much conflicting advice that you’re not sure where to start.
Developmental editing can help you move from overwhelm to empowerment.
Sound familiar?
You might be worried…
- Is this draft too long?
- Is the middle dragging?
- Does this character work? I’ve gotten feedback that she isn’t interesting but I can’t bear to lose her!
- Does the chronology make sense?
- What genre should I say this is? It’s kind of a blend!
- Is this quiet, character-based book too quiet?
- I’m not getting any response from the first chapters I’ve sent out–what does that mean?
“Thanks to Joy’s global editing of my debut novel, I feel inspired to start rewriting it again, after shelving it for several months, not knowing how or even whether to carry on with it. Her critique was sensitive, encouraging, thorough, and professional, with constructive guidelines that were easy to read and digest. I now feel confident I can pick up the pieces of my neglected novel, ruthlessly cut out the irrelevant bits and add some new chapters that should hold the plot together more tightly. I can’t thank you enough, Joy!”
Caroline Repton | Author, UK
Your genre is:
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Memoir
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Young adult
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Romance
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Issues-driven
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Diverse voices
Avoid overwhelm with bite-sized feedback
Now that you’ve finished your book, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the next task: revision.
How about a developmental edit at a pace that feels manageable?
My step-by-step option breaks down the standard manuscript evaluation letter by topic and spaces out the feedback so that you have time to reflect on the changes you would like to make and begin the work!
How does it work?
I’ll choose the three or four areas most relevant to your book and space out the feedback over six to eight weeks.
Get a one-topic bit of feedback; take two weeks to digest and implement.
One step at a time.
You choose the form of feedback that works best for you!
Standard manuscript evaluation letters and in-text comments also available.
Want to see if we'd be a good fit?
A successful developmental edit isn’t about correctness or perfection, but about chemistry. Gauging whether the reader is feeling the emotions that you hope to get across. Subjective, right? And very personal!
You need an editor you click with. Someone who gets you and your ms, whose communication style makes sense to you. It’s kind of like online dating! Fit is everything.
If my approach sounds right for you, let’s chat to make sure. Click here to get in touch and schedule a free clarity call!
Together we might work on:
- Plot/conflict
- Character
- Voice and point of view
- Emotional resonance for the reader
- Summary and backstory
- Dialogue and inner monologue
- Genre concerns
- Chronology
- Pacing
“Joy teased out knotted problems and offered helpful, practical solutions for my historical fiction novel. Her thorough analysis and helpful in-text notes made me feel she really understood the work. Her insight and enthusiasm about the subject matter have been very encouraging. I highly recommend her.”
Elisabeth Brooke | Writer and entrepreneur, UK
As you work the process, you’ll feel…
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Resolved to begin rewriting
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Clear about which changes to make
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Supported to implement those changes
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Confident that you are making the best version of this next draft that you can
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Ready to pursue next steps toward publication
Is this service right for you?
Developmental editing might be perfect for you if:
- You’ve just finished a writing course or challenge and need help with next steps for your draft
- You’re planning on rewriting your book
- You’re feeling too close to your project to see clearly what could be improved
- Or you know what problems could use some love, but need support with how to fix them
- You get a kick out of playing with narrative arcs, dialogue, and other big-picture issues
This service is not a great fit for you if:
- You’re happy with the content and structure of the book (e.g., plot, character, flow) as they are
- You’re looking for support with language or grammar
- You’re almost ready to finish this project and are mostly just looking for polishing touches before you self-publish or submit your book to an agent
Pricing for developmental editing
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150€ per 10,000 words
“Joy really took the time to understand what I was going for with my novel, and offered edits that kept my voice, but also made it much more readable. Rather than telling me how to change my book, everything she did enhanced it and made it better, and I am so grateful to her. She worked quickly and efficiently, and I couldn’t have asked for a more thorough job.”
Heather Teysko | Writer and historian, U.S.
Have a question? Let’s chat!
If you’ve come this far, but you’re still a little unsure, please get in touch.
I’d love to hear from you.
You can reach me by email on joyful@joyhoppenot.com.
Or simply fill in the form below and I’ll get back to you promptly.