Your Editing Roadmap

It’s actually a pretty simple roadmap. Once you have explored the information on this website and you’d like to consider working together, the first step of the journey is to complete and submit the Confidential Discovery Questionnaire, which can be found on the Contact page of this website. I’ll respond to set a time for a discovery call so we can decide together the scope of work, budget, and any next steps.

Just as each book is a world in itself and different than anything that’s ever been published before, every author brings unique gifts, talents, and opportunities to a publishing partnership. As your editor, coach, and ally, I tailor my assistance to your specific needs and unique situation.

Whether you have a completed manuscript, a partial one, fragments, or just some ideas, we will decide together the way forward. Our process may comprise one or more of the editing categories described in the Editorial Scope section below. While editing will naturally include some coaching along the way, a more formal coaching component may be beneficial.

It is important to note that control and final decisions remain in your hands throughout the editing or coaching process. Any edits, suggestions, or recommendations are based on my best judgment for improving your work; however, the final decisions are always yours.  This is your creation; I am here to support and foster that. 

Coaching

Writing is a solitary pursuit, but you don’t have to do it alone.

A book coach is a mentor, an ally, and a cheerleader who becomes a catalyst and comfort for the author at any stage of development. The coach provides a sounding board and an impartial perspective that unlocks the deliciousness of your ideas and their expression. As new material emerges, the editor aspect inevitably adds any needed polish. Your coach provides clarity, consistency, and accountability through a structured, yet flexible program tailored to your project and goals. 

Core Book Coaching Package

Wherever you are in your own heroic author’s journey—struggling to get started or perhaps stuck somewhere along the way—my core coaching package is designed to help you get past those hurdles with joy and clarity. Whether you feel blocked creatively or you’re battling motivation and consistency in your writing process, we will solve those issues together.

Here is what’s included in the core book coaching package:

Your book coaching investment:

Your custom book coaching package requires an initial, three-month contract. This is really the minimum required to establish your habits and rhythm to bring your project to completion. Your investment for this service is $1,200 per month, billed monthly. Some clients finish the three months with a complete first draft and a clear path forward for revision and marketing. If we are not quite there by then, and you are happy with your progress, we will move to a simple month-to-month arrangement.

The Manuscript Assessment

During the writing process, many people begin to wonder, “Is my book good enough to be published?” Consulting with an experienced, objective reviewer with an editorial background is a great way to receive insightful feedback on the manuscript and begin to understand the market in which it can sell.

If you have completed at least a first draft of your manuscript, we will always begin with a Manuscript Assessment. This provides a high-level assessment of your manuscript, allowing you to determine the clearest vision for your book’s trajectory.

In this process, I read your manuscript in its entirety, taking notes along the way. From there, I will craft a feedback letter highlighting what works well and what aspects need addressing or revision before your manuscript is ready for publication. Once I send you the feedback letter, we will schedule a call to discuss it.

In the feedback letter, I also provide suggestions on the level of editing that may be appropriate for your manuscript—developmental editing, copyediting, or proofreading—so that you can determine the likely level of investment required for the editorial process. 

The good news is that if you and I share the same vision for your book, and you’d like me to edit it, I will gladly credit your initial investment for the Manuscript Assessment toward a custom scope that you and I decide together. If, on the other hand, you decide to forge ahead on your own, you are now armed with a professional evaluation and a clear vision of where you stand and where you are going.

Manuscript Assessment Pricing

The process takes approximately two to four weeks and involves an investment of $850, up to 60,000 words. You would pay in full when you send me your manuscript or in two payments of $450, the first paid with the manuscript submission and the second paid once I have completed the evaluation and prior to its return to you, and our review call.

Editorial Scope

Depending on the needs of your book project, one or a combination of the following editing categories may be required.

​​Developmental editing closely examines the structure and logical flow of the book as a whole, ensuring that each chapter is relevant and in logical order, that each section or scene within each chapter transitions smoothly into the next, and that the reader is easily guided from paragraph to paragraph. This involves significant collaboration between the author and editor. 

Line/Copyediting focuses on the sentence level, ensuring consistent style, language sense, feel, and flow.  Each sentence is reviewed for variety, fluidity, word choice, repetition, and clarity in a way that’s both polished and authentic to the author’s voice. 

Proofreading looks specifically at punctuation, spelling, grammar, and internal consistency. For example, if a word is capitalized or italicized in Chapter 3, that same word should appear exactly the same in Chapter 9. If the book uses references, the proofreader makes sure they are formatted consistently. A good proofread sets the stage for a seamless, professional-quality manuscript design as a print file.

Fact-checking is typically done during Line/Copyediting and Proofreading, although a manuscript heavy on cited facts may require a dedicated pass.

Pricing for Editing is based per word and is largely determined by the state of the manuscript and the complexity of the material. 

• Developmental Editing runs between $0.04 and $0.06 per word.
• Line/Copyediting is between $0.02 and $0.04 per word.
• Proofreading is typically between $0.01 and $0.03 per word.

Editing or Coaching?

Coaching and editing are two distinct services, yet they overlap, and it can be beneficial for the author to enjoy both. The Editorial Scope section above outlines the various services provided by an editor. Strictly speaking, the editing process begins after all (or most) of the words are on the page. However, new ideas and insights can emerge through the editor’s encouragement during that process. So, an edit can contain an element of coaching.

Likewise, my coaching process often includes editing along the way. Not only is it essential that you put your words on the page, but the way they land there is vital.

Publication and Marketing

If you would like to tackle your own publication and marketing, there are myriad great strategies and programs out there that will allow you to do just that. We can point you in the right direction, depending on your specific goals. If, however, you would like to plug into an excellent, turn-key process that is time-tested and proven to deliver superior results, we have just the thing for you.

We have partnered with Paper Raven Books, a premier publisher that specializes in indie authors across all genres. As a Luminous Literary Arts client, you are entitled to discounted prices on all their services. Just let us know if you are interested in exploring this option, and we’ll make the introduction.

https://paperravenbooks.com