Hello!
As a seasoned book reviewer, beta reader and developmental editor, I have worked with dozens of writers – both new and experienced – to polish their books and bring them to publication. This is a passion of mine and I cannot wait to work with you.
- Click here if you are interested in a list of recent books that have been edited.
- Here’s a link if you’d like examples of feedback that I provide for authors.
- Check this out if you want to read testimonials from authors who I’ve read for.
- Here’s a link if you are more interested in beta reading or would like to know more about the difference between beta reading and developmental editing.
Services Provided (Developmental Editing):
My goal is to provide authors with the final developmental edit prior to publication. This is ideal for authors who are nearly ready for publication and need a fresh set of eyes to closely read and provide feedback on the final touches of the manuscript.
As an experienced developmental editor and book reviewer, I will provide detailed comments and feedback (approximately two to four comments per page). As part of the developmental edit, I will pinpoint specific examples of what works well or what may need to be changed as well as provide explanations for why I felt that way and suggestions for how passages may be changed. I will address the core pillars of book – plot and character development, writing style and dialogue. I will also address pacing, setting and other aspects that impact the enjoyment and structure of the story. I will pay particular attention to any plot inconsistencies or plot holes.
I have a PhD in biophysics and a BS in Biochemistry, therefore I will provide accurate and reliable feedback for stories that involve various scientific concepts. I am a skilled researcher, therefore even if the concepts are outside of my base field, I will still be able to provide an expert’s opinion on the scientific realism.
In addition, I will provide a summary (3 pages min, single spaced) regarding overall thoughts, impressions of the manuscript and greatest barriers to publication. If desired, authors can provide a list of questions regarding their manuscript and I will provide full and detailed responses. I will be available for further discussion regarding my comments.
Limitations of Developmental Edit:
I firmly believe that any developmental edits to a book should solely be up to the author’s discretion therefore I will not directly change your words. Instead, I will leave comments throughout the book. All of my comments will be suggestions and it will be up to the author whether to implement them. When suggesting changes, often I will provide options for resolution or alternate text for the passage. The author is free to use any suggestions or alternate text word-for-word if desired.
I will not be acting as a line editor or proofreader – I may comment here and there about a particularly tangled sentence but I will not be commenting on spelling mistakes or punctuation errors. Ideally, the manuscript will be sent with few errors because it becomes difficult to focus on the story when it is littered with grammatical errors.
Format & Genres
I prefer to work with google docs or Microsoft Word. I am open to all genres except for poetry.
Pricing & turnaround time:
My standard pricing is $6 per 1000 words.*
Turnaround time is 2 weeks or less. Please allow additional time for manuscripts over 50k words.
I acknowledge that I provide developmental edits as a hobby rather than a full career. While I have a PhD in biophysics and a BS in Biochemistry, and ample experience in the literary field, that is still not the same as a full-time developmental editor therefore I keep that in mind when pricing my projects. My current prices reflect the time and dedication I put forth into every book. This is something I genuinely love doing but it isn’t something I can afford to do for free.
That being said, I acknowledge that while my prices are not as high as a professional developmental editor, they do reflect a significant investment for the author. Therefore, when the author sends their initial inquiry, they can request a 5-page sample developmental edit (for free) to get a feel for my work and my editing style.
*Some exceptions apply with regards to pricing – if a manuscript is already very polished and close to publication, then prices may be a bit lower than the standard. This depends entirely on the 5-page sample and the discretion of the developmental editor.
What if my book isn’t the first in a series?
Given the importance of a developmental edit, I will only edit for books that I’ve read the entirety of the series. I find trying to provide a developmental edit without prior knowledge of the series to be detrimental to the book series on a whole and leads to me not being as effective of an editor. I must be provided with a digital copy (Microsoft Word, PDF or Google Docs) and an additional $25 per book (to be read) as compensation for the time spent. Please allow for an additional 3 days per book (to be read) for the overall time estimate.
Miranda Reads 