ignite your opening chapters
Get detailed developmental feedback on your first 15,000 words for £180!
Ignite your opening chapters in 14 days!
Are you a fiction or memoir writer who intends to self-publish? Are you worried your book will flop with readers?
Perhaps you hope to submit to an agent. And now you’re anxious your story and characters aren’t cutting it.
Or you’ve written a good chunk of your book only to find that your plot has derailed. And now you don’t know what to do.
Or you’ve already published your book and it bombed, barely getting any readers?
Whichever category you fall into, you’re trying to do your very best work. Something you can be proud of.
But here’s the thing – none of us can be completely objective about our own work. We’re just too close and emotionally invested.
Do you find yourself endlessly rewriting? Never knowing if you're making things better or worse? Time for an Opening Chapters Edit.
Does your manuscript have these issues?
Does your plot have holes? Are there any loose threads?
Are your characters fleshed out? Are your antagonists two-dimensional baddies?
Are the stakes high enough?
Is there enough tension and drama in your story?
Does your main character have a credible character arc?
For that matter, does your writing match your genre?
Do you have an identifiable genre? Or is it a mishmash of genres? And does a mix like this actually work on the page?
And let’s not get started on the fact you’ve read and rewritten your scenes so many times you no longer remember what you’ve put in and taken out.
There are so many things to keep track of when you’re writing a novel or memoir. Like characterisation, plot, pace, theme, genre, dialogue, structure. And more.
All you want to do is wow readers or agents. But writing can be a lonely business. Especially if you don’t have access to a writing group or critique partner.
And even when you do have access to other writers’ feedback, you might be afraid your work isn’t good enough and they’ll judge you.
All the same, you still need a fresh pair of eyes on the manuscript. Preferably someone who is knowledgeable enough to spot issues. And how to fix them.
You need detailed editorial feedback. You need an easy-to-understand rewrite plan.
Developmental editing is also known as structural editing or substantive editing.
Why developmental editing is so important.
Developmental editing is the most in-depth form of big picture editing. It’s also known as structural editing or substantive editing.
It’s not a manuscript critique. It also doesn’t deal with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Because you’re not at that stage yet.
First things first. You need to make sure your story works. That your main characters are engaging. And that everything else is working well.
You need not just an editorial letter or report which analyses your manuscript, but a copy of the manuscript itself with helpful comments in the margins.
That way, you get specially targeted feedback exactly where you need it.
Feedback is crucial to improving your work. You can’t see all your own mistakes.
You might have edited something out and don’t realise some things no longer make sense. Your brain fills in the gaps. But your reader can’t do this. They can only see what’s on the page.
The last thing you want is to discover a massive plot hole via a negative review on Amazon or Goodreads.
An opening chapters edit is a great way to get feedback on a meaty chunk of your book.
Also, you can apply the things you learn about your opening chapters to later sections of your manuscript.
15,000 words developmentally edited at an affordable price - delivered within 14 days!
A detailed edit at an affordable price!
Not everyone has the money to pay for a full developmental edit. Or even a manuscript critique. Especially if they don’t know the editor and the quality of their feedback.
And it’s possible to learn a lot about your manuscript from an analysis of your opening chapters and synopsis. There are so many insights to be had. And so many obstacles to unblock.
Plus, knowing you’re on the right track inspires you to move on!
It’s my mission to help self-publishing novelists and memoirists rework their books through detailed editorial reports. Even better, the Opening Chapters Edit is an express service. And the feedback will help you tackle other parts of your manuscript.
Grab an Opening Chapters Edit for £180!
What you get with your Opening Chapters Edit.
I’ve worked on many 10,000-word edits in the past. And my clients found them enormously helpful. 15,000 words is an even meatier chunk.
Common issues usually show up early in a manuscript. Addressing them allows you to watch out for them over the rest of your book.
What you get:
Editorial letter. So you can get an overview of your manuscript, including strengths and weaknesses. Helping you move on to the next round of writing and polishing.
Copy of the manuscript with track commenting in the margins. So you can see exactly where problems crop up. Or where changes can be made. And hey – I also point out what I like!
Targeted reading list. So you can dig deeper into the specific issues I point out in your manuscript. I check out writing books regularly. And I’ve found my recommendations have ignited client writing and given them greater confidence.
Analysis of your synopsis. So you know if your ending fits with the story’s beginning. I’ll also look at the structure of the story in the opening 15,000 words. Then I’ll compare it to later events detailed in your synopsis to get an idea of the overall structure. You’ll also get suggestions on structure for the rest of your book.
Getting feedback on your opening chapters helps you tackle any doubts you have. With a detailed report and margin comments, you can revise your manuscript with confidence.
Special Price: £180
Mini developmental edit for £180!
Genres
This Opening Chapters Edit is available for the following genres:
- Science fiction, fantasy, and horror - adult and YA.
- Thriller and crime - adult and YA.
- Historical fiction - adult and YA.
- Romance - adult and YA.
- Literary fiction - adult and YA.
- Memoir - adult and YA.
Opening Chapters Package includes an analysis of your first 15,000 words and your synopsis.
this edit is for you if:
- You're an indie author.
- You intend to submit to an agent. And you need feedback on your opening chapters.
- You are still working on your manuscript. But you feel you've lost your way or need constructive feedback.
- You've published your memoir or novel and are struggling to get readers. Or your Kindle stats are telling you that readers are abandoning your book.
- You are a newer writer who wants to dramatically and speedily improve their learning arc.
- You're interested in a full developmental edit. But you want to test out a smaller version first to see if developmental editing is a good fit for your needs.
Editorial report, a copy of your manuscript with margin comments, and a reading list!
this edit is not for you if:
- You want a different type of editing - copyediting or proofreading.
- Your book is non-fiction.
- Your book is a children's novel.
- You don't want constructive feedback that points out areas of your manuscript in need of improvement.
- You absolutely do not want to change your story or manuscript in any way.
Here's how it works...
how it works
Contact Me
Contact me to let me know about your manuscript. I’ll send you a questionnaire about your project and intentions. I will also provide a sample edit of up to 2,000 words.
Booking
If we both agree, I will send you a contract and an invoice for 50% of the fee upfront. You will be given a completion date. Payment is by direct bank transfer, Stripe, or Paypal.
Payments
If you are not booked in for an immediate edit, you can pay a 25% deposit to book your place, and 25% just before the edit begins. Then 50% when the edit is complete.
Delivery
When the edit is complete, I will send you all the materials. You are free to contact me about any questions you have. I will invoice you for the remaining 50% of fee.
This is not a line edit. However, I include some feedback on things like dialogue, paragraphing, repetition, crutch words, and manuscript formatting.
what you get with your edit
A recap of what you will get with your Opening Chapters Edit:
- Editorial letter. So you can save weeks if not months of endless rewriting and wondering if your novel is off to a great start.
- Margin comments in your manuscript. So you don't have to wonder where the specific issues are. They will be flagged up and you can respond to them one by one.
- A reading list. So that you can improve your writing skills in a way that specifically benefits the novel you're writing. No scattergun approach but personalised for you. I research the best study guides.
- Analysis of your synopsis and how it fits in with your opening chapters.
Testimonials from past clients:
Any questions?
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Word documents in a readable font like Times New Roman or Calibri. The text should be double spaced to allow plenty of space for magins comments.
When you book an edit you will receive a booking date. If there’s a queue, your commencement date may be days or weeks in the future. If there is no queue, you can have your edit much sooner. The turnaround for the edit itself is ten to fourteen days. So, if you book today and I have an immediate space in my calendar, you will receive your edit within around two weeks or less.
Yes. If you provide me with your synopsis, I have a better overview of the entire plot and character development. It means I can assess whether your ending fulfills the promise of your opening chapters.
This option is only useful if you are booked in ahead of time. In that case, your payment can be split into three parts – 25% booking fee, 25% at the start of the edit, then the final 50% after delivery of the manuscript. But there will be only a few days between the second payment and the third invoice.
The final payment is due within 14 days of delivery of the manuscript.
No. I sometimes see writers looking for an editor who can turn them into a bestselling author, but there are many factors in becoming successful. Writing a great book is one factor, but marketing, writing in a popular category, and having high-quality cover art are also important.
While it's difficult to developmentally edit a smaller wordcount, I do offer a free sample edit.
Let's Chat
Ready to get a developmental edit of your first 15,000 words?
Or maybe you just want to chat about your project first? Feel free to contact me.