ignite your opening chapters
Get detailed developmental feedback on your first 10,000 words for £180!
Ignite your opening chapters in 7 days!
Best for authors who want to try out developmental editing for the first time, or who want to check the opening chapters of their novel to see if they’re on the right track.
Does your book open in the right place? Does it have a strong opening?
Does your writing style fit your genre? Are you using the best point of view? Do you have viewpoint problems?
Are your characters fleshed out? Are your antagonists two-dimensional baddies? Does your main character have a credible character arc?
Are the stakes high enough? Is there enough tension and drama in your story?
Do you include sensory information?
Do you have the right balance of scene versus summary?
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.
Developmental editing is the most in-depth form of big picture editing. It’s also known as structural editing or substantive editing. It consists of feedback on your plot, characters, structure, and more. You receive both a report and comments in the margins of your manuscript.
What you get with your Opening Chapters Edit.
I’ve worked on many opening chapters edits in the past. And my clients found them enormously helpful.
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 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 10,000 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. The synopsis must be shorter for this deal or an additional fee must be added for a longer synopsis.
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.
Flat Price: £180
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.
how it works
Contact Me
Contact me to let me know about your manuscript. I may send you a questionnaire about your book and publishing intentions.
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 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.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Word (docx) 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 seven days. So, if you book today and I have an immediate space in my calendar, you will receive your edit within a week 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.
Let's Chat
Ready to get a developmental edit of your first 10,000 words?
Or maybe you just want to chat about your project first? Feel free to contact me.