Fiction Developmental Editor & Copy Editor
Fiction Developmental Editor & Copy Editor
Skip the overwhelming edit letter and sea of tracked changes you’re left to decipher alone. Navigate revisions with a guide at your side.
Woohoo. You’ve written your manuscript. Now it’s time to revise your little heart out to make you draft into your dream book.
My approach to editing is a little (okay, a lot) different. It’s not disappearing with your manuscript for eight weeks to return a 20+ pages of overwhelming editorial feedback that you’re left to decipher (and implement) alone. In addition to your developmental letter, you get 12 optional follow-up calls/ emails you can use within 90-days of receiving your edits back (max one call/ email per week).
We’ll dive into big-picture elements, like your story’s plot, where your book hits (or misses) expected tropes, how effective your characters’ motivations and goals are for moving the story along, and much more. This isn’t just about getting your book ready for publication. It’s about helping you grow as a writer and feel supported through every part of the process.
And don’t worry, your unique voice will still shine through! This is your book; I’m here to guide, not rewrite.
By the end of this collaborative process, you won’t just have a sharper draft; you’ll have a finished manuscript that’s truly ready for copyediting and publishing (we save the grammar goblins for the final stages of editing).
“Rachel is the best editor I have ever worked with! She has a unique way of delivering her edits that makes you feel excited to make the changes instead of embarrassed that you need to edit that thing. Her deep knowledge of psychology allows her edits to enhance your writing so that it resonates deeper with your readers and helps you bring the rich complexity of your characters to life. Best believe she will be the first person I thank in my acknowledgements!”
Author & Book Coach, Writers Rebellion
“I received general feedback and specific edits from Rachel, and I was impressed. From her overall tone (upbeat, supportive, honest) to her keen eye, Rachel did not disappoint. I can highly recommend her to anyone wishing to improve their craft and reach their publishing goals.”
Memoirist
The Revision Expedition is a collaborative developmental editing experience designed to help you revise intentionally, strengthen your craft, and confidently complete your manuscript.
By the end of our work together, you won’t just hope your book is ready — you’ll know it is. You’ll have a cohesive, well-structured manuscript you’re proud to share, along with the storytelling insight to carry into your next project.
Turnaround 6-8 weeks
Rates are $0.04 to $0.05/ word
Before we dive in, I’ll do a free sample edit of 1,000 words of your manuscript. Give me something from the messy middle, not really polished work from your first chapter.
Then we’ll meet for a 20-minute call to talk through your story, your goals, and how this collaborative process works so you know exactly what to expect, and we’ll both get a sense of whether this is the right fit for us. This is your chance to ask all the questions and make sure the process feels good before anything starts.
If we are both excited about the idea of working together, we’ll move to step 2.
Fabulous, you vibe with how I deliver feedback and are ready to rock and roll. I’ll send you a contract and invoice, and you’ll send me the full manuscript. Then the fun part starts.
I’ll put on my editor detective hat to do a full story analysis. I’ll review story structure, pacing, patterns, scene/chapter balance, POV, character distribution, key plot points, and more. You’ll get a story map breakdown of your book with visuals so you can see the forest for the trees. The PhD nerd in me loves this part because seeing things like word counts/ scenes/ POV characters per chapter just makes concepts like pacing come to life more than words on a page ever could.
You’ll also receive supportive comments on the page (color coded, of course) and sidebar in comments designed to show you areas to strengthen your book and highlight what’s already working. No judgemental red pen energy here, just thoughtful insights and some well-earned high fives. Think of this as a conversation between us that’s continued in your editorial letter and our follow-up calls.
And last, but certainly not least, an in-depth editorial letter going over all the high-level findings from the process. You’ll have plenty of examples and resources to help you polish your prose, tighten up your story, and grow your writing skills. Plus, more editor TLC on the way. If the thought of reading feedback makes you nervous, this might be a good time to have a follow-up call with me before you dive in.
This optional weekly support gives you space to absorb feedback, revise with intention, and stay connected to your story without burning out. Plus, it’s doable for everyday life.
Our calls might be 15-minutes one week and an hour the next week. It all depends on what you’re tackling. The best part is you won’t be left wondering what my comments meant or how to fix something that feels off. You’ll know exactly how and what to do next. Prefer emails? Cool, we can do emails instead of calls (or mix it up depending on your needs).
After each round, you’ll make intentional revisions. This steady rhythm strengthens your storytelling muscles and keeps the momentum going so you can finally reach “the end” on the book you’re excited to share with readers.
“The hardest part for me was getting started, and Rachel gently pushed me and offered me a structure to get going – and not to get stuck overworking any single chapter or paragraph (a big challenge for me!). I would have never started, let alone finished, without Rachel’s thoughtful, kind, and direct assistance. If you’re looking for a Method and Moxie, Rachel can help you.”
Nonfiction Author
Traditional developmental editing often involves handing over your manuscript and waiting 8+ weeks for feedback, and then trying to figure out how to apply it all on your own. My method is collaborative and real-time through your story scene by scene, with live calls and weekly edits in doable chunks.
With this method, your brain is not melting from staring at a scary long letter editorial comments, not left looking at a sea of red on your page wondering how to implement revisions, or getting overwhelmed trying to tackle everything at once (or nothing at all).
Instead, you have a friendly guide along for the ride who can answer your questions, help you grow your writing craft, and hold you accountable to finally finish your book. Woohoo for faster revisions.
You have three months after you receive the completed edited manuscript to use your bonus support calls (or emails). You can use one call or email per week.
Yes. This method is designed for writers who have a full manuscript and are ready to enter a deep revision process. It’s okay if it’s messy! You don’t need to have everything figured out; we’ll shape it together.
If you are still in the writing phase and need help, I offer courses, workshops, and very limited coaching sessions.
If you need coaching support or motivation, my podcast co-host, Neno Littlewood, offers book coaching services and has a writing community at The Writer’s Rebellion. In fact, she is my personal writing coach and keeps me motivated and writing!
Totally normal, and you’re not alone. This isn’t about tearing your book apart or stripping your voice out of it. It’s about building it up with kindness, story craft, and your secret sauce. You’ll feel supported every step of the way, and your voice will always remain on the page (my ghostwriter days make sure of that).
It depends on where you are in your writing journey.
A manuscript evaluation is a one-time, high-level analysis of your story’s big-picture elements—like plot, character arcs, and structure. You’ll one read through, a structural breakdown of your book, chapter by chapter feedback, a short summary letter of what’s working and what could be stronger (with awesome visuals to make it click), and a 60-minute call with me. It’s a great option if you’re early in revisions or just want a professional check-in before diving deeper.
A developmental edit is a full journey. You’ll get a full story map, on the page comments/ feedback, sidebar comments, full editorial letter with examples and resources, plus three months of optional weekly support via calls/ emails.
Not sure which is right for you? Start with a free discovery call, and we’ll figure it out together.
Depending on my schedule and how much time it will take to complete your edit, I might be able to fit you in. There will be a rush fee added to my normal price. Reach out via the sample edit form or drop me an email.
My favorite books to edit are fantasy, cozy mysteries, and romance (all spice levels). But I also enjoy working with authors of science fiction, YA, thriller, and horror. If you are doing a short story (or an anthology), we can talk about special packages for shorter works. I also edit nonfiction. In fact, that is where I got my start.
I do not edit children’s books, poetry, or literary fiction. If I’m not the right fit, I can refer you to another awesomesauce editor.
If an editor outright promises that your book will be on a bestseller list or land you an agent/ publisher that is a red flag. Editing is only one puzzle piece in the world of writing and publishing. I can promise to provide you with expert feedback and guidance based on my training and writing and publishing background. My goal is to help you confidently improve your prose and grow as a writer.
Payments are due in full before we start working together.
Payment Plans
I use Stripe, which offers payment plan options, but these are through Stripe, not Book Bound Journey.
This is a structured, high-commitment program. Because I reserve dedicated space in my calendar for you, all payments are non-refundable and sessions do not roll over. Consistent participation is essential to your progress and the completion of your manuscript.
I understand that life happens — illness, family emergencies, and pre-planned travel are all part of being human. We will account for any known scheduling conflicts when we set up your weekly call schedule at the start of the program.
In the case of last-minute emergencies, I will do my best to accommodate rescheduling if my calendar allows. However, missed sessions do not roll over. You will still receive your scheduled weekly edits even if you are unable to attend the live call.