Developmental Editing
Congratulations!
You’ve finished your Manuscript!
Now what?
WHY ME
HOW I HELP
WHO IT’S FOR
HOW IT WORKS
TESTIMONIALS
PRICING
Most people never start, let alone finish a book manuscript.
Look at how amazing your are!
And now that it’s complete, you are asking yourself: What’s next?
You want to make sure your manuscript is accomplishing your goals, communicating clearly with your reader, and ready for the next publishing steps.
I can help.
When you need reliable, honest & thorough feedback, you can trust me as your developmental editor to step into the shoes of your reader, to hold your goals and values close, and to give you the plans and the advice to make your story even better.
WHY WORK WITH ME?
After I left academia, I started sailing as a historian on Viking Cruises. Many times, travelers would come up to me and ask me to read their manuscripts and give feedback.
I learned two things:
1. More people than you realize travel with printed book manuscripts
2. Writers need someone they can trust with their manuscripts, and I am that person.
I didn’t have a name for it then, but I became a book coach because writers were asking me for developmental editing.
It’s still one of my favorite things to do.
HOW I HELP
A developmental edit gives you insight into a range of big-picture highlights and challenges in your manuscript. You will gain the confidence that your book is saying and doing exactly what you think it is before your next revision, or before you send it off to an agent, publisher, or a line or copyeditor.
Core developmental edit benefits:
Guidance
After you’ve finished your amazing manuscript, it’s important to step back and trust a professional to take the big-picture look at your story.
Review
Every developmental edit includes a through, personal review letter detailing highlights, challenges, and plans for next steps.
Insight
Trust me to read your book with care for your goals and needs, those of your target reader, and those of your ideal agent or publisher.
Strategy
After I review your manuscript, we’ll have a strategy and feedback call to go over everything and set you on a path for success.
Do you have questions like these?
- Is my manuscript clearly delivering my message?
- Will readers find my book accessible?
- Is my structure confident and effective?
- Is my evidence supporting me, instead of leading me?
- Do I trust my readers enough to show, not tell?
- What did I leave out that needs to still be included?
- What did I include that can be cut to make my book even better?
- Will this manuscript work in the current market?
- Now what? Am I ready for my next steps?
If this sounds like you, I can help.
Questions?
Let’s have a quick chat to see exactly what you need and how I can help you accomplish your goals.
HOW IT WORKS
Choose the level of manuscript review that suits your needs. Complete the checkout process and submit your deposit.
I’ll follow up to get more details about your goals and a link where you can share your manuscript.
I’ll send an invoice with a total to be paid 50% up front, and 50% for the return of feedback. Payment of the first 50% starts our work.
After 3 weeks, you’ll receive a link to schedule our review call and pay the remaining balance.
I’ll return your manuscript with feedback and edit letter. We’ll hold our call on Zoom or by phone.
I’m honest, direct, and fiercely committed to more great women like you
writing and publishing nonfiction.
If you want to be confident in your book and become the great author you know you can be,
a developmental edit keeps you on your path to success.
Certifications & Memberships
Everything about the book became clearer.
Caroline challenged me to dig deeper, to step back and ask questions. Without inserting herself or her opinions into the process, she helped me find mine. Like magic, places where I had been getting stuck melted away. Places where I had been having fun with the writing took flight. Everything about the book became clearer, which then led to better (and more!) words flowing to the page. Her feedback has given the project a polish and professionalism I could have never done on my own. Really, she has exceeded every expectation I’ve had.
* Wilder Weather (SDHS Press, 2025) *
Caroline is the coach you want on your dream team.
Caroline accompanied me on my memoir journey from early planning through manuscript revisions. I even had the privilege of her intensive one-on-one coaching on an Athens rooftop in the shadow of the Parthenon. If you’re a writer who values smart, skilled, thoughtful, Caroline is the book coach you want in your corner for the ride to a well-developed final manuscript.
Now, we have pages we can be proud of.
We were uncertain about how to write a biography: how many quotes to include, where to start, what to focus on, how to bring our central figures voice to the page. Caroline gave our manuscript the most detailed notes, the detail she provided was amazing, and she helped us give the voice just the right pitch. She gave us the confidence to move forward in a new genre. Now we know that we’re focused on the right ideas and included the right details. Caroline knows her stuff and knows how to pull the best out of her clients.
* The Real Rosalind: The Brilliance of Rosalind Franklin (Lerner, 2025) *
Caroline made me feel safer and more secure.
From paralyzed by an over-abundance of data, to a streamlined and manageable framework; from ‘anything goes’ to meeting the target date on a calendar; from teetering on the ledge with imposter syndrome, to back indoors, progressing towards another completed chapter… Caroline has been critical to my process and progress. I deeply appreciate her flexibility and encouragement, and can’t imagine doing my book without her!
Developmental Editing Options
30,000 ft View
Manuscript Review* A thorough onboarding Q&A to share your goals and insights about the manuscript
* A full read and review of your manuscript
* Detailed edit letter (4-5 pages) with both general and specific feedback focusing on key highlights, challenges, and offering clear steps forward.
* 30-minute review and strategy call
* $500 deposit
20,000 ft view
Developmental Editing* A thorough onboarding Q&A to share your goals and insights about the manuscript
* A full read and review of your manuscript
* In-line comments on the first and last chapters (up to 40 pages)
* Extensive edit letter (7-10 pages) with both general and specific feedback focusing on key highlights, challenges, and offering clear steps forward.
* 60-minute review & strategy call
* $500 deposit
10,000 ft view
Built-in Accountability* A thorough onboarding Q&A
* A full read and review of your manuscript
* In-line comments on the first and last chapters (up to 40 pages)
* Extensive edit letter (7-10 pages).
* 60-minute review and strategy call
* Second manuscript review within 4 months of the original
* Second, detailed edit letter (4-5 pages)
* Follow-up 30-minute review call
* $500 deposit
Questions?
Let’s have a quick chat to see exactly what you need and how I can help you accomplish your goals.
FAQs
I'm nervous about sharing my manuscript. How can I know my IP is safe?
Your manuscript is your sole intellectual property. As your coach and editor, I do not use or share any of your writing in any way.
How long does a manuscript review or developmental edit take?
My turnaround time is:
- 3 weeks for manuscripts up to 80,000 words
- 4 week for manuscripts longer than 80,000 words
If you need your manuscript quicker, my rush rate is $.01/word per week.
What if I need a quick turnaround for my manuscript?
My turnaround time is:
- 3 weeks for manuscripts up to 80,000 words
- 4 week for manuscripts longer than 80,000 words
If you need your manuscript quicker, my rush rate is $.01/word per week.
When do I send you my manuscript?
After you pay your deposit, I’ll share a link for you to securely share your manuscript with me.
I will generate an invoice based on wordcount and will begin my review upon receipt of 50% of that invoice.
Is my deposit refundable?
Your deposit secures time on my schedule. It is refundable for 48 hours.
Do you offer payment plans for manuscript reviews and editing?
After you submit your manuscript, I’ll send you an invoice for the cost of services based on wordcount.
50% is required to start services.
50% is due three weeks later when my review is complete.
* If you have asked for an expedited edit, your remaining balance would be due on our agreed-upon, expedited date of return.
Are the feedback & strategy calls recorded?
Yes. I use Otter.ai to record audio and generate transcripts of our calls. You’ll get a copy afterwards.
What post-call follow up do I get?
After our call, I’ll share with you an audio recording and transcript. You’ll have the edit letter and a plan to write forward.
Otherwise, the follow-up is for you to start revising!
What happens if I have to reschedule our feedback call?
You can reschedule the call once with 24-hours notice.
After that, if you cancel again, your session will be forfeit (no refunds).
I will, of course, still share your manuscript and edit letter with you.
Coaching Terms & Conditions
- My editing and feedback is for advice and consultation only. I can not guarantee this call will lead to the publication of your book.
- One cancellation or postponement of our call is allowable, multiple is not! We respect each others’ time.
Developmental Editing Options
30,000 ft View
Manuscript Review* A thorough onboarding Q&A to share your goals and insights about the manuscript
* A full read and review of your manuscript
* Detailed edit letter (4-5 pages) with both general and specific feedback focusing on key highlights, challenges, and offering clear steps forward.
* 30-minute review and strategy call
* $500 deposit
20,000 ft view
Developmental Editing* A thorough onboarding Q&A to share your goals and insights about the manuscript
* A full read and review of your manuscript
* In-line comments on the first and last chapters (up to 40 pages)
* Extensive edit letter (7-10 pages) with both general and specific feedback focusing on key highlights, challenges, and offering clear steps forward.
* 60-minute review & strategy call
* $500 deposit
10,000 ft view
Built-in Accountability* A thorough onboarding Q&A
* A full read and review of your manuscript
* In-line comments on the first and last chapters (up to 40 pages)
* Extensive edit letter (7-10 pages).
* 60-minute review and strategy call
* Second manuscript review within 4 months of the original
* Second, detailed edit letter (4-5 pages)
* Follow-up 30-minute review call
* $500 deposit