Developmental editing & book coaching for fiction and nonfiction writers

One of my developmental editing clients says:

“I read many books about plot structure and writing a good story in my attempts to fix what ailed my manuscript, but none of them came close to Norah’s step-by-step guide, specific to my manuscript. Like a well-written plot, again and again her advice both surprised me and felt like the inevitable solution. She dove deeply into the world I had created and emerged believing in it, encouraging me, and also clearly showing me how to make it a more meaningful and engaging experience for future readers. After spinning my wheels for over a year, not knowing how to move forward, I was hopeful and excited to dive back into my work.” 

What can I bring to your book?

I have an M.F.A. in fiction writing from George Mason University; I’m the former fiction editor of national journals So to Speak and The William and Mary Review; and I’m a novelist myself. I can help you take your novel, story collection, or memoir to the next level. I’m also happy to work on shorter projects, such as individual stories or essays. Whether you need a developmental edit of your manuscript, a critique or reader’s review of your book, or book coaching sessions to help you through the drafting or revision process, I’m eager to learn about your work and how I can help.

I enjoy digging deep into a manuscript, finding out what works, what doesn’t, and how I can help you achieve your vision. I’ll work with you to determine how much editing you need, what type of editing is appropriate for your project, what issues to address, and to make sure I ask all the right questions so we’re on the same page about the overall plan before we start. It’s your story and your voice—as an editor my goal is not to turn you into someone else, but to help you be the best version of you.

What developmental editing services do I offer?

Full developmental editing:

A developmental edit gives big picture insights (about structure, plot, character, setting, voice, etc) and also offers insight into strengths and weaknesses at the scene and page level. I’ll offer feedback in the form of edits, suggestions, and comments within the text of your manuscript. I will also provide a detailed revision letter that addresses your entire manuscript at the big picture level, noting what is working, what isn’t working, and spelling out a step-by-step, personalized revision plan.

Manuscript critique

If you are interested in big picture insights only, and don’t need an editor to address concerns at the page or scene level, a manuscript critique might be the way to go. This service includes a thorough review of your manuscript and the same kind of detailed revision letter you would get with a full developmental edit (addressing your entire manuscript at the big picture level, noting what is working, what isn’t working, and spelling out a step-by-step, personalized revision plan). However, a manuscript critique does not include any comments, suggestions, or edits within the text itself. You might think of a manuscript critique as a developmental edit light.

Multiple rounds

Some clients find it helpful to have me critique or edit a manuscript and then later review revisions the writer has made based on my editorial feedback. If you are interested in a critique or development edit on your revised manuscript, I am happy to offer my services at a discounted price for the next round, or to include more than one round of editing in our initial agreement, at an overall discounted rate. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a full copy edit or proofread of your revised manuscript, I’m also happy to offer that at a discounted rate. Check out my general freelance services page for more details on what copy editing and proofreading entail.

Hybrid developmental edit & light copy edit

A developmental editor points out glaring errors as well as noting repeated problems in the prose, related to grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, and dialogue. However, a thorough, line by line edit of the prose is outside the scope of a developmental edit. I’ve learned that some clients are interested in having the editor get more hands-on with the prose than a standard developmental edit provides. If you are concerned about sentence level style or grammar, I can offer a light copyedit along with the developmental edit, offering more textual edits across the board and choosing certain passages to edit word by word, demonstrating ways that you can address sentence level errors or style issues. This would still not be a complete copy edit on the entire manuscript.

(If you are interested in proofreading or copy editing ONLY—refer to my general freelance services page for more details on those services.)

How do we get started?

Send an email via the contact form on this website, sharing pertinent details about your project and explaining what you are looking for in an editor. I’ll perform a sample edit free of charge, which gives you a sense of my editorial style and allows me to provide an exact quote for the total price. We’ll also talk via email or on the phone to define the scope of the project and answer any questions you have.

Another client’s experience working with me:

“This line Norah wrote, in her developmental edit of my first novel, stuck with me and will throughout my writing career (as long as it lasts)—“You’ve written a book!” I was over the moon. However, I knew what was coming, and in good editor form on the next line, and one I’ve come to expect from Norah was, “Now we’ve got some work to do.” And work we did. She took my disjointed story and gave me the good along with the “work.”  She helped me solidify around a few of the characters and their POVs instead of the 15 or so that I had (I know that’s crazy time), and really dig into them.  Norah helped me with what was important to the story and it’s now a different book from when I started it, and so much better for it. Above all, Norah is just a very positive editor.  Her mission was to help me make this story, my word baby, the best it could possibly be. For a new writer with a first novel, that was worth its weight in gold.  I couldn’t recommend Norah enough for either seasoned, or specifically, new writers just beginning their journey.  She was invaluable to me and will be my first stop with the sequel. "