Services

The relationship between editor and author is uniquely personal. As such, I offer a sample 1,000-word edit at no charge so that we can determine if we are a good fit for each other. All editorial work will be done in MS Word using the review & comment functions to offer suggestions for corrections and improvements.

My reading and editing happy place is any sub-genre of romance, but I also edit general fiction, fantasy, historical, and women’s fiction. I am a safe space for LGBTQIA+ authors and I celebrate diverse stories. However, I am not a sensitivity reader, so I encourage all authors to seek out those services.

Please note: if you write on-page dubcon, extreme violence including on-page sexual assault, gore, serial killers, or childhood illnesses, abuse or traumatic deaths, I am not the editor for you. I am comfortable with characters that need to reconcile deep emotional issues but I require content warnings in advance of submission so I can assess your manuscript properly.

Novel Services

Developmental & Structural Editing

  • Analysis of plot, themes, tone, pacing
  • Review of novel and chapter structure
  • Plot summary and beats analysis
  • Emotional arc analysis of main characters
  • Analysis of Goals, Motivations, Conflict (GMC) and characterization of protagonists
  • Suggestions for story improvement and flow
  • Consistency in style and voice
  • 2 passes – one initial manuscript review and one review of re-writes
  • Feedback to be provided via comments in the manuscript, an editorial letter, and a plot beat sheet with suggestions for improvements
  • Basic stylistic analysis to identify major style issues including:
    • Filter words
    • Info-dumps
    • Active vs passive voice
    • Repetition
    • Grammar and spelling
    • Awkward phrasing
    • Review of unnecessary modifiers and phrases
    • Consistency in names, physical features of characters
    • Verification of factual details
    • Confirmation of scene choreography with a special focus on physical scenes indicating movement
    • Please note the stylistic analysis does not replace copy or line editing, but it will assist you in identifying your most common style issues
  • Due to the nature of this type of edit, quotes are provided on a per project basis in USD, but you should budget for $.02 per word.*

Detailed Beta-reading

This service is for someone who has a limited budget but still wants an expert opinion to critique their manuscript.

  • A detailed reading of the manuscript with comments provided within the manuscript. I will give you positive and negative feedback from an editor’s and reader’s perspective.
  • $.01 USD per word for one round. If you require a second round of beta-reading to review revisions, the charge is $.005 per word.

Video or Phone Call Consultation

This service is perfect if you need a follow-up call to any of the prior services or if you want an editor’s help to work through an issue with your novel. You set the tone for conversation: we can brainstorm your plot, analyze a character’s GMC, or we can talk about self-editing tips & tricks.

$100 USD per hour

Resume and Cover Letter Services

  • Formatting
  • Active language
  • Brevity with detail
  • Grammar
  • Consultation to highlight your achievements
  • Tone
  • $120 USD*

*Please contact me at grayplumeediting@gmail.com for a quote.  A project rate will be determined after a sample edit.