Your final draft starts here
Consulting and Editing Services for Writers
I love stories.
This passion is at the heart of everything I do. It's been the catalyst for the years I spent drafting over 2 million words worth of stories. It motivates me to learn everything I can about what makes a story compelling, unique, and un-put-down-able. This love drives me to study stories from a wide variety of cultures, across many genres, and even in other forms, like art, music, and fashion.
I am uniquely qualified to assess the many perspectives of any story and provide comprehensive feedback. My formal training in the Bachelor of Creative and Professional Writing program at Humber College ensures my feedback will be clear and easily applicable. I will highlight the strengths of your story and provide suggestions for bringing them out more effectively. I will also identify weaknesses in your story and provide tangible advice for improvement.
In addition to my formal and personal writing training, I have a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, majoring in Biology and Psychology. This intensive study of human behaviour and mental processing gives me a unique opportunity to apply my technical writing skills with your target audience in mind. With my skillset, I will provide feedback that ensures you get the reaction you want from your audience.
My time within the writing industry has granted me face-to-face access to publishers and agents from all over Canada. This has provided me with firsthand knowledge of what they look for in a bestseller. Knowledge that I will happily pass on to you.
Want to work with me?
what they say
Your final draft starts here
FAQs
I've never gotten feedback before and I'm worried I can't handle it emotionally. Should I be?
No matter what your story is about, it is inherently personal. As a writer myself, I understand the emotional rollercoaster that a critique or workshop session can be. This is why I design my reports and my consultations in a way that is meant to empower you. I will not lie to you. You're not paying me for that. But I want you to walk away believing you've created something of value. Because you have.
Who are your services for?
My workshop and editing services are for anyone with a work-in-progress that would benefit from feedback and revision. My consultation services are great for anyone looking to hone their writing craft skills in a specific area(s), or who are looking for more collaborative workshopping on a work-in-progress.
What skill level do your services target?
My feedback assumes you have a working knowledge of basic writing craft principles. I will often use writing craft jargon and identify grammar techniques and punctuation by their technical terms. I'm happy to explain any concepts you may be unfamiliar with, however, this should factor into your decision about whether or not I am a good fit for you. While my feedback can be overwhelming for complete beginners, I'm happy to consult with beginner writers who are looking for advice on how and where to get started with developing their craft.
If I opt for work on a partial manuscript, do I have to start from the beginning?
For a partial edit, I will assess whatever portion of your manuscript you want. For a developmental edit or a beta read, I will need context for the portion you're giving me. I'll accept an outline of one paragraph of summary per chapter, or you can explain it to me during your free consultation. A short summary of the story will suffice for a line edit.
My needs don't fit neatly into any of your services. Should I still book a consultation?
A unique manuscript has unique needs and it's impossible to account for every possibility on a single web page. I'm willing to work with custom service requests. My initial consultation will allow us both to assess if your work will benefit from our collaboration.
I plan to work with a traditional publisher who has their own editors on staff. Why do I need your services?
Yes, traditional publishers have their own editors who will do additional work on your manuscript even after I've finished with it. That said, the best story in the world won't get a deal if it's written poorly to begin with. Publishers and agents want to know that they're working with a writer who excels at their craft. My services will elevate your work to a quality that will convince them your work is worth that deal.
I plan to self-publish. Why do I need your services?
Although self-publishing removes some of the entry barriers that come with traditional publishing, you still need a quality product. Over 90% of self-published titles sell less than 100 copies and 20% of self-published authors earn $0 in income from their work. Developmental editing, line editing, and beta reading services will give you leverage in a competitive market, and ensure your project isn't the sort of low-quality work that is often associated with self-published titles.
Will my work be ready for publishing when you finish with it?
The finest level of editing I offer is a line edit. This is a micro-level edit which assesses things like sentence structure, word choice, and basic grammar and punctuation. There are typically two edits which follow this: a copy edit which checks for fine spelling and grammar errors, and a proofread, which is a final read over with a trained eye, ideally one who hasn't seen your work before. I do not offer these services, but I'm happy to point you to some resources if you want to tackle the task on your own.
Will you help me find a publisher or agent?
While I'm happy to provide insight into the process of submitting to a publisher or agent, the work of finding one whose interests align with your work will be up to you.
Your services are expensive, sometimes costing more than I would potentially earn on a single project. Why should I pay that?
My pricing is highly competitive and reflects the time and effort required to engage with your work deeply enough to provide a transformative edit. A developmental or line edit of a full manuscript will yield thousands of comments and corrections to transform your story into its best version. The editorial report I provide will be a comprehensive document with tangible advice that can be applied to your work-in-progress and any other project that comes after, with the goal of teaching you to identify your bad habits and blind spots on your own.
Do you accept payment plans?
At this time, I do not accept payment plans.
Do I need to put down a deposit?
Yes. All services with a quote of $600 or less will require a payment in full before I begin to work. For services that exceed $600, a downpayment of $600 or 50% of your quote (whichever is more) will apply.
Do you offer refunds?
The services I offer require a significant amount of time and effort. As such, I do not offer refunds once I've started the process. In the event that your final total is lower than your quote, I will happily refund the excess upon completion. If you change your mind about wanting my services, I will refund the full amount, provided I have not already started to revise your work.
Tell your story today