I offer critiques, editorial assessments, and blurbs of fiction 10,001–200,000 words in length, as well as editing and proofreading services. For best results, I recommend doing at least one round of self-editing and proofreading before sending your work to me.
I am most comfortable reading science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and romance/erotica for adults. If your manuscript is for children or teens, or does not fall into one of the genre categories above, please query first. For stories up to 10,000 words, visit the Short Story Services page. No poetry, please.
Note: All prices are in USD. Listed lengths assume that critiques and editorial assessments will be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font. This is how your critique or editorial assessment will be formatted unless otherwise requested.
Author Bios
Need an attention-grabbing author bio, but hate talking about yourself? Hire me to write one for you! Each bio includes one free revision.
Author bios cost $15 for 100 words. Successive revisions may be purchased for $5 each.
Book Blurbs
A blurb is your book’s handshake: the potential reader’s first glimpse into your novel. These descriptions pique readers’ interest by name-dropping comparative titles and popular tropes. Each blurb includes one free revision.
Book blurbs cost $15 for 150 words. Successive revisions may be purchased for $5 each.
For an additional $10, I will write a 250-word blurb instead.
For an additional $5, I will include HTML formatting for your blurb.
Critiques
A critique examines your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses in 2 or more pages. It offers some assessment of the piece’s quality but does not go into great detail. If you want my critique to focus on a specific aspect of your work, please indicate that in your initial email.
Critiques cost $1 per 1,000 words, with a $50 minimum.
Editorial Assessments
An editorial assessment summarizes the manuscript’s plot and offers a detailed analysis of voice and tone, narrative structure, characterization, imagery, readability, and major themes. It will also include suggestions for crafting accurate trigger warnings, if applicable. Lengths of editorial assessments may vary, but they are always longer than critiques. If you want me to focus my attention on a specific aspect of your work, please indicate that in your initial email.
Editorial assessments cost $10 per 1,000 words, with a $150 minimum.
Plot Reviews
Plot reviews are a form of developmental editing. You provide a chapter outline, plot summary, and 500-word excerpt from the first chapter, which I will then analyze. I use Track Changes in Word to record my thoughts, questions, and suggestions, and I offer strategies to improve plausibility, pacing, and emotional engagement. These reviews reveal major plotholes, chronic errors, and other issues to avoid problems down the road. This is most useful to beginning writers and authors employing ghostwriters.
Developmental edits cost $50 per 50,000 words of anticipated length, with a $50 minimum.
Substantive Edits
Substantive edits combine developmental and line edits into one convenient package. These edits highlight large-scale problems with your novel, such as plot structure, pacing, characterization, and tone, as well as inconsistencies, redundancies, clunky sentences, and other narrative problems. I use Track Changes in Word to record my thoughts, questions, and suggestions, as well as places where your writing delights and intrigues me. I also offer strategies to improve readability and emotional engagement. Each substantive edit includes one additional pass of your revised manuscript.
Developmental edits cost $12.50 per 1,000 words, with a $250 minimum.
For $35, I will complete a sample line edit that assesses the first chapter of your novel, up to 10,000 words. I strongly recommend this option for first-time clients.
Proofreading
This form of editing checks a text for surface-level problems, such as spelling, punctuation, and syntax errors. It does not make suggestions for rewriting sentences or restructuring your work.
Proofreading costs $7.50 per 1,000 words, with a $100 minimum.*
* If you have purchased a substantive edit for the same manuscript, you will receive a 20% discount off the total cost of the proofreading pass, and the minimum cost is reduced to $80.
Contact Me
To query or hire me, email† kristianediting [AT] gmail [DOT] com with “NOVEL” in the subject line. Attach your manuscript as a .docx file and include the following information in the body of the email:
- your name
- your PayPal email address
- the specific services you’re requesting
- the title of your manuscript
- the genre/subgenre you’re writing in
- the word count, rounded up to a clean 1,000
- a brief paragraph detailing your biggest concern about the piece
You may request more than one service per manuscript, but I ask that you query for only one manuscript at a time.
Billing & Turnaround
I endeavor to respond to all emails within 2 business days. My response will indicate whether I intend to take you on as a client or not.‡ It will also include any additional questions I may have for you.
Invoices will be sent via PayPal. The first half of the total cost is due before services are rendered, and the second half is due when the work is completed. I will not read or write anything before receiving the first payment, nor will I release my work to you before receiving the second.
Turnaround times are as follows:
- Author Bios & Book Blurbs: 3 days after payment is received
- Critiques & Editorial Assessments: 21 days after payment is received
- Line Edits & Proofreading: 60 days after payment is received
Need it quicker? I am occasionally available to do rush orders for an additional fee. If you’re interested, include your preferred return date in your email, and I’ll see what I can do.
If a problem arises that prevents me from completing your work on time, I will refund your payment in full. I do not offer refunds for completed services or cancellations.
† Emailing me does not entitle you to my services. I take on clients who are respectful and kind. I will not critique or edit works that are openly and uncritically racist, misogynistic, queerphobic, eugenicist, antisemitic, anti-Romani, or otherwise bigoted. I will critique or edit works that contain violence, gore, and sexual content. You do not need to add trigger warnings to your piece.