A structural edit – sometimes called a developmental edit – is an in-depth look at the big-picture stuff, such as the story arc and plotting, flow of narrative, timeline, structure, continuity, characterisation, pacing and voice. It aims to ensure you’re telling the story you want to tell in an effective and suitable way for your chosen genre and audience.
You will receive a lengthy and detailed report that makes suggestions for how to polish that final draft and an annotated version of the manuscript that highlights examples and demonstrates proposals from the report.
You should expect to have to engage in rewriting – and perhaps some rethinking – after a structural edit. My fees include consultation after you receive the edit.
If you are planning to self-publish you will require a copyedit after a structural edit (which I could also do), though a copyedit isn’t usually required before you submit a manuscript to publishers or agents.
Prices for structural edits start at $2090 for a 70,000-word novel.
For more information on hiring me to structurally edit your novel please use my contact form.
Note: I offer a discount to those who hire me to structurally edit and copyedit the same project.