‘Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?’ — T.S. Eliot
Jessica Calvert
Because a good story deserves great editing.
Even strong writing can lose impact through structural gaps, repetition, imprecision, and other avoidable issues. My editorial approach emphasizes structural integrity, clarity, and voice preservation — refining what stands between the reader and your story.
Editing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s how to know what you need — and if you’re ready.
Developmental Editing
Who it’s for: Writers who have a complete manuscript and need help with structure, pacing, and overall storytelling.
What it does: Looks at the big picture — plot arcs, character development, themes, consistency, flow. Provides margin comments + an editorial letter.
What it doesn’t do: This is not line-by-line editing or proofreading.
Line Editing
Who it’s for: Writers with a solid draft who need sharper sentences, stronger rhythm, and clarity at the paragraph/page level.
What it does: Focuses on language, tone, and flow. I tighten prose, cut repetition, and strengthen your style while keeping your voice intact.
What it doesn’t do: Doesn’t address large-scale story/structural issues (that’s developmental).
Copyediting
Who it’s for: Writers with a polished manuscript ready for final cleanup before submission or publication.
What it does: Corrects grammar, usage, punctuation, consistency, and formatting. Ensures your manuscript is clean and professional.
What it doesn’t do: Won’t reshape sentences for flow or restructure chapters.
What I Edit
- Novels and novellas
- Short stories and short story collections
- Genres I focus on: literary, psychological, gothic, and other dark fiction, as well as contemporary work that falls outside my exclusions. If you’re unsure, feel free to ask.
What I Don’t Edit
- Romance, fantasy, sci-fi, YA, or fanfiction
- Academic, technical, or business writing
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
- First drafts or incomplete manuscripts
- Projects over 100,000 words
If you’re still reading, odds are your project’s my kind of story. Let’s talk rates and how I work.
Novels and Novellas (per-word rates)
- Developmental Editing — $0.035/word
- Line Editing — $0.03/word
- Copyediting — $0.025/word
*Hybrid edits (two services combined) are billed at the higher applicable rate. A full hybrid covering all three types is billed at $0.06/word.
Short Stories
- Developmental Editing — $0.035 per word (minimum $200)
- Line Editing — $0.03 per word (minimum $75)
- Copyediting — $0.025 per word (minimum $60)
How pricing works: Minimum fees act as a base for shorter works. Rates are calculated at the per-word amount. You’ll never be double-charged — the minimum simply ensures shorter projects are worth the time and focus they require.
Additional Notes — Editing is a collaborative, analytical process designed to strengthen — not rewrite — your work. Short stories receive a single comprehensive editorial pass, with additional passes or follow-up edits billed separately, and turnaround time varies based on manuscript length and complexity. Payment terms are outlined in the project agreement, and editing work is scheduled upon receipt of the initial payment. Every project is confirmed with a brief agreement outlining scope, timeline, and terms. Ideal clients are writers seeking depth, clarity, and rigorous editorial analysis.
If you’re curious how these rates compare to industry norms, the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) provides a publicly available rate chart and project calculator.
Word Count Guide— For reference, I use standard publishing ranges: short story (up to 7,500 words), novelette (7,500–17,500), novella (17,500–40,000), novel (40,000+).
Not sure if you’re ready to book a full manuscript edit? I offer paid sample edits of 10+ pages. Sample edits are intended to demonstrate editorial approach and compatibility. Samples are available for copy and line editing only. Developmental editing cannot be meaningfully sampled — story-level feedback requires full-manuscript context. For longer projects (novels, novellas, short-story collections), samples should come from consecutive pages. Samples are not available for standalone stories under 20 pages.
*I work with writers and manuscripts without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, neurodivergence, or background. I decline projects that promote or materially support sexual exploitation, abuse, advocacy of real-world harm, or ideologies rooted in dehumanization, extremism, or exclusion. Manuscripts may contain these themes and character archetypes as part of the narrative — writers are encouraged to note this when requesting services.