Nice work! You just applied to work with Chelene on your manuscript!
A little client love!
“I met Chelene Knight in 2018. Her second book, Dear Current Occupant: A Memoir, had just been released, and I was working on my undergraduate degree in creative writing. I was invited by a professor to participate in a one-on-one feedback session with Chelene, and it was the first time I ever had my work read and assessed by a BIPOC professional writer. As a writer who explores my relationship with my brown body and the world, connecting with Chelene was invaluable. From there, I’ve had the pleasure of working with her as a mentor and editor on my debut novel. It’s her attention and dedication to holistic wellness, especially as a professional creative, that consistently draws me back to working with her. We bonded over somatic practices and the need to centre care in our work, and it’s such a treat to get to sit down with her to discuss her latest book.”—Franz Seachel
Next steps
I am currently reading over your intake form, and will be in touch in the next few days.
If I think we are a fit to work together, you can expect an email from me detailing the steps for submitting your writing sample.
After reviewing your sample and feeling a strong connection to your project, I'll send you an email with an offer and available start dates. This email will also contain a link to schedule a brief introductory meeting with me, where you can ask questions about my process, and I can delve deeper into your work. If I don’t think I’m a fit to work on your project, you’ll receive an email outlining my reasoning and recommendations for another editor.
Following this, you'll receive my editing Agreement and payment plan. Feel free to bring any questions about the Agreement to our video meeting. It's during this phase that you'll have the opportunity to choose your bonus deliverable. In addition to your marked up manuscript, you can choose from either a full extensive editorial letter or a 1-hour brainstorming call.
Once you're signed up, I'll provide instructions for sending me your manuscript, including any necessary formatting requirements.
What’s Included
⚡️ an initial 30-minute video call to discuss the project and your project dreams, goals, and non-negotiables. It's also a chance for you to ask questions about my process.
⚡️ your manuscript marked up with my comments, notes, questions, and suggestions to help bring your project up to the next draft.
⚡️an opportunity to submit an additional 5 questions after receiving my feedback (these questions can be related to the feedback or publishing).
⚡️ three months free access to the Forever Writers Club to help you work on your next draft in community. Inside the club we have live sessions, workshops, goal sessions, AND you can even submit revised pages each month. It's pretty sweet and you can participate as much or as little as you like. I proudly offer the Forever Writers Club as a valuable resource, driven by my passion to provide unwavering support to fellow writers. To me, the author-editor relationship holds immense significance. It transcends mere editing; it's about nurturing and sculpting someone's heartfelt work. I approach this responsibility with the utmost care and dedication!
⚡️ Editorial Package Bonus Deliverable | You get to choose ↓
When you sign your Editing Agreement, you can choose either a full editorial letter exploring what works well in the manuscript and what you can/should focus on for the next draft. OR a 60-minute, 1:1 brainstorm call, booked at your leisure, to work on possible ideas for the next draft and go over the feedback.
The full cost (manuscript 80,000 words max) is $3800 + applicable taxes and can be paid in 2 payments.
Before we work together…
Understanding the Essence of Developmental Editing
Let's demystify the role of developmental editing, as it often gets confused with other publishing tasks. To start, it's crucial to clarify what developmental editing isn't:
Developmental editing doesn't involve fixing spelling, grammar, or punctuation; those tasks are reserved for copy editors, which is distinct work altogether.
Revision, on the other hand, is where the true art of writing unfolds. This is where writers begin to mold their projects into shape.
As your developmental editor, my role is to delve into your work's concepts, its flow, and the unfolding narrative. I'll raise questions about your book's essence, its connection to the broader world, and scrutinize its structure, pacing, and characters (yes, even in memoirs). This is deep, immersive work, and it relies on clear communication.
This work is inherently subjective, yet I'll provide you with a formula for incorporating feedback.
The editor-author relationship can take various forms depending on your stage in the publishing process. Nonetheless, it should always be a collaborative, cooperative partnership.
When you engage me as your developmental editor, my primary task is to offer you an overview of how your project currently reads, pinpoint areas for improvement, and suggest avenues for change. Essentially, I provide you with a roadmap for revising your work with clarity. However, I don't make changes for you, as that would constitute rewriting, and we must tread carefully on that fine line.
I prioritize tone and presentation when delivering feedback, experimenting with asynchronous communication methods. Alongside your formal editorial letter, I might create a Loom video walkthrough of the feedback. You'll also have the opportunity to pose up to five additional questions related to the feedback or even inquire about publishing. Upon receiving these questions, you'll receive a second video reply.
Determining when your project is ready for a publisher's scrutiny hinges on your revision process. There are no guarantees here, and revision often demands multiple rounds. Embracing this iterative process is crucial.
If your work catches the eye of a publisher, the entire editorial and revision process repeats, this time with an editor from the publishing house. I mention this to underscore that there are no shortcuts in this journey, especially in traditional publishing. We can explore this in greater depth through a brief call if your project aligns.
Editors approach their work uniquely, as it's inherently subjective, and trust plays a pivotal role.
Taking a holistic approach to writing, editing, and coaching, I provide resources on author care and building intentional processes to foster a healthier, more balanced relationship with your writing practice.
Recommended read (for publishing role/industry transparency) What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, & Business of Book Editing by Peter Ginna