What is a Book Coach?
A book or story coach offers a holistic service to authors as they’re writing their manuscripts, as opposed to an editor whose services usually begin only after the manuscript is complete.
Coaches work with their clients to determine their goals, create effective writing habits, set deadlines, and to stay accountable. A coach usually provides editorial feedback as the author is writing, rather than in one go at the end. By working with the author to develop the story up front, and keeping the author on track during writing, a coach can help the author prevent mistakes in the story rather than fixing them afterward.
A good coach is also a teacher, teaching the author techniques that are specific to their needs and work. A coach can provide publishing guidance, helping the author to understand and navigate the publishing industry and to strategize their own best publishing path.
Coaching is most useful for authors beginning a new project, for authors who feel stuck with their projects, or for those who need accountability to finish their projects. Coaching effectively ends when the author has completed and self-edited their manuscript and is ready to move on to an editor, agent or publisher.
What is a Development/Content Editor?
The Development Editor (also commonly referred to as the Content Editor) is all about the creative aspects and is the first stop in editing the manuscript. It is one of the most important edits as it focuses on overall storyline/story arch, timeline and consistencies, plot holes, pacing, characters relatability and their POV, setting, and whether or not the manuscript itself meets general industry standards (e.g. word count, genre requirements).
The Development Editor works closely with the writer to make important changes to the structure of the manuscript before moving on to the other phases of editing.
What is a Line Editor?
The second phase of editing is line editing. The Line Editor focuses on syntax to make sure that the narrative flows smoothly and that the writing itself is clear and concise – that the sentence says what the writer needs it to say.
What is a Copy Editor?
The third phase of editing doesn’t happen until the very end, after all the major changes have been made to the manuscript. The Copy Editor reviews the manuscript for typos, grammar, word usage, and punctuation, usually following the Chicago Manual of Style for fiction.
This is the final editing stage, which is the polish of the manuscript and should not need to include any major structural changes to the manuscript. Frequently, the line and the copy edits are provided at the same time by the same editor.
Editing Services:
Sample Edit: Free (up to 1,000 words) for first-time
Developmental/Content editing: $0.025 -0.035 per word
Copy/Line: $0.01 – $0.02 per word
Consulting/Book Coaching Services:
One Free New Client 30-minute consulting call
$95 per hour (minimum of 1 hour)