Services - Melanie Yu

Developmental editors help shape the entire structure of a story, guiding authors through big-picture elements like plot, pacing and character development to ensure your words reasonate from start to finish. It’s all about a building the strongest foundation and creating the most emotional connection between the reader and your story.

Book Doula

Supportive developmental coaching to get you and your story from Outline to Epilogue.

Overwhelmed by the creative process and ending up with manuscripts that are missing bits and pieces that you need to go back and fill in? Second-guessing your story choices leading to major re-writes? Or is getting off track keeping the story from getting on the page?

This is a forward progressing and encouraging service focused on keeping you creatively confident while you write. The result? A strong, cohesive draft that is ready for polishing and not re-construction or destruction. And hopefully, excited to tackle the next story that’s been living rent-free in your brain for the last 35% of this book.

Feedback is a combination of beta analysis to ensure you’re hitting the right reader notes. What resonated? What are they looking forward to based on what you’ve just written? And developmental editing suggestions to keep the story evolving purposefully. Feedback is provided via manuscript comments and a detailed chapter summary.

Feeling stuck? Help is only an email away. You’re not alone as you write your heart out.

Here is the basic Book Doula process but is customizable to your needs:

Outline review: Offline via in line comments and email. Zoom consults may be added to enhance discussions about storylines and assist with brainstorming.
All about those goals: Story word count, weekly writing goals, publishing dates
Plan it out: A visual timeline that includes your writing and a feedback schedule
Weekly word exchange: Google Docs or Word are both acceptable.

$0.006USD per word
Pricing in Canadian $ is available upon request Zoom calls are available at Consulting rates. No 1-hour minimum.

Pricing is subject to change without notice

Consulting

A customized approach to resolving author specific issues.

Consulting services are available offline or via Zoom calls depending on your personal preference and the nature of the issue. The scope of work is collaborative with the goal to maximize your creativity.

Areas where a consulting session can be helpful:

$60USD per hour billed in 15-minute increments (1-hour minimum)

Pricing in Canadian $ is available upon request

Pricing is subject to change without notice

Developmental Editing

An intuitive, deep dive approach to helping your story and characters shine.

The manuscript is done, the story has been told and you’re looking for feedback on how it all came out. Is it emotionally connecting and making plot sense? Are your characters who you want them to be? Did all the pieces come together as you had planned?

Focuses on character development, plot concerns such as dropped storylines or inconsistencies, pacing and enhancing overall reader experience. Editing suggestions may include re-writes and restructuring as we work to uncover the essence of your story.

Deliverables include:

Track Changes Word Document with location specific comments and suggestions
Chapter by Chapter Content Reaction Summary
Answers to specific questions from Author (Maximum 10 and to be supplied with initial manuscript)
1-2 Targeted Post Edit Re-Reads with feedback upon completion of rewrites
Email correspondence throughout the editing and re-write process
60-minute Zoom call (Optional)

$0.008USD per word

Pricing in Canadian $ is available upon request

Minimum 14 business days turnaround based on availability
(Rush orders may incur additional charges)

Pricing is subject to change without notice

Beta Analysis

This is a thorough reader’s perspective and a temperature check on a story.

No matter where you are in the writing process, this is a valuable tool to temperature check reader reactions to your story. Is the story almost ready for ARC readers or have you written to a point where you’re not sure the words are reflecting your intention or outline plans anymore?

A beta analysis can help you decide what you need to do next with your story by providing useful reader insights and questions.

Beta Analysis Deliverables include:

Track Changes Word Document with location specific comments
Chapter by Chapter Reader Reaction Summary
Beta Analysis Summary One-Pager with the following elements:
Overall thoughts on the story which may include but not limited to emotional connection, characters, plot, word usage and story pacing.
Possible highlights for promotional purposes which may include specific passages for teasers
Answers to specific questions from Author (Maximum 5 and to be supplied with initial manuscript)
Email Correspondence pre & post analysis
30-minute Zoom Call (optional)

$0.004USD per word

Pricing in Canadian $ is available upon request

Minimum 10 business days turnaround based on availability

(Rush orders may incur additional charges)

Pricing is subject to change without notice