Siân Heap
Editorial Services
See how my editorial services can help you shape your story in a way that is joyful and rewarding (and maintains your author voice!).
Manuscript Assessment
What is it?
A manuscript assessment evaluates the overall shape of your novel. It will detail the strengths and weaknesses of your novel and give you advice for next steps so you can go into your revisions with confidence.
Who is it for?
Writers who have finished a first draft and want initial feedback on how to revise it effectively without the investment of a full developmental edit
Seasoned authors who are confident in their craft but want the feedback from a sharp set of editorial eyes
Authors who are struggling to decipher rejections from agents after their full manuscript has been requested
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A written report of approximately 4–6 pages which covers the broad strokes of your manuscript, focusing on the plot, structure, character and pacing
Clear explanations of what is and isn’t working, with suggestions of how to address these issues
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Manuscript assessments prices start from £0.013 per word.
Follow up calls and second-round revision reads can be added to this service for an additional cost.
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A manuscript assessment usually takes 2-3 weeks, depending on my schedule.
Faster turnarounds are sometimes possible but a rush fee will apply.
Developmental edit
What is it?
A developmental edit is a full, detailed edit of your novel including comments and suggested rewrites using Track Changes in Microsoft Word. It is also known as structural editing.
Who is it for?
Anyone who has completed a novel and is looking to self-publish or submit to agents
Authors looking for a deep analysis and understanding of their work, and how it could be improved to ensure the best reader experience possible
Beginner authors who need additional support and examples of what to change and how
Anybody who is looking to improve their craft and wants the additional depth that manuscript comments offers
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I’ll edit your novel using Track Changes in Word and use comments to make queries and highlight what you’re doing well.
You will also receive a detailed editorial report of approximately 10-12 pages covering the key components of the novel which will elaborate on my manuscript comments and reference specific aspects of the novel with clear suggestions for rewrites. This usually includes plot, structure, pacing, character, tone and setting.
A 60 minute video call (or an email exchange if you prefer!) is included in this service to ensure that we can talk through the suggestions I’ve made and how you might implement them.
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Developmental edit prices start from £0.025 per word.
Additional follow up calls and second-round revision reads can be added to this service for an additional cost.
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A developmental edit usually takes 4-6 weeks, depending on my schedule.
Faster turnarounds are sometimes possible but a rush fee will apply.
Combined copy-line edit
What is it?
A combined copy-line edit merges the stylistic line edit stage and the technical copy edit for a more efficient and budget-friendly option.
Who is it for?
Authors looking for a cheaper and more time-efficient alternative to two separate editing stages.
Authors who are confident in their plot structure, but want to ensure their ideas are coming across effectively.
Anyone looking to ensure a polished, professional final product that retains their author voice.
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A full, thorough line edit of your manuscript that preserves your distinctive author voice while improving the flow of your novel.
A separate pass to complete a copy edit on your manuscript to check for errors in continuity, factual inaccuracies, consistency.
Formatting in line with your chosen dictionary and style guide (usually New Hart’s Rules for British English or Chicago Manual of Style for US English).
A marked-up manuscript using Tracked Changes in MS Word.
A bespoke Style Sheet outlining editorial decisions such as spelling, grammar and capitalisation.
A short editorial report with any further editorial thoughts or points to address.
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Combined copy-line edit pricing starts at £0.035 per word.
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The turnaround time for a combined copy-line edit is approximately 6-8 weeks, depending on my schedule and the complexity of your project.
Faster turnarounds are sometimes possible but a rush fee will apply.
Query Package Review
What is it?
An effective query package is vital for grabbing the attention of authors and agents. I’ll review your query letter, synopsis and the first 10,000 words of your manuscript to ensure they’re in top shape.
Who is it for?
Authors who have a completed manuscript and a draft of their query letter and synopsis
Anybody who is submitting to agents or directly to publishers and wants to ensure they’re in the best possible position
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My query review package is £200.
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My turnaround time is approximately 2 weeks, depending on my schedule.
Faster turnarounds may be possible but a rush fee will apply.
Meet the editor!
Hi! I’m Siân, a fiction editor and publishing consultant with extensive experience editing bestsellers.
I’m passionate about making the editing process joyful and rewarding, and helping authors find their voice.
