Book Editing
Hands-on editing work usually begins when a manuscript is complete. I edit fiction and non-fiction for readers of all ages.
- Manuscript assessment— unbiased feedback from someone other than your mother/partner/kids/best friend/students/guy sitting next to you at the cafe while you write.
- Developmental editing (aka macro or substantive or content editing)—looking at the organization, logic, clarity, plot, setting, and characterization of your work. In other words, the big picture.
- Stylistic or line editing—making your writing sing. Fine-tuning it. Word by word.
- Please note, I always do a bit of copyediting as I edit a manuscript, but I am not a professional copyeditor or proofreader.
- Editing does not include chatting about your manuscript at 2 AM because you had the BEST idea for an opening sentence!
Book Editing Consultations
Free 20-minute phone consultation
I’d love to talk with you about your writing journey. What genre do you work in? Who are you writing for? What are your goals? What do you struggle with? Are you just plain stuck? How can a book coach help? We can have a free 20-minute chat about how to move your writing forward and actually enjoy doing it. Contact me at sarah@verbatimedits.com and we’ll set something up.
Book Editing Services
Manuscript assessment:
A manuscript assessment involves a close reading of the manuscript as well as an objective analysis of the book’s strengths and weaknesses. All assessments include one initial phone call, detailed written feedback, and another phone call to discuss feedback. Manuscript assessments usually take up to 6 weeks to complete, depending on genre, length, complexity, and how busy I am.
Book Editing Packages
Level 1
- One initial phone call to get things rolling
- One phone call every two weeks
- Email support up to 3 times a week, weekdays only
- Up to 5,000 words to be sent to me every two weeks for critique and discussion
- Editing can start at any time during a calendar month. An editing month is 28 days.
- All fees must be paid in full at the start of each editing month.
Level 2
- One initial phone call to get things rolling
- One phone call a week
- Email support up to 5 times a week, weekdays only
- Up to 7,500 words to be sent to me every week for critique and discussion
- Editing can start at any time during a calendar month (A coaching month is 28 days.)
- All fees must be paid in full at the start of each editing month.
Level 3
- One initial phone call to get things rolling
- Two phone calls a week
- Email support up to 5 times a week, weekdays only
- Up to 10,000 words to be sent to me every week for critique and discussion
- Editing can start at any time during a calendar month. A coaching month is 28 days.
- All fees must be paid in full at the start of each editing month.
Payment is to be made by e-transfer to sarah@verbatimedits.com
For my hourly rate, please click the button below.
Sarah N. Harvey
Editor, book coach, and writer.
Helping writers polish their work - word by word, sentence by sentence - since 2005.
What My Authors Say
I have nothing but admiration for the work that Sarah Harvey put into my book, Mr. Mindbomb. This book is an anthological biography of my late husband, the founder of Greenpeace, Bob Hunter. I conceived the idea for this book over two years ago. I enlisted approximately 45 friends, relatives, admirers, prodigy and cohorts to write short story chapters about Bob's incredible life. To find a common voice, a smooth flow of sequences and to not repeat sentiments took a lot of time. Sarah worked with me to find a way to make this book sing the praises of Bob Hunter in a fashion that would make any reader feel a sense of awe. This is an inspiring book about a Canadian hero and Sarah knew just how to make the work a compelling read. She was astute and knowledgeable and made my book ready to be accepted by a publisher in short order. It was an honour to work with her.
Bobbi Hunter
Author of Mr. Mindbomb (forthcoming from Rocky Mountain Books)
At our first meeting Sarah expressed her concerns about me revisiting the trauma. She had just read my book. Really I had no clue what was to happen next. The journey through each page with her gave me courage and resilience. The timeline she presented made it easier to take the breaks when I did revisit the trauma. Her professional expertise in editing “Genocidal Love” kept my voice on every page. Thank you, Sarah, for your understanding of intergenerational trauma, your kind, caring patience and professional guidance.
Bevann Fox
Author of Genocidal Love: A Life After Residential School
Sarah Harvey picked my first YA novel out of the slush pile over fifteen years ago, and since then she has edited more than a dozen of my books: fiction and non-fiction, for children and for teens. She has been a wonderful editor and mentor, has taught me a great deal about writing, and has improved my books immeasurably. She edited my Silver Birch winning novel, Record Breaker, and both editions of my Stonewall Honor book Pride. Other books she has edited for me have gone on to be nominated for numerous awards—including the Governor General’s Literary Awards and four BC Book Prizes. Sarah has a keen eye for character development and story structure, respects the author’s voice and goals, and always helps me bring my book closer to what I want it to be. She is astute, insightful, thorough, and a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend her as an editor.
Robin Stevenson
Author of Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community, a Stonewall Honor book