Developmental Guidance - $0.05 per word

Developmental guidance gives you a second set of eyes on the entirety of your story for a broad review of your overall plot, structure, and styling. Unlike developmental editing, which examines sections to improve your story and its delivery, developmental guidance offers a more general picture of any overarching issues and identifies frequent or ongoing opportunities to get your tale back on track and keep it there.

 

Developmental guidance is best when you aren’t sure your writing is telling the story you envisioned in the way you intended.

 

Developmental Editing - $0.02 per word

Developmental editing focuses on the big picture of your story. I’ll look at:

• Refining your organization for story flow

• Fine-tune the pacing

• Hone your voice and tone

• Identify opportunities for character and story development

• Evaluate logical coherence

 

Developmental editing is best before any line or copyediting, as it may result in large changes to your draft.

 

Line Editing - $0.01 per word

Line editing focuses on the flow, clarity, and tone of your writing. I’ll review your manuscript at the sentence and paragraph level to:

• Refine word choice and phrasing

• Eliminate redundancy or awkward wording

• Clarify meaning and improve sentence structure

• Ensure consistency in tone and style

​Line editing is ideal if your manuscript is complete but could benefit from a stylistic polish to enhance readability and engagement.

 

Copyediting - $0.008

Copyediting addresses the technical side of your writing to ensure your manuscript is clean and consistent. This includes:

 

• Correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage

• Maintaining consistency in capitalization, hyphenation, and style

• Ensuring clarity and accuracy in sentence structure

• Applying your preferred style guide or standard (e.g., CMOS)

 

​Copyediting is recommended after developmental or line editing and before the final proofread.

 

Proofreading - $0.005

The final polish before publication. I carefully read through your formatted or nearly-final manuscript to catch:

• Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors

• Typographical and formatting mistakes

• Minor inconsistencies and layout issues

​Proofreading is best done after all other editing is complete. It’s your last chance to catch small errors before publishing or printing.

 

Comprehensive Editing - $0.04 per word

A comprehensive editing package gives you a developmental edit, line editing, copyediting, and final proofreading for a single price. Please note that each stage will be scheduled on my calendar as it’s submitted. History has shown that attempting to schedule all four stages at the time of initial submission just puts more stress on the writer.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How long is the turnaround time for editing?

There’s no set answer, but I work hard to provide a realistic estimate when I accept a project. Every editing job deserves the same professionalism and attention to detail as any other. That means estimates can vary based on the length of work, anticipated extent of edits, other projects in the pipeline, and other factors. 

 

​Do you accept projects shorter than novel-length?

Yes! Please be advised that there is a $50 minimum charge for editing. 

 

​Do you use a specific style guide?

I follow the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) for most fiction projects. For academic editing, I use the APA 7th edition or the MLA style guides. I’m happy to follow a house or publisher style guide if you provide one.

 

​Do you use track changes?

Yes! I use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes or Google Docs’ Suggesting features for all editing work. You’ll see every suggestion and can accept or reject changes as you review the file. 

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How do payments work?

A 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot, with the remainder due upon delivery, except for comprehensive editing. Comprehensive editing requires a 50% deposit, 25% payment after line editing, and the remainder once the project is complete. Please note that word counts for calculating payments are taken using either Microsoft Word or Google Docs’ word count feature when the story is received. If major additions are suggested and agreed to during a comprehensive edit, the word count will be retaken once they are added. This is the fairest way to determine the total amount of your work being considered for editing. Payment methods and exact terms will be outlined in your quote. You will not be billed until a contract has been signed.

 

Do you offer sample edits?

Yes, for line editing and copyediting projects, a short sample edit (up to 1,000 words) is free of charge. It helps you see my style and determine if we’re a good fit.

 

Do you have a cancellation or refund policy?

Yes. You are free to cancel at any time, but the deposit is not refundable once work has begun. If you need to cancel before your scheduled start date, please let me know as soon as possible. Full terms will be outlined in your quote or agreement.

 

​How do I get started?

Just email me at rob.e.goodale@gmail.com with your project details: word count, what service(s) you’re looking for, any required timeline, and anything else I should know. I’ll reply with a quote and availability.

 

Experience

• Over a decade in indie publishing as a writer, acquisition reader, acquisition editor, and bench editor.

• Eight years as a marketing content and copywriter.

• Seven years as a marketing content editor and strategist.

• Associate of Arts in General Studies.

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (q4 2025).