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Pricing & Cancellation policy

Booking note:

Thank you for checking out Emerald Edits. When you email for a booking, I’ll share my available dates. To secure your spot, please reply within 24 hours—after that, I can’t hold the date, and it will go to the next client on my waitlist.

~Nicole McCurdy (editor)

Developmental Editing
First Pass — $0.007 per word

 

This service offers a deep and intensive developmental edit across a wide range of genres. I’ll look closely at the bigger elements of your story, helping you understand what’s working, what could be strengthened, and where your manuscript has room to grow.

 

I’ll consider things such as:

  • Plot, structure and pacing

  • Character development, arcs and relationships

  • Dialogue, world-building and overall reader experience

Alongside a detailed report at the end of the editing process, I’ll leave plenty of feedback, suggestions, questions, and ideas directly within the manuscript. I’ll highlight areas that may need strengthening, developing, clarifying, or restructuring, while explaining why I think something could work better.

 

I’m also happy to offer small rewrite suggestions or examples where they would genuinely help. This might be a few lines of dialogue, a short passage, or an example of how you could approach a particular moment. I won’t rewrite chapters or take over full scenes. Your writing and your voice will always remain your own.

 

If I feel this kind of example would be useful for your manuscript, I’ll always ask you first whether it’s something you’d like as part of your edit.

The first pass is a thorough and collaborative process, with detailed feedback throughout the manuscript and continued communication, guidance, and support throughout the editing process.

 

Revision Pass

$0.0055 per word

 

A revision pass is a lighter-touch second look at a manuscript that has already undergone developmental editing and been substantially revised.

 

You’ve done the work of taking the feedback and reshaping your manuscript. Now I’ll come back to it with fresh eyes and look at how everything is working together.

 

I’ll check your character arcs, pacing, plot, continuity, world-building, exposition, and overall reader experience, while flagging anything that may still need a little attention.

 

This isn’t another full developmental edit. It’s about making sure your revisions have strengthened the manuscript as a whole and giving you confidence that it’s ready for the next stage.

 

Best for: Authors who have completed a developmental edit and want a fresh pair of eyes before moving on to line editing or copy editing.

 

Second Developmental Edit

$0.007 per word

 

Sometimes a manuscript needs another full developmental pass, particularly when substantial changes have been made since the first edit.

 

A second developmental edit is just as thorough as the first. We’ll revisit the bigger picture, looking at plot, structure, character arcs, pacing, world-building, continuity, themes, dialogue, and overall reader experience.

 

This can be especially valuable when a manuscript has evolved significantly. Major revisions can sometimes create new issues or reveal areas that need further development, so coming back to the story with fresh eyes can be incredibly useful.

 

As with the first developmental edit, I’ll provide detailed feedback and suggestions throughout the manuscript. Where helpful, I can also offer small rewrite examples, but I’ll always ask you first if I think that would be useful.

 

Best for: Authors whose manuscript has changed significantly since their first developmental edit, or whose story would benefit from another intensive developmental look.

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​​Once I begin work on your manuscript, each editing pass will be completed within 2 to 6 days, depending on the word count and the level of editing required.

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 Cancellation Policy. 

Cancellation Notice:

    • If you need to cancel or reschedule your editing services with me, please provide written notice at least 7 days before the scheduled start date of the project.

  2. Cancellations:

    • Cancellations made 7 or more days before the start date will not incur any charges.

    • Cancellations made less than 7 days before the start date may result in a fee of 50% of the estimated project cost, at my discretion.

  3. Rescheduling:

    • Clients wishing to reschedule their editing services must do so within the same notice period. One rescheduling is permitted without penalty; additional changes may incur fees.

  4. Refunds:

    • As no booking fees are charged, refunds are not applicable. However, any prepaid amounts for services will be honoured in future bookings.

  5. Exceptions:

    • In cases of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances, I will consider waiving any potential cancellation fees at my discretion.

  6. Acknowledgment:

    • By engaging my editing services at Emerald Edits, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this cancellation policy.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please feel free to contact me using the information on the Home page.

Thank you for your understanding!

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