Developmental Editing Services
Make your story shine!
With almost twenty years’ experience, I got my start as a literary agency intern, reading and responding to query letters. As I requested pages, I was fascinated to see people’s writing through the lens of the publishing side of the industry—i.e., what makes a compelling story that will sell?
I like to think of editing as mining a manuscript for potential--what can be added to bring a character to life? What can ratchet the conflict and tension to compel the reader to keep turning pages? Are there plot holes that need to be filled? Can description be added to bring more dimension to a scene? Is the trajectory of the arc leveling off rather than sky-rocketing? I’m not here to tell you what’s “wrong” with your story. I’m here to help you make your story truly shine in a way that will get the attention of agents and publishers!
I get most of my referrals from Andrea Hurst and Associates and Black Rose Publishing. I work mostly with women's fiction, historical fiction, and young adult, although most general fiction works for me. (I probably wouldn't be a good candidate for science fiction or fantasy). I charge $5/page, for which you receive side notes throughout the manuscript, as well as a full report at the end. It takes me about 4 weeks to edit 80,000 pages (although, if you're working on a deadline, I can send back blocks of pages as I edit).
Note: While I make line edits (misspellings, typos, punctuation errors), I am not a copy editor. My focus is on overall scenes and story.
“My developmental editor, Cate Perry, took what I thought was a pretty good book and showed me how to make it a thousand percent better. Thanks, Cate. The result sparkles!”
Karen Brees—author of Crosswind
“A special thanks to Cate Perry for her keen editing eye and taking me on as a new client…"
Janis Robinson Daly—author of The Path Beneath Her Feet
“To editor Cate Perry who gave the final work a thorough read-over, thank you.”
Ruth Marks Eglash—author of Parallel Lines
“Cate Perry, writer, friend and extraordinary manuscript critiquer, I appreciate all you have done and continue to do.”
Andrea Hurst—author of the Madrona Island Series, Always with You, Summer of Second Chances, House of Dreams
“To Cate Perry, for her expert editing and for helping us hold things together while moving forward.”
Dr. Bernie S. Siegel—A Book of Miracles
“The story benefited greatly from Cate Perry, an exceptional editor throughout the writing of this novel.”
Scott MacFarlane—The Bone Shrine
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
