Do any of these sound like you?
“This is so frustrating! I’ve been shopping my manuscript around for ages, and all I get are vague responses that it has promise, but it’s not the right fit.”
“I’ve taken my draft as far as I can. Now, I need a professional’s perspective.”
“I need that extra edge to get to the next level in my writing career…but I don’t know what it is.”
“Self-publishing my book means I need to invest in editing…but I’m not sure my budget can stretch to three separate rounds of it.”
“Why can’t someone just be straight with me—but also gentle!—and tell me what is or isn’t working?”
You’re in the right place!
My editing services are designed to address structural matters in your manuscript, teach you the skills to cut your copyediting needs in half, and compassionately guide your future revisions. But I also have a special skillset. After years of writing marketing copy for published books and holding pitch meetings with salespeople, wholesalers, and review-journal editors, I’ve developed a keen eye for spotting the right hooks to match your book with its audience. I’ll help you make the most of those hooks—both in your book, and in the way you pitch it.
Imagine this:
You were nervous to get your manuscript edited (What if she says it’s no good?!), but as soon as you open the document, relief settles over you. There’s no half-hearted tinkering or brusque criticism. Instead, thoughtful, encouraging notes ask, “Have you considered this?” and point out real, actionable steps you can take to make your manuscript shine. An enclosed report holds pages of enlightening commentary about the big-picture aspects of your work, like voice and audience, and a market analysis shows you how to hit the right spot for agents and acquisition editors. NOW it all makes sense!
It’s a lot of information, but it lights a fire in you. You never thought you could feel so excited to tackle revisions.
“Erin [is] a sensitive and thoughtful reader, with a keen ear for how a text will sound when read aloud….I have consistently been impressed with her attention to detail, knowledge of the educational market, and deft hand at trimming what is not needed.”
—Laura Alary, Sun in my Tummy
“I was lucky enough to work with Erin Alladin on six picture-book manuscripts. Her expert insights and encouraging nature always made the revision process a pleasure. Erin’s keen editing skills and thoughtful feedback will take any manuscript to the next level and beyond.”
—Deborah Kerbel, the Weather Days collection, Before You Were Born, Sun Dog
“I worked with Erin on three of my picture books….It was a great experience, and throughout the process, Erin was really helpful, providing me with valuable suggestions to improve my manuscript. She has a gift for selecting book titles, for which I’ll always be grateful. I’d recommend her to any writers, whether they’re new to the craft or well-established.”
—Bahram Rahman, The Library Bus, A Sky-Blue Bench, and If You See a Bluebird
Substantive Editing Services
My substantive editing services are tuned for authors who have a complete or nearly complete manuscript and are ready to tackle high-level revisions. I offer three tiers in order to meet you where you’re at in your writing career:
Tier 1 | Substantive Edit
This accessible option goes straight to the heart of the editing process.
It includes:
- A holistic report that speaks to big-picture elements like audience, voice, pacing, and organization (10–15 pages for novel-length works; 3–5 pages for picture books)
- Detailed and thoughtful in-line comments that flag specific issues in the text (and celebrate great moments)
Tier 2 | SubstantivePlus Edit
This option is great for writers looking to save time and money on future rounds of edits.
It includes everything from the Substantive Edit tier, plus:
- Copyedit notes that teach you the skills to fix nitty-gritty sentence- or word-level issues that crop up throughout
- For self-illustrated picture books, art-direction feedback
- A bonus Scribble Support session
What You Get
Premium Substantive Edit | SubstantivePlus Edit | Substantive Edit |
---|---|---|
Multi-Page Report | Multi-Page Report | Multi-Page Report |
Detailed In-Line Notes | Detailed In-Line Notes | Detailed In-Line Notes |
Instructive Copyedit-Level Notes | Instructive Copyedit-Level Notes | |
30-minute Consultation | ||
Market Analysis | ||
Synopsis & Elevator Pitch | ||
BONUS Scribble Support session | BONUS Scribble Support session |
Request a Quote
email me at erin@erin-alladin.com, or use the contact form below. We’ll schedule a 15-minute call to discuss your options.
What to Include:
Tell me your manuscript’s genre, target audience, and word count, as well as your thoughts about the stage it’s at and what kind of support you feel it needs most.