Developmental Manuscript Editing
Editors and agents want nearly perfect manuscripts – but getting to nearly perfect by yourself can be tough.
We’ll start the process with a conversation where you tell me your goals for the book (“I want it to be a fast-paced beach read!” or “I want to scare the pants off my readers!” or “I want them to turn the last page and start weeping”) and what insight you’re hoping to gain from my perspective.
Then, I read your work with an open mind, ready to find what’s working and what isn’t. Are there holes in your story? Pacing or structural problems? Do characters need to be fleshed out? Does the book lack tension? Do you rely too much on narration and not enough on active scenes?
Whatever is holding your manuscript back from being its best self, I’ll find it – and give you actionable ideas for how to fix it. I provide you with a marked-up manuscript, a detailed editorial letter, and a chapter-by-chapter analysis. Then, we talk again so I can answer any of your questions.
For these services I charge $3500 for an 80,000 word manuscript, and pro-rate up/down from there.
Testimonials
“Julia Dahl’s superpower is her ability to see an early draft and somehow connect that with the book you’ve been trying to write all along. Her notes are full of practical tips and deeper wisdom about storytelling. Truly, I can’t imagine trying to write another book without her as my first reader.”
Zac Bissonnette, New York Times Bestselling author of The Great Beanie Bubble (the basis for the 2023 film, The Beanie Bubble) and A Killing in Costumes
“Julia is a phenomenal editor. She has a great eye for tension and creating suspense. Her editorial comments were spot on and helped me take my book to the next level. I highly recommend her!”
Wanda M. Morris, author of All Her Little Secrets and Anywhere You Run
“Hire Julia right now, I’m telling you. The best editors are teachers and she is just that—an experienced and award-winning author who’ll give your manuscript a thorough critique, and at the same time teach you to look at your work with clear, unbiased eyes. One of her many skills is seeing the big picture of your book and helping guide you to revise with the overall pacing, structure, and tension in mind. She caught the plot holes and inconsistencies, of course, but what really blew me away was how she “got” what I was trying to accomplish with my book. She understood the somewhat tricky tone and feel I wanted to evoke and kept that in mind with all her suggestions. I just can’t recommend her enough. She’s kind and freaking brilliant and probably has her schedule literally booked solid, so I advise you to email now.”
Emily Carpenter, author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies
“The most important thing I can say about Julia Dahl is HIRE HER! The depth of care and
Melody Kelly, author of Apricity and Lulu at the Louvre
contemplation with which she reads and comments is both a comfort and a challenge to a writer.
The comfort comes from feeling like she sees the book your manuscript can become. She sees
the story as you imagined it right from the start. The challenge is that she gives you direct and
detailed work to do to make that book a reality. There are no vague suggestions or unclear
comments. It is so empowering to know exactly what to do to make your work better after
reading her detailed notes and advice. She is both direct and extremely kind with a knack for
addressing all the blind spots you have been too close to see for yourself. I am forever grateful
to her and will definitely be working with her again. She is absolutely wonderful!”
“It’s no easy feat, handing over the manuscript you’ve been scrunched over for years. I was looking for an editor with kindness, a sense of humor, the ability to hone in on the rough spots, and make good suggestions. And it’s exactly what I found in Julia Dahl. Her edits and continued support helped me dig into revisions with fresh enthusiasm.”
Lesa Knollenberg, author of Corpse Pose
“Julia performed a developmental edit of the first draft of my first novel. She was direct about cost, timing and what I could expect to receive from her. She produced an editor’s letter that was detailed, thorough and extremely thoughtful. It was clear from her notes that she focused fully on the story and character elements, while at the same time paying careful attention to the technical aspects. Her recommendations, sometimes by way of example and sometimes in the form of suggestion, were instructive and very helpful. She identified some structural weaknesses in my manuscript of which I had been completely unaware. Having addressed them with her advice, I believe the book is immeasurably improved. My experience working with Julia was 100% positive; I am certain that I have been spoiled forever.”
Jill Block, author of The Truth About Parallel Lines
“It’s hard to find a good manuscript development editor who knows the book publishing business, understands what makes a good story, and allows a writer their own style without intrusion. Julia Dahl is all of these things and more. She is quick, detailed and provides an elegant editorial letter that clearly catalogs a book’s strengths and weaknesses. Even better, Julia does it in a way that is supportive and energizing. I would highly recommend her to any writer who needs professional’s eye. I will be working with her agin I am certain.””
Ann Garvin, author of I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around