DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING: THE SOMM-ARY
A succinct review for a manageable price…
If you’ve got a draft—of a novel, a memoir, a non-fiction project—a developmental edit can show you where and how your writing is succeeding or falling short. But traditional developmental edits can cost thousands of dollars and offer so many suggestions and critiques that a writer may feel overwhelmed, and not sure where or how to begin.
That’s why I offer The Somm-ary. For $1,500, I’ll read your manuscript and give you a couple of pages of actionable advice on your work-in-progress.
Here’s what it looks like:
- An “About” section, where I describe what I think your book is about, thematically-speaking. This lets you see if what you’re trying to communicate (about life, love, the world, etc.) is also what the reader is taking away from it.
- Three strengths: These are my three favorite features of your manuscript. It’s important to know what’s going right, so when you start to make revisions, you lean into your strengths rather than revising them away.
- Three suggestions for improvement. I’ll pinpoint three issues I found in your manuscript and offer suggestions for revision.
COST: $1,500 for up to 80,000 words ($500 for each 10,000 words thereafter, up to 100,000 words).
How can I help you? Shoot me an email and let’s chat.
Connie’s reading of my novel was exceptionally helpful on both the macro and micro level. She gave me supportive feedback when I nailed a scene and candidly pointed out when I didn’t, along with giving me helpful suggestions on how I might fix the issue or clarify a character’s arc. Her comments on the doc and during our Zoom sessions helped me to better define some of my characters’ histories and motivations and convey their emotional journeys more convincingly. I highly recommend her insightful editorial services!
Connie has provided me excellent feedback not just on essays but on story pitches that have landed me assignments with The New York Times and Wired. She knows how to zoom in on what’s working and what’s not. Whenever I need another set of eyes, I reach out to her because I know she’ll get back to me quickly with suggestions that improve my work.
One of the challenges I face in writing my first novel is creating enough tension in each scene. Connie and I went back to the basics of my characters’ motivations and my rewrite really took shape. She has a keen ear and the invaluable ability to pull back and see the story as a whole.
Where many editors simply look to shape or refine your existing work, Connie finds the holes, the missing moments, the extra tension or twist that will bring your character to life and ratchet up the stakes in your story, essay or article. She makes you want to write better and makes the editing process a pleasure. She is extraordinary.
Copyright © 2025 Constance Sommer | All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Julia Douglas
Copyright © 2025 Constance Sommer
All rights reserved | Privacy Policy
Website by Julia Douglas