Macro Developmental Edit

This service for you if you’re asking these questions:

  • Does my story make sense?
  • Is the pace too fast/slow?
  • Are my characters’ motivations believable?
  • Is the tension increasing?
  • Are the stakes high and personal?
  • Does my character change?
  • Have I missed plot holes?

My role is to put a magnifying glass up against your manuscript and help you see the things you’re too close to the story to see. You’ll receive comments throughout the manuscript as well as a developmental editing report. Go to sleep with a clear understanding of what’s working, which areas need to be addressed, and suggestions about how to achieve that.  

Prices

For a full edit including editing report and chapter summaries, prices start at AUD$8.50 per 1000 words (Approx. USD$6.00).

  • Price includes a single read through with comments added during this read. An additional read through is available for AUD$2.00/1000 words which allows me to make editorial comments with the full vision in mind.
  • Price applicable up to 90k words – additional AUD$1.00/1000 words over 90,000.
  • Additional AUD$1.00 per 1000 words for fantasy and other genres with heavy world building or more complex plots (e.g. thrillers and mysteries)
  • Admin fee of AUD$12.00 for partials, AUD$25.00 for full manuscripts 
  • Discount for returning clients and those facing financial hardship
 
For a lighter, budget friendly edit which excludes an editing report, and is a little lighter on chapter comments, prices start at AUD$5.00 per 1000 words (Approx. USD$2.60). This can be considered a high quality beta read with strong editorial feedback.

PLEASE NOTE that I will only take on a full manuscript after either a sample edit of  your first chapter or a partial edit of your first 10-15,000 words. A partial edit of the first 10k is AUD$60, and 15k is AUD$90. 
This way I can make sure I am confident with taking on your full manuscript, and you can ensure I am the right editor for you.

 
Turnaround time: 7-10 days on partials, 14 days on full manuscripts
Bookings available – AUD$50-100 deposit (deducted from final invoice)
As of 18th May 2026, my next availability for a full edit is October 2026, but I also have a wait list for cancellations/date changes of currently scheduled jobs. Light edits can be scheduled sooner.
 
Genre exclusions: I’m not the best editor for heavy science fiction, heavy historical fiction, or heavy religious content. Blends/light inclusions of these are fine. For literary fiction, I take on limited projects. Please email me for more info.

Kind Words

“I can count on helpful and meaningful criticism from Kathryn. She isn’t afraid to tell me her honest opinion, and if some aspects in my writing aren’t working she tells me in ways that encourage me. At the same time, she gives helpful suggestions on how to boost certain elements based off of my strengths that she highlights. Kathryn is my cheerleader, and the first person I go to when I need help and advice with my writing.”

~ Janaya – Writer

What's Next?

Ready to roll up your sleeves and improve your story? Let’s do this!

Email: [email protected]

Subject: Macro Developmental Edit

Body: Genre, word count & project stage + anything else you want me to know.

Want to hold a book in your hands and confidently say it’s your best work? Yes, yes, yes!

More Kind Words

“Sending your book baby to an outside reader is always a nerve-racking experience, but I’m glad I chose Kathryn … she made numerous valuable observations in her comments and included a separate, thorough report on readability, dialogue, setting, plot, characters, and pacing. She pointed out the novel’s strengths and weaknesses in her encouraging and constructive feedback. I would definitely use her services again!”

~ Susanna Kanto – Author of ‘Caytee’

Testimonials

“If you're looking for the right person to hire to help you improve your novel, look no further! Kathryn has a keen eye to spot opportunities to make a scene stronger, to make your line-level writing shine and to point out continuity mistakes or incongruities. I had already done four drafts and multiple draft passes when Kathryn came in, and she managed to elevate my novel to heights that brought me much success in the query trenches! Plus, it's a real pleasure to work with Kathryn!"
Leftie AubéHorror writer & host of “Leftie Aubé’s Writing Podcast”
"Sending my manuscript to Kathryn was absolutely terrifying as a new author. I'd never let someone read my work before, and making yourself vulnerable to critique is never easy. And almost always stressful. Even more so when I got her email back with notes and within that same minute I was opening the document to take a look. Every critique, and comment, and question made me relax because even though my work needed work, needed help, I didn't feel under attack. Kathryn's words might have been insightful, but more, they were kind. Her suggestions were always to help, to give me options because she treated my work with respect. Having someone else's focus on your manuscript a heady, scary thing, but if you're brave enough, and when you're finally ready to make improvements, Kathryn will help. And you'll be glad she did."
JLAuthor of 'For What It's Worth' and 'The Voices'
"Sending your book baby to an outside reader is always a nerve-racking experience, but I'm glad I chose Kathryn to be my beta reader. She made numerous valuable observations in her Word comments and included a separate, thorough report on readability, dialogue, setting, plot, characters, and pacing. She pointed out the novel's strengths and weaknesses in her encouraging and constructive feedback. I would definitely use her services again!"
Susanna KantoAuthor of 'Caytee'
"As a writer, I've found it difficult to receive useful feedback for my projects. However, I can count on helpful and meaningful criticism from Kathryn. She isn't afraid to tell me her honest opinion; and if some aspects in my writing aren't working she tells me in ways that encourage me. At the same time, she gives helpful suggestions on how to boost certain elements based off of my strengths that she highlights. Kathryn is my cheerleader, and the first person I go to when I need help and advice with my writing."
Janaya B
“Kathryn was the perfect blend of quick, efficient, and thorough. I couldn’t believe the level of insight she provided to help me make my project so much better! I’m forever grateful for her help.”
AnonymousParanormal Mystery
"Kathryn has been super responsive and kind throughout the editing process. Her advice went much deeper than surface-level feedback and provided actionable ways to revise my novel. While feedback can be scary, Kathryn's approach is very gentle. She was honest about the strengths and flaws of my novel but always supportive. Kathryn fosters a positive environment for revising, making it easy to improve my work."
Kit WakelinYA Fantasy
"Kathryn was an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish. Not only were her critiques insightful, but she is highly skilled at spotting things at both a macro and a micro level which is invaluable. Plus, with her positive attitude, even strengthening the weakest parts of my story has been an empowering and confidence-building experience. Thank you, Kathryn!"
Carly VickMG Horror
"I wouldn’t be where I am without Kathryn today. Kathryn was the first person I learned to trust and be vulnerable on my journey as a writer. Having being scammed once or twice, I reached out to Kathryn for advice and for honest feedback about my work and that is exactly what I received. For that I’m forever grateful. Kathryn has been the very best mentor, and I’m beyond thankful for her talent, time, meticulous critiques, and fair assessment of my work. She has made me a better writer and a better storyteller, and her perspective is always insightful and unique. She truly cares about the work she is reading, and the authors she’s helping develop. She is one of the few people I trust wholeheartedly in this industry. Kathryn, you’re not only wonderfully wise but you are generous and humble."
AnonymousRomance
"Having my work critiqued by Kathryn was invaluable in revising and improving my work. The in-line edits, comments, and big-picture suggestions were so considered and honoring of the story I am trying to tell while giving practical feedback and advice for changes to be made. When you spend so much time with your characters in your head, you sometimes forget readers don't know everything you know; Kathryn provided helpful suggestions and asked thought-provoking questions to help me make my characters shine. I thoroughly recommend working with her."
MoniqueYoung Adult
“Kathryn gave fantastic feedback on my submission materials! Her comments were thoughtful, offering improvements while highlighting what worked well. She is a wonderful asset to the writing community!”
LyndseyMG/YA
"Kathryn has given us the best feedback we could have asked for! The beginning of our novel has been a struggle for us, going through several changes that never quite satisfied us until Kathryn stepped in. As most writers, we were a bit scared about what she might say, but we shouldn’t have: she has the great talent of pointing out the aspects you need to improve without undermining you or your novel. She works extremely fast and offers excellent ideas and insight, which have made our writing stronger. Kathryn has built us up as writers and we are incredibly grateful for her help."
June and RobinFantasy duo
"Kathryn has mastered the art of providing valuable, actionable feedback in the most positive and encouraging way! Whether your novel needs a major overhaul or smaller scale edits, her critiques will be honest and supportive and give you the tools to take your project to the next level. Getting to work with Kathryn was a fantastic experience all around!"
AnonymousFantasy
“Kathryn is a top-notch editor, whose keen eye for detail and continuity is unmatched. She balances honest criticism and advice with encouragement and support, which in the writing sphere, is much appreciated! I will be hiring her again for my next manuscript!”
Carrie Kwiatkowski Fantasy
"Kathryn provides a great balance of editorial insight with encouraging comments and questions, really digging deep into the manuscript. In the full developmental edit, she pointed out problems with my character arcs, as well as provided suggestions on how to iron out inconsistencies and strengthen character motivations. I feel confident moving forward with the next round of self-edits and I’ll be referring to her notes often!"
Clementine GrantRomance
"Kathryn has an incredible gift for storytelling and editorial insight. Working with her was one of the best things to happen to my manuscript. Her macro developmental edit was exceptionally detailed, and she has a remarkable ability to see the bigger picture while identifying exactly what needs strengthening. Kathryn went above and beyond. Her feedback was clear, actionable, and encouraging throughout the entire process. It truly felt as if she were genuinely invested in helping my story reach its full potential. I highly recommend Kathryn to any writer looking for a skilled and supportive editor."
Holly Brunnbauer