MEET YOUR EDITOR
EXTRAS & MS FORMAT
MEET YOUR EDITOR
The Real Writer is Chris Stewart, a seasoned developmental editor with over 35 years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing, serving clients around the world.
I provide comprehensive editing services for writers, including consulting, developmental editing, and critique services tailored for writers of fiction, nonfiction, crea
The Real Writer is Chris Stewart, a seasoned developmental editor with over 35 years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing, serving clients around the world.
I provide comprehensive editing services for writers, including consulting, developmental editing, and critique services tailored for writers of fiction, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. I am also a former arts and grants administrator with my state arts council. I worked with the National Endowment for the Arts on many projects and can offer suggestions regarding applying for grants and residencies.
My expertise spans most genres and my editing services honor your unique voice and vision. My goal is to equip you with the necessary tools and skills to empower and inspire you as you revise your current work and embark on future projects.
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My background:
- Editor-in-Chief, Del Sol Press
- Faculty, Algonkian Novel Workshop Retreat
- Faculty-in-Residence, Creative Writing, Edenwald Senior Living
- Former Literary Arts & Arts Education Program Director, Maryland Poetry Out Loud Director, and Liaison to the Maryland State Poet Laureate for the Maryland State Arts Council
- Former Program Officer for Maryland Humanities
- MA in Creative Writing (Hollins Univ.) & MFA in Poetry (Univ. of Maryland)
EDITING FEES
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MEET YOUR EDITOR
Read and Critique:
This service includes a thorough reading of your manuscript, offering suggestions on where to trim and clarify your work until only your unique voice remains. I provide thoughtful and insightful interpretations and actionable suggestions.
You will receive a written evaluation highlighting the manuscript's strengths and
Read and Critique:
This service includes a thorough reading of your manuscript, offering suggestions on where to trim and clarify your work until only your unique voice remains. I provide thoughtful and insightful interpretations and actionable suggestions.
You will receive a written evaluation highlighting the manuscript's strengths and weaknesses, along with a critique of characters, plot, voice, pacing, dialogue, structure, and overall quality of writing. This feedback will point out where the writing is effective and suggest improvements for sections that need revision.
This 'big picture' service is an ideal way to begin the revision process after completing your manuscript. Please note that with this critique, no changes are made to the manuscript itself, which is where the developmental editing services come into play.
$5.50 per page, with a 100-page minimum. _____________________________
Developmental Editing:
This service provides detailed margin comments throughout your manuscript, addressing craft and editing issues related to plot, dialogue, structure, character, voice, and thematic elements. I include suggestions for changing, deleting, adding, or moving content, along with both small details and broader interpretations. It's important to note that these are merely suggestions in the margins; the responsibility for implementing revisions lies with the client.
$7.50 per page, with a 100-page minimum. _____________________________
Poetry Developmental Edit and Critique Services:
This editing service encompass all essential aspects, such as voice, syntax, grammar, punctuation, line breaks, pacing, and consistency in figurative language. Comments will be tailored to suit your goals for the poems or book, whether for contests, MFA portfolios, or publication.
The fee is $75 per hour and is structured as follows:
- One hour session with one hour prep = 3 poems, totaling $150;
- Two hour session with two hour prep = 6 poems, totaling $300.
- For collections, please inquire.
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Submissions Package:
I offer editing services for your query letter, synopsis, and pitch, either as individual documents or as a complete package. Alternatively, I can guide you through the writing of these necessary elements of your submission package so you're well-prepared to showcase your book.
- $75 for one document
- $140 for two documents
- $200 for three documents
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Payment:
Payments can be made via Zelle or PayPal (note that Zelle has no fees, while PayPal's processing fees are included in the client's total payment).
- If the fee is under $250, it must be paid in full before work begins.
- For fees over $250, I accept two payments: the first at the start of the project, and the second within one week of delivering the completed work.
TESTIMONIALS
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EXTRAS & MS FORMAT
"Chris is an excellent, thorough, and perceptive editor. She edited a draft of my novel in progress and gave very thoughtful comments on characters, emotions, themes, and plot and followed up by phone to discuss. Highly recommend."
- Lauren W., Fiction, Washington, D.C.
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"Thanks again. I appreciate your guid
"Chris is an excellent, thorough, and perceptive editor. She edited a draft of my novel in progress and gave very thoughtful comments on characters, emotions, themes, and plot and followed up by phone to discuss. Highly recommend."
- Lauren W., Fiction, Washington, D.C.
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"Thanks again. I appreciate your guidance, assistance, and encouragement. Also, I appreciate your professionalism too."
- Melinda G., Fiction and Nonfiction, Italy
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"As a writer seeking publication for my debut novel, I needed a professional to step in, read my work and offer a big-picture overview of what was working and what wasn't. What I discovered, to my great relief, was that Christine had the ability not only to read the work over and understand its elements but also to offer some stunning solutions for sticky plot points. I loved the hour-long conversation with her on the telephone, as we brainstormed different ideas for the opening chapter and beyond. Her solutions reflected the great care she took to thoroughly understand the story first before advising what to do next. I loved the dynamic and refreshing energy she brought to my project. Thank you, Christine, for being in my corner."
- Alison Q., Fiction, Australia _____________________________
“I sent out six queries for the book in the past week and two agents have already asked to see the whole ms! You did a great job!”
- Jen M., Fiction, Maryland _____________________________
"You have been remarkably helpful in all your points. You have helped a lot. More than maybe anyone else that I have used to help chip away at the block of marble, waiting for something to appear on the other side.”
- Bob R., Nonfiction, Texas
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“Chris is an enthusiastic and exacting editor with a keen eye and a great sense of humor! She was a wonderful mentor in every way."
- Carrie M., MFA, Poetry, New Mexico _____________________________
"Save YEARS of your precious time by having Chris review your manuscript! She's the real deal."
- G.S., Fiction, Maryland
EXTRAS & MS FORMAT
EXTRAS & MS FORMAT
EXTRAS & MS FORMAT
Every service comes with these valuable extras:
- An initial 30-minute call to discuss your project, goals, and any questions you may have regarding my services.
- There’s no charge for pages that contain just a few sentences or a short paragraph.
- A one-hour call for a high-level review of the completed editing work, your questions, brainstormi
Every service comes with these valuable extras:
- An initial 30-minute call to discuss your project, goals, and any questions you may have regarding my services.
- There’s no charge for pages that contain just a few sentences or a short paragraph.
- A one-hour call for a high-level review of the completed editing work, your questions, brainstorming (the best part!). This call must occur within one month of receiving the editing work.
- A free reading of 25 revised pages; while it's best to start at the beginning of the piece, you can choose any section in the work.
- Unlimited follow-up questions (within reason!). Can you email me three years later with a question? YES. Will I remember you and your work? YES.
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Prose manuscripts must follow standard format:
- Double-spaced
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- Times New Roman, 12-point font.
- Chapters should begin halfway down the page and start flush left
- New sections or scenes that involve a leap in time, location, or a shift to a sustained new point of view should also start flush left.
- The author's last name, a portion of the title, and the page number should appear in the upper right-hand corner as: Name/Part of Title/Number, except on the first page.
Poetry manuscripts must follow standard format:
- Times New Roman, 12-point font
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- Each poem should be on a separate page
- Single-spaced
- Starting flush left at the top of the page.
- The author's last name, a portion of the title, and the page number should appear in the upper right-hand corner as: Name/Part of Title/Number, except on the first page.
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