As a developmental editor I focus on theme, characterization, and structure. I work with authors as they build their stories, rather than waiting until all the writing is done. My clients create novels, comics, and films.
Below I summarize the process, provide information on my current rates, and share testimonials with past clients.
Want help on your current story? Email me!
How we’ll work together
- Initial Free Phone Call or Text Chat
Before I dive into your story I want to understand your vision. What are your goals for the project? Do you have a specific message you want to convey? Are there specific concerns you want addressed?
We’ll also discuss what format of critique would be most helpful for you, payment options, and your preferred form of address.
Not everyone is comfortable with talking on the phone or over Skype. That’s fine! We can also communicate in a text chat if you prefer. - Exchange of documents and contracts
Once we’ve had our conversation I’ll send you a short 1-2 page contract summarizing what we discussed during our call/chat. This document also contains clear language on ownership. You retain the rights to everything you send. My job is to provide observations and make suggestions. I will not own anything you send me and you should only implement changes that feel right for you.
You’ll send me a signed contract back, along with the materials you’d like me to review. You can send me as much or as little as you want.
Once I have your story and a signed contract, I’ll start working on your critique. Reviewing shorter stories or single chapters of an ongoing work typically takes about one week. More material may require a longer turn-around time. - Feedback in your preferred format
During our call/chat we’ll determine your preferred format for critique. Some clients prefer to discuss problems and brainstorm solutions together in a follow-up call/chat. Others do best with a report they can review in their own time and refer back to later. I’m happy to work with whatever fits your creative process best. - Invoicing
I invoice for the time I spent reviewing your work and drafting or discussing a response. Clients can elect to pay using card or PayPal. You’ll have the option for partial payments if you need to space your payment out incrementally.
My current rate is $40/hour and I track by the quarter hour, so if I work 1 hour and 15 minutes I will charge for 1.25 hours. Please note I update this rate regularly, so if you visit this page again in six months, this rate may change.
On average, most comic reviews and chapter reviews (~7,000 words) take 3-to-6 hours total, including the discussion or report. If there are many issues with the story it may take more time to examine and properly address those problems, so this is not a guarantee, only a ballpark.
Ready to get started? Email me!
Testimonials
Noel Arthur Heimpel
Noel is an accomplished writer and illustrator who has been making comics since 2011. For their newest project they created a complex story with a huge cast of characters and multiple timelines. Having created comics on their own before, they knew how working on the fly could yield messy results. For this story they wanted to write a more polished script before diving into drawing and releasing comics. They decided to hire an editor to make sure the story beats were flowing and the character motivations were clear.
Robin started out our conversations by asking about my intentions, worries, and needs for the script. I really liked this, as it made me feel like my project and desires were centered, considered, and the star of the show—rather than the feeling of going to a sort of “authority” figure on the matter and offering yourself up on their altar of experience. Even though I was receiving criticism, my vision was being valued instead of torn down…
Robin’s service stands out because it’s a perfect blend of personal and professional. You feel cared for and paid attention to, but also know you’re getting honest feedback and quality results. Robin is a very humble person but still able to use their considerable experience and knowledge effectively, without holding back. Definitely recommend for creators of all levels!
Follow Noel on their website, Twitter, and Instagram!
Morgan Lane
Morgan Lane has been working on a novel for several years, but perfectionism held her back from making meaningful progress. After a lot of frustration and ditched drafts it became clear that an outside perspective was required to identify what needed improvement and what could be left alone.
Working with Robin has been delightful. They’re genuinely invested in seeing others succeed and has the insight to help them along that path. …
Robin is very thorough, professional, fairly priced, and overall just good at their job.
Christina Major
Christina began creating her comic Sombulus in 2010. She wants to complete the project within the next five years, but feels the rough ideas and outlines she started with no longer hold up. Daunted by the prospect of redirecting her story in the middle of the project, she wanted an experienced outside perspective on how she could work toward a satisfying ending.
I was blown away by the quality of work Robin delivered. Themes and angles I’d never even considered were brought out … It was clear that Robin really spent the time to understand the work and had the creativity and lateral thinking to bring out what I wanted the story to be, instead of railroading it into “the one correct direction”.
Read the full interview here!
Follow Christina Major on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
J. Kevin Carrier
J. Kevin Carrier has been creating comics like Lady Spectra & Sparky to share with the public since 1991, but for years one script had sat untouched with nothing to “set it apart from the zillion other superhero stories out there.” Looking for an editor with a different style of writing than his own, he reached out to me for help.
…Once you had the script in hand, you seemed to ‘get it’ instantly, and zeroed in on all the trouble spots with laser-like precision…The notes you sent back were exactly what I needed to flesh out the characters and give the arc more emotional ‘punch’.
I liked that you were able to point out flaws and suggest possible solutions without trying to take over and re-write the thing for me…it’s still my script, only better…Your service gets my highest recommendation.
Read the full interview here!
Follow J. Kevin Carrier on Facebook and DeviantArt