Hone your manuscript with these "lighter" services
Elevate your manuscript with with tailored editorial services that bring your vision to life.
Manuscript Assessment
Summative Evaluation & Assessment
I will provide a holistic evaluation of your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses. Expect 5-7 pages of detailed feedback on plot structure, character development, pacing, dialogue, thematic consistency, and other key elements of storytelling.
High Level Recommendations
Unlike line editing or copy editing, a manuscript assessment focuses on big-picture issues. My clients can expect to receive high-level recommendations for improving their manuscripts, such as suggestions for restructuring scenes, refining character arcs, enhancing thematic resonance, and addressing narrative inconsistencies.
Beta+ Reading
Reader Feedback
My clients should expect honest and subjective feedback from me about my reading experience, including my personal likes, dislikes, emotional responses, and overall impressions of their manuscript. Additionally, I will include a 1 page editorial assessment which hones in on the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript based on industry and genre conventions and knowledge. For this service, I only accept manuscripts where I hold personal interest in the plot. Please contact me with a brief synopsis.
Identifying Audience Response
I can help you gauge how your manuscript resonates with its intended audience. Expect 1-2 pages of insights into what aspects of your story engage readers, what elements may need clarification or improvement, and how well your manuscript fulfills its genre conventions and reader expectations.
Sensitivity Reading
ADHD Sensitivity Reading
I can offer constructive critique on whether your manuscript accurately depicts the impact of ADHD on characters’ behavior, relationships, and daily life, as well as suggestions for portraying ADHD in a respectful, authentic, and nuanced manner.
British / Enlgish Culture
I can offer perspective from a British/English person to ensure that non-British authors are portraying British/English characters & culture accurately including investigating regional norms and terminology.
I have dual UK/US citizenship and have lived for large periods of time in both countries so I am uniquely placed to identify common areas of cultural friction.
Ready to Elevate Your Manuscript?
Discover how our developmental editing services can transform your writing. Get in touch today for a personalised quote!
Sean Sable
Sean Sable, based in York, specialises in YA, mystery, romance, and horror writing and editing. With a passion for the unique and enigmatic, Sean offers exceptional freelance services tailored to bring vitality to every manuscript.
"This is how you do it: sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it's done. It's that easy, and that hard." – Neil Gaiman
FAQs for Lighter Editing Services
Answers to your most pressing questions.
What genres do you specialise in as an author and editor?
I focus on Young Adult, Upmarket Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance and Horror genres, bringing each story to its full potential.
What editing services do you offer?
I provide developmental and line editing, manuscript assessments, beta reading, and sensitivity reading focusing on ADHD and/or British culture.
Do you handle all types of writing and editing?
While I am versatile, I do not accept projects in religious texts, very dark romance, or military/espionage genres.
Regarding very dark romances:
I am happy to accept dark romances where the themes are on the “grey” end of the spectrum. However, I am not able to accept the following themes:
– Non-consent (Including CNC). Ambigious or unspecified consent is okay.
– Taboo (Inscest, etc.)
– Full BDSM lifestyle (This is best left to a person who can co-sensitivity read)
How does your background influence your editing style?
As a writer myself, I appreciate the importance of open and honest feedback. I work to get to the heart of the challenges your manuscript faces so you can walk away with an actionable list of improvements you can begin working on straight away.
What can clients expect when working with you?
Clients can expect a collaborative approach, detailed feedback, and a commitment to maintaining the voice and vision of their work.
For a manuscript assessment you will receive:
– 5-7 page breakdown of plot sturcture, character development, pacing, dialogue & thematic consistency.
-Key suggestions for improvements from a top-down perspective.
– More in-depth breakdowns including chapter by chapter and full character anaylsis and detailed suggestions for improvements are available in my Developmental Editing service.
For Beta+ Reading you will receive:
– 3-4 page insight sheet which breaks down my reading experience as well as a 1 page light developmental evaluation on plot, structure, theme etc. Additionally, I will offer insights regarding where your manuscript sits within its genre and audience expectations.
For senstivity reading you will receive:
– Services will vary depending on story impact. For example, if your main character requires the sensitivity reading, this will necessitate a great deal of reading and evaluation. Similarly, if your entire book takes place in the UK. However, if just a few scenes or exchanges are required, this may be a rather quicker job. Please enquire for more details.
How long do lighter services take?
Turnaround times will vary depending on my overall workload, the length of your work and the level of feedback required.
Manuscripts with a well honed writing style (including grammar & spelling) at the sentece level are easier to read. This speeds up the process. On the other hand, those books which are poorly constructed on a sentence level may take longer.
In general, most books with word counts below 100K will have their feedback complete within 30 days of beginning.
How do I start working with you?
Contact me to discuss your project, and we’ll outline the steps to begin transforming your manuscript.
Ideally, you will want to get onto my books whilst still in the drafting stage as there may be a delay of up to 12 weeks before I can begin your edit and/or feedback. Deposits schemes are available to hold a space on my editing schedule.