Editorial Services
Your Book Deserves a Sharp, Supportive Edit
You write. Iris edits.
I help you shape your story into something unforgettable—with big-picture insight, deep scene feedback, and sentence-level magic.
👉 Start with the service that fits your draft best.
🖊️ You’re too close to the page—I’ve got perspective.
Big-Picture Story Development
Is your story working, or just... there?
You’ve poured yourself into this project. Maybe you’re just getting started with an outline. Maybe you’ve got 80,000 words and no clue if they work.
And now you’re stuck in that fun phase of:
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“Is this even any good?”
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“Do my characters make sense?”
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“Am I wasting my time?”
You’re not. And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
This set of services is designed to help indie authors—especially in fantasy, cozy mystery, and self-help nonfiction—get clear, honest, and judgment-free feedback on the shape and strength of their story. Whether you’re still planning or deep in revision, I’ll meet you where you are and guide you to what’s next.
We’ll focus on what your manuscript needs right now—from high-level plot structure to strategic revision goals—so you can stop spinning and start shaping the story you meant to write.
Plot Critique
Make sure your story works—before you commit to revising a draft that doesn’t.
You're outlining your book. Or maybe you're staring at a half-finished draft, wondering if your plot has legs. This service is built to help you catch the cracks early—so you can build something strong from the start.
What’s included:
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A deep read of your plot structure and pacing.
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Analysis of character arcs, stakes, and tension.
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Notes on scene flow and story momentum.
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Insights on how your idea fits within your genre.
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A 2–3 page PDF report with clear, specific action steps.
What you'll walk away with:
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Confidence that your story idea actually works before investing more time in writing & revising.
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A clear understanding of your plot structure, tension points, and where things fall flat.
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Actionable next steps so you're not guessing what to fix.
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A sense of direction to energize your writing process.
Perfect for early-stage writers or discovery drafters who want to stop guessing and start building.
$85 USD · 7–10 business days turnaround
Send your synopsis (~2,000 words) and scene list to get started.
Developmental Edit
This is the deep dive. Line by line, scene by scene—let’s turn your story into the best version of itself.
You’re serious about your story. You’ve rewritten, polished, and lived in this draft—but now you need experienced eyes to take it apart and help you rebuild it stronger. That’s what this edit is for.
What’s included:
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Full manuscript review with scene-by-scene notes.
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A 40–50 page editorial report with detailed insights.
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Tracked comments directly in your manuscript.
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A personalized action plan for your next draft.
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Weekly updates so you’re never left hanging.
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A follow-up 60-min call to unpack the edit.
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PLUS: A second-pass review of up to 10K revised words.
What you'll walk away with:
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Clarity on what's working and what's not, with detailed feedback you can use.
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A plan to move forward with purpose (no aimless revising).
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Confidence in your structure, pacing, and character arcs.
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Insightful, in-depth support that strengthens your storytelling without flattening your voice.
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A partnerships that keeps you motivated, supported, and never in the dark.
Designed for authors ready to get serious about revision and make their story unputdownable.
$48/hour USD · Custom timeline based on manuscript
Free 1,000-word sample edit to test the fit before we begin.
"She educated me to a way of thinking about writing."
"I had worked on my book for several years and could no longer see the forest for the trees. Iris was readily able to rise above the fray of words and take a good look at what needed to stay and what needed to go. She also educated me to a way of thinking about writing, which cleared the fog from my head and got me back on track. I feel invigorated once again. Thank you, Iris."
Charles McCormac, author of Essence (memoir)
Manuscript Critique
You’ve got a full draft—but is it actually working? Let’s find out.
You’ve written the thing (huge win). But now you’re too close to see what needs cutting, tightening, or expanding. A manuscript critique is like a professional beta read—only sharper, more specific, and way more actionable.
You’ll get:
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A full read-through of your manuscript.
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A 15–20 page PDF editorial letter breaking down strengths + weak points.
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Story-level notes on plot, pacing, character development, and genre fit.
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A custom checklist of what to focus on in your next revision.
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Email support + a follow-up check-in.
What you'll walk away with:
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A fresh perspective on your draft so you can revise with purpose.
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Clear direction on what's working, what needs tightening, and what's missing.
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A strategy to elevate your plot, pacing, and character development.
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Confidence to move into your next draft without second-guessing every decision.
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High-level insights that make your story stronger, sharper, and aligned with your genre.
Great if you’ve finished a draft but aren’t ready (or willing) to jump into full-scale developmental edits.
$10 USD per 1,000 words · 3–4 weeks turnaround
Minimum: 20,000 words. No tracked comments—just high-level strategy.
"She spots the things that I tried to get away with."
"Iris is phenomenal! She spots the things that I as the author have glossed over, ignored, or tried to get away with. She doesn't pull any punches in her critique, pointing out clearly the things that need work, but she does it so kindly and instructively that it's exciting to go through. I love working with her!"
H. Doan Sperry, author of Missouri Star Mystery series
Next Step Assessment
Your manuscript is in decent shape, but something’s off. Let’s pinpoint it.
You don’t need an overhaul. You need a second brain—someone to tell you exactly where the weak point is and how to fix it. This assessment is laser-focused, designed to help you move forward without burning it all down.
You’ll walk away with:
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A 4–6 page PDF report identifying your biggest issue & how to fix it.
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A clear view of what's working (so you don't cut the good stuff).
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Strategic guidance for what to revise next (and what to ignore).
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Market-savvy insights to help your story stand out in your genre.
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Email support as you revise, so you're not doing it alone.
Best for authors who want clarity without a full critique.
$300 (≤50K words) · $500 (≤100K) · 1–2 weeks turnaround
Over 100K? Contact for custom quote.
Targeted Scene-Level Feedback
You’ve written the scene. Now you need to know: does it work?
You’re deep into your draft—or polishing a key chapter—and something feels… off.
Maybe the pacing drags. Maybe the tone slips. Maybe you’re just too close to the page to tell if it’s good-good or just fine.
That’s where scene-level feedback comes in.
This set of services is ideal when you want laser-focused, professional critique on a small but important piece of your story—whether that’s your first chapter, a standalone scene, or a crucial emotional beat.
We’ll dig into what’s working, what’s not, and why so you can make targeted changes that elevate the whole manuscript.
First Chapter Critique
Your story only gets one chance to make a first impression.
Whether you’re querying agents or preparing to self-publish, your opening pages need to hook the reader, build trust, and set the tone for everything that follows. If your first chapter falls flat, most readers won’t make it to chapter two.
This critique helps you refine up to 5,000 words—usually your first 1–2 chapters—so they introduce your world with clarity, showcase your voice, and give your audience a reason to keep turning pages.
You get:
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An in-depth assessment of your first pages (comments & in-line edits with tracked changes).
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A 2–3 page editorial letter covering structure, stakes, character, and clarity.
You'll walk away with:
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Clarity on whether your first chapter hooks the reader (or loses them).
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Insightful feedback that pinpoints your strengths and weaknesses.
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A clear plan to revise with confidence.
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Genre-aware suggestions that align your opening with audience expectations.
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Support and guidance so your first impression truly lands.
Best for authors who want their opening chapters to match the promise of the full book and keep readers reading.
$205 USD · 1–2 week turnaround
Send your first chapter(s), up to 5,000 words, to get started.
Scene Critique
One moment at a time—that’s how strong stories are built.
Need a second set of eyes on a single scene, chapter, or short story? Whether you’re revising a tricky section, experimenting with a new voice, or polishing before submission, this critique offers clear, professional feedback without the commitment of a full edit.
It’s a focused blend of big-picture insight and sentence-level polish to help your scene work harder and land stronger.
You'll receive:
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Developmental and line writing suggestions (up to 3,000 words) with comments and tracked changes.
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A 1–2 page editorial letter covering structure, voice, pacing, and flow.
You'll walk away with:
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A stronger, more focused scene that keeps readers emotionally engaged.
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Clarity on what's working, what's confusing, and how to heighten impact.
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Targeted edits you can use—no vague suggestions.
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A flexible revision plan that builds your confidence, not your overwhelm.
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Takeaways you can apply to the rest of your manuscript.
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Professional feedback that doesn't just fix the scene; it elevates your writing.
Best for authors refining standalone scenes, testing ideas, or polishing a tricky moment in their draft.
$85 USD · 1–2 week turnaround
Send your scene of up to 3,000 words to get started.
Sentence-Level Editing
You’ve put your story on the page. Now it’s time to make sure your writing does it justice.
These services help you strengthen your prose, line by line. Whether you're looking for high-level guidance to improve your self-editing, or want a done-for-you sentence-level edit, you’ll get support tailored to your goals and writing style.
We’ll focus on clarity, flow, and voice—refining each sentence so your story reads the way it deserves to be read.
Line Edit & Copyedit
Your story is strong. Let’s make sure your sentences keep up.
This combined line and copyedit is for authors who’ve done the deep work—revising, restructuring, and refining—and are now ready to elevate their prose. I’ll help you improve clarity, rhythm, and flow while correcting grammar, punctuation, and consistency issues, all without compromising your voice.
It’s not about rewriting—it’s about helping your story read the way it sounds in your head.
You’ll receive:
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A full tracked edit of your manuscript with sentence-level revisions.
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An editorial letter outlining key patterns, strengths, and next steps.
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A personalized style sheet for consistency across your book (and future ones).
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Clean and tracked versions of your manuscript for easy reference.
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Unlimited email support throughout your revision process.
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A free second pass (up to 5,000 revised words) after you’ve made changes.
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Weekly progress updates so you’re never left in the dark.
What you'll walk away with:
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Crisp, clean prose that reflects your voice—just sharper.
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Sentence-level flow that keeps readers turning pages without distraction.
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A consistent style that carries across the entire book (and your next one).
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Confidence that your manuscript is ready to query, pitch, or publish.
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Peace of mind knowing you've addressed every last detail without sacrificing the story's soul.
Best for authors preparing to self-publish or query and ready for a final, thorough sentence-level pass.
Starting at $40/hour · Timeline based on project scope
Free 1,000-word sample edit to test the fit before we begin.
"My story is much stronger because it was in her hands!"
"Iris was wonderful to work with! She had an extremely quick turnaround and was very thorough with her edits. My story is much stronger because it was in her hands! Also, our very similar names make me like her even more!"
Iris March, author of the Succulent Sleuth cozy mysteries
Line Writing Assessment
Want a stronger manuscript, but not ready to invest in a full edit?
This service gives you professional-level feedback on your first 5,000 words, plus a clear plan to carry that quality through the rest of your book. You’ll get a hands-on edit and a personalized report that shows you what’s working, what’s holding your prose back, and how to revise more effectively.
It’s not just about fixing lines—it’s about learning how to edit like a pro.
You’ll get:
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A line & copyedit of your first 5,000 words with tracked changes.
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A detailed feedback report with step-by-step guidance.
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A custom style sheet to help you stay consistent as you revise.
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Curated resources matched to your goals and writing style.
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Unlimited email support during revisions
What you'll walk away with:
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Confidence that your prose holds up on the sentence level without second-guessing.
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Hands-on edits that teach you how to revise, not just what to fix.
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A roadmap to bring consistent style, polish, and clarity to your entire book.
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Tools that sharpen your self-editing skills long after this project ends.
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Personal guidance tailored to your voice and your goals; no generic fixes.
Best for authors who want to strengthen their line-level writing and learn how to self-edit with purpose.
Flat rate: $350 · 2–3 week turnaround
Free 500-word sample edit to test fit before we begin.
"I know my book(s) will be better with her eyes on them!"
"Iris is wonderful to work with. She has great communication, is well organized, timely, and taught me many things I didn't know as a new writer. I appreciate her encouragement, support, as well as her great editing and overview of my first book. I know my book(s) will be better with her eyes on them! Looking forward to working with Iris on the other books in my series, and encourage others to use her expertise and knowledge to elevate their writing as well!"
Kat J. Wallace (Newer fantasy author)
What Working Together Looks Like
Curious what happens after you hit “Book Now”? Here’s a simple breakdown of how we’ll collaborate—no surprises, no stress.
Step 1: Fill Out the Form + Share a Sample
For editing services (like developmental or sentence-level edits), you’ll start by filling out a short form and sending a sample of your manuscript. I’ll review it and return a brief sample edit (usually up to 1,000 words), along with a custom quote based on your word count and needs.
If you’re booking a critique or assessment, no sample needed! Just fill out the form, and I’ll follow up with your project’s start date.
Step 2: Book Your Spot
If everything looks good, I’ll send over a simple contract and your invoice for a 50% deposit. That officially secures your place in my calendar. (Need an alternative payment plan? Just let me know.)
Step 3: I Get to Work
On your project start date, I’ll begin your edit or critique. You’ll get weekly updates so you’re always in the loop, and I’ll check in if anything needs clarification.
Step 4: Receive Your Edit or Critique
When your edit is complete, you’ll receive all your materials: your edited manuscript, feedback letter, style sheet (if applicable), and any next-step guidance. If your service includes a second pass, we’ll schedule that too.
And if you have questions while you revise? You’ll have unlimited email support—no extra charge, no time limit.
Still have questions? Email me! Info [at] irismarsh.com
Request Your Booking
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