What does ‘historical believability’ mean?

In the historical fiction community, there is often a debate between historical accuracy and creative license. Wherever you lie in this argument, you can’t write a completely accurate novel because, then, you’d be writing a non-fiction book. I offer a ‘historical believability’ check, meaning I will check that your story seems like it could happen in the time period you have set your novel in and that nothing is obviously out of place.

What is the difference between developmental editing and manuscript critiquing?

Both developmental editing and manuscript critiquing focus on the big-picture issues, but developmental editing is much more in-depth. My manuscript critiques provide more general feedback. For instance, in a manuscript critique, I might say there are issues with pacing, but, in a developmental edit, I would suggest ways you can rework the scenes to fix this. If you are unsure which service you need, reach out to me.

Do I need developmental editing?

I always recommend getting a developmental edit done regardless of whether you plan to traditionally or self-publish. There is so much competition out there that you need your manuscript to be as strong as possible to stand out, and the sad reality is that traditional publishers will not take on a manuscript that needs a lot of work, no matter how fantastic the premise. Getting a developmental editing will ensure that there are no major issues with your manuscript.