The Obsidian Quill
Fiction Editing
Services & Pricing
I Beta-Reader Report ($5 per 1000 words of your manuscript):
For writers who need a professional analysis of their manuscript's pros and cons, but can fix the issues themselves. A per-chapter, per-character detailed feedback of the manuscript, which includes these in one document:1. General Impressions: plot summary, theme of the story, what a reader likes and dislikes about the book;2. A Reader's Journey: memorability of characters, comments on each chapter, the most engaging parts VS the parts where a reader might stop reading;3. Reader Insights: perceived genre, original and/or cliché elements, what a reader might expect from a sequel.Estimated Time: 2 Weeks.
II Developmental Editing+ ($15 per 1000 words of your manuscript):
For writers who need someone to identify BOTH the problems and the solutions. This is a holistic package that contains developmental editing and a non-intrusive, directional guide on prose, and consists of the following three documents:1. Editorial Letter:
(1) Introduction: overall evaluation on the manuscript, an elevator pitch, strengths and highlights, top-priority changes to make;
(2) Structural Analysis: plots & conflicts, tensions and pacing;
(3) Character Development: arcs and agencies of main characters and quality of supporting characters;
(4) Worldbuilding: atmosphere, consistency and immersion of the stage of the story--not just for sci-fis and fantasies, it's important for other genres as well (think how a detective noir's New York should feel totally different from a romcom's);
(5) Tone, Voice, and Point of View (POV): perspective shifts, character voices, quality of dialogues;
(6) Themes: whether the vision or the moral of the story is coherent, relevant and properly conveyed;
(7) Roadmap: detailed action plan on how you should tackle the suggested revisions.2. Style Guide:
A macro-level assessment on the prose and style of the manuscript, specifically focused on how well the writing works for the story and suggestions on how to improve, referencing specific lines from the manuscript as examples.3. Noted manuscript:
The manuscript with inline comments.Estimated Time: 1 Month.
III Line Editing ($5 per 1000 words of your manuscript):
For writers who don't need structural changes and just want prose improvements. It reviews a manuscript sentence-by-sentence to improve style, flow, clarity, overall impact, and will be delivered in a noted manuscript with inline comments on:1. Sentence Structure: fixing clunky, awkward, or confusing sentences to make the prose smooth and readable.2. Word Choice: replacing weak verbs, clichés, and vague terms with precise and vivid vocabulary.3. Pacing and Rhythm: adjusting sentence and paragraph lengths to build tension or emotional weight.4. Tone and Voice: ensuring a consistent narrative voice while removing unintended shifts in mood.5. Repetition: cutting filler words, redundant phrases, and overused tics.Estimated Time: 1 Month.
What Clients Say...
"Leona provided a beta reading report for my 74k-word literary fiction manuscript. The report was broken down into separate sections, which included a chapter-by-chapter breakdown that provided extremely valuable insights. Her feedback was thorough and professional, providing specific details and reader impressions that were exactly what I needed to help see my manuscript more clearly. And all of this was done in a very quick and reasonable turnaround time. For future manuscripts, I will definitely return to Leona as a trusted beta reader."
--Jay, Literary Cult Fiction
"I worked with Leona for her beta reading services, and I would highly recommend her for your beta reading/editing needs. She kept me updated throughout the process without being asked and finished the project in a timely manner. Her beta reading report was thorough, and her critical feedback was worded in a kind but honest manner. She is open-minded to unusual manuscripts and provided personalized advice relevant to my project and my goals rather than parroting cookie cutter writing tips. I would highly recommend her for any writer!"
--Casey, Dark Romantasy
Who's Holding The Quill?
Hi, this is Leona, a writer-witch and a corporate defector.I've fallen in love with literature since I picked up The Count of Monte Cristo (my first book ever) at the 7th Grade. While I never gave up reading and writing as a hobby, I ended up spending most of my adult life climbing the career ladder like most boring white-collars.Now that I actually have the freedom to do so, I want to pivot away from money chasing and do something I find meaningful for a living. Hence The Obsidian Quill.This is also why I price and design my editing service the way it is. I will not be able to take on many projects at once, but I can keep it affordable and make sure I'm truly invested in every book that passes through my hands. After all if I'm looking to get rich I would've stayed in my old profession :)
My Unique Edge
You might wonder: why should I go with you, an editor whose main academic and professional backgrounds are not in literature? Because I have specialities that editors who are only in the publishing industry do not possess:1. I hold a Master in Management degree from a top European business school and have 3+ years of experience in management consulting. While I left resenting the corporate sphere (therefore the career pivot), it did give me insights into business and politics that will be valuable to you if your novel contains corporate or political thriller elements.2. I've also been an occult practitioner for over 10 years (non-profit, it's just part of my private life), and read a wide range of academic works on esotericism, theology and real-world cults. If your book has supernatural elements, fictional religions or cults, and magical systems, and you don't want them to read like pop-culture tropes, then my knowledge will come in handy.
I'm The Perfect Editor If Your Fiction:
1. Is more on the literary or classical side;
2. Or has a unique, distinct vision instead of just following market trends;
3. Or has something to say about human conditions and the world at large;
4. Or is thought-provoking;
5. Or has dark, dystopian, gothic, macabre elements.
Get In Touch
Please use the form below to inquire about my availability and request a sample edit. I will let you know whether or not I'm a good fit for your project.The sample edit is free and will be of the first chapter of your manuscript (e.g. if you want a beta reader report, it will be a beta reader report of your first chapter).Try to give me as much info as you can about your manuscript: a summary, if it has been edited before, whether you are looking to self-publish or submit to traditional publishers, your expectations of the book (commercial success, literary accomplishment, etc.). It will help me decide if I'm the right editor, and editorial standards can vary widely depending on these factors.Please note that I might turn your manuscript down after reading the plot summary or the first chapter. This is because writing and reading are both highly subjective, and if I don't feel like I resonate with your vision, I'd rather turn it down instead of pretending to understand it just to get your business.
Done!
I will respond in 48 hours.
My Commitments
1. No plagerism, and your manuscript will stay confidential with me.2. No AI. There is currently no definitive way to prove if something is written by AI, but a version history of my work document will be available upon request.3. To ensure the quality of my editing, I do not actively work on more than 2 books at the same time.4. Transparent pricing--I charge exactly what's listed on the website.5. While the length of my work will differ depending on how long or complex your book is, it will always cover every item listed for that particular service.6. I respect your authorial voice. Unlike many editors who will make your manuscript unrecognisable through aggressive line editing, or give you cookie-cutter, one-standard-fits-all suggestions, I do my best to cater to your style and vision instead of making it another generic, mass-market slop.