Anneliese Kamola
Anneliese Kamola
author, editor, writing coach

christin-hume-Hcfwew744z4-unsplash.jpg
 

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING SERVICES

I specialize in adult nonfiction and memoir with a focus on women’s stories of identity: the body, sexuality, and somatics; family dynamics, addictions, personal and generational trauma; and wilderness, intuition, expression, and healing.

I work with authors who have completed a book manuscript and need help finding the synergy between the story’s structure and meaning. We engage in the (often) messy, frustrating, and surprising process of articulating the cohesive message. Writers who flourish with me are ready to invest the time, growing pains, and finances for publication. They are self-motivated and willing to receive substantive feedback and encouragement, and the work we do is often transformative for the narrator on the page and the writer.

I blend what I know from 25+ years studying the creative process and storytelling with my particular knacks for organization, message, and exquisite craft. I keep my focus on developing meaning, clarifying themes, strengthening the plot arc, crafting characters and setting, and reorganizing structure. My superpower is how I listen and ask questions: I keep my intuition focused on what is ‘underneath’ the writer’s words—that which is not yet articulated but ready to be shared.

I offer three kinds of services: Manuscript Evaluations, Developmental Editing & Coaching, and “Story Whispering” Coaching Sessions—please see below.

I do accept the occasional fictional story or self-help depending on the message—if this is your case, let’s have a conversation to see if we are a fit. I do not offer in-depth line or copy editing at this time. If we are not a good working fit, or if you are needing line or copy editing, I am happy to refer you forward to another editor.

If you have general questions or are interested in working with me, do not hesitate to reach out, I would love to hear from you.

 
 

Manuscript Evaluation

$4/page

I work with writers who have completed their manuscript and are looking for big-picture feedback about what to do next on their journey towards publication.

  • We begin with an initial conversation with the writer about their intention for the book’s message.

  • Then I read through the entire manuscript and create a document. My written feedback includes what works in regards to the parts of effective writing (plot, character, scenic depiction, time, pacing, arc, etc.), what is not yet working, and an overview of next steps for what to do next based on the writer’s goals.

  • I email my report back to the writer so they can review and gather questions.

  • Then we meet for 60 minutes via Zoom or phone to review questions, discuss next steps, and a plan for completion, which may be individual work or may be developmental editing and coaching (see below).

    Please Note: If the conversations continue longer than 60 minutes, I charge the call as a Coaching Session (see below).

These evaluations are like jet-fuel. They combine my coaching skills with my eye for the overall story, and clients consistently leave feeling oriented, inspired, and prepared for the next step.

This process usually takes 1-2 months, based on my schedule.

 
 

Monthly Developmental Editing & Coaching

In my monthly editing and coaching work, I hold both the eagle-vision big picture as well as the mouse-view details for the smaller building blocks of a good story. I guide the writer through:

  • Organizing and streamlining the plot line

  • Adjusting pace in order to craft tension, create emphasis, and build emotional connection

  • Developing characters through description and dialogue

  • Strengthening setting, tone, and details

  • Articulating personal and universal themes

  • Drawing forward the writer’s Voice as an author, through humor, word choice, and sentence structure

When our developmental edits are complete, I will refer the client forward to a line and copy editor and/or an agent or independent/hybrid press.

I offer three different tiers of developmental editing and coaching—please see the differences below. Contact me for prices, as rates depend on the project.

Deluxe Coaching

Includes: 5.5 hours of hands-on editing per week (22 hours/month), four 45-minute meetings OR two 1.5 hour meetings, 3 hours of administrative (emails between sessions + behind-the-scenes admin time)

The first month of a developmental edit process, the author and I begin with a manuscript evaluation (see above) to determine what is working and what is not. We take time in deep conversation to get crystal clear on intention, message, and structure. From there we make a plan for what we decide needs to happen to make the story sing.

For the following months, we execute our plan.

  • The writer submits up to 37 pages (9,250 words) per week, which I then edit.

  • We meet for 1.5 hours on Zoom two times a month to discuss my edits and do any necessary collaborative problem-solving.

  • I then return the manuscript to the writer and they submit the next 9,250 words.

This is not a journey for the faint of heart! Every person with whom I have worked has learned and grown as an individual—beyond their writing. I listen deeply and ask a lot of questions. My goal is to help an author articulate what they are hungering to say. Sometimes new emotional material comes up for a writer; this is normal, and to a certain extent it is welcome in our coaching sessions. However I do recommend writers, especially memoirists, have outside emotional support available if needed, be it a therapist or several highly trusted friends.

When our developmental edits are complete, I will refer the client forward to a line and copy editor and/or an agent or independent/hybrid press.

Standard Coaching

Includes: 2 hours of hands-on editing per week (8 hours/month), two 45-minute meetings, 1.5 hours of administrative (emails between sessions + behind-the-scenes admin time)

I recommend starting out with a manuscript evaluation as well (see above) to determine what is working and what is not. We take time in deep conversation to get crystal clear on intention, message, and structure. From there we make a plan for what we decide needs to happen to make the story sing.

For the following months, we execute our plan.

  • The writer submits up to 15 pages (3,750 words) per week, which I then edit.

  • We meet for 45 minutes on Zoom two times a month to discuss my edits and do any necessary collaborative problem-solving.

  • I then return the manuscript to the writer and they submit the next 3,750 words.

Light Coaching

Includes: 3.5 hours of hands-on editing per session, one 45-minute meeting, 30 mins of administrative (emails between sessions + behind-the-scenes admin time)

This is a great option for people on a tighter budget, who have more time, and are willing to move at a slower pace OR for folks who only need part of their manuscript workshopped.

While I always recommend starting out with a manuscript evaluation as well (see above) to determine what is working and what is not, we can also jump into the project based on an initial conversation. Please note that in this case, I will do my best to get crystal clear on your intention, message, and structure, but without hands-on experience I may miss some details.

  • The writer submits up to 23 pages (5,750 words) per month, which I edit.

  • We meet for 45 minutes on Zoom once a month to discuss my edits and do any necessary collaborative problem-solving.

  • I then return the manuscript to the writer, and they submit their next piece the following month (or sooner, depending on my schedule).

 
 

“Story Whispering” Coaching Session

$120/hour

Sometimes writers just need laser-focused ears, eyes, and heart for getting their story moving again, be it because something is not working in the plot, the theme, their personal lives, or more. I bring my attention, attunement, intuition, and vast network of resources together to coach writers through the process getting unstuck.

 
 

 Editorial Publications