Book Editing Services

From working with New York Times & USA Today bestselling authors as a former Literary Agent at New Leaf Literary & Media, to teaching craft courses at SCBWI, Columbia University, Yale University, Writer’s Digest, and Horror Writers Association, I am passionate about bringing stories to life.

With over 10+ years of editorial experience, I've had the pleasure of working on award-winning and bestselling fiction including The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (Macmillan), Destroy All Monsters by Jeff Jackson (FSG), Frost Blood by Elly Blake (Hachette), Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige, and They Come in All Colors by Malcolm Hansen (Simon & Schuster), among others.

I enjoy editing both Adult and Children’s fiction, with an affinity for fantasy, magical realism, mystery, horror, historical, crossover, and science fiction. I love stories with epic world-building, a strong perspective, quirky humor, and/or a strong voice.

I approach editing with an eye for detail, a sense of humor, and a determination to help shape your story into the best possible version. I see my editorial role as a two-way partnership and strive to be transparent, proactive, approachable, and candid.

 

“I trust Jaida implicitly. Her taste level is beyond reproach, and her love for story shines through in everything she touches.”

— Kim Liggett, New York Times and internationally bestselling author

 
 

“I came to rely on Jaida’s open enthusiasm, gentle diplomacy, and readiness to brainstorm and problem-solve. She gave me an unfailing sense of being supported through the thorny process of finding my path through the weeds in my manuscripts.”

— Elly Blake, New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author

 

Services

Developmental Edit

As the most comprehensive editorial service, a Developmental Edit addresses core craft elements such as plotting, world building, pacing, character development, voice, dialogue, and marketability. A Developmental Edit also includes page-level notes, directly in the manuscript via Track Changes in Word. Here I point out specific examples on a scene-by-scene basis that correlate to overarching notes in the Dev Editorial Letter. I do not offer Developmental Edits for partial or incomplete manuscripts.

Developmental Edit Deliverables:

  • Editorial letter

  • In-manuscript margin comments and edits 

  • Commentary and recommendations on marketability and positioning

  • Pre- and post-editorial consultation calls

Editorial Letter

Also referred to as a "manuscript evaluation" or a “manuscript critique”, an Editorial Letter is a big-picture evaluation of your novel. Similar to a Dev Edit, notes are personalized to the manuscript and address a variety of core craft elements such as plot, structure, pacing, character development, voice, dialogue, setting, and/or world-building. I do not offer Editorial Letters for partial or incomplete manuscripts.

Editorial Letter Deliverables:

  • Editorial letter

  • Pre- and post-editorial consultation calls

QUERY submission prep

Querying literary agents is an exciting—yet daunting—process. This critique focuses on teasing out the ‘hook’ and pitch of your novel, highlighting key character arcs, effectively establishing stakes/obstacles, and optimizing comparative titles, genre identification, and personalization opportunities. Note: this service may only be booked as an add-on to the above editorial services.

Query Submission Deliverables:

  • In-document comments and corrections in Word via Track Changes

  • 1-page editorial memo of macro-level recommendations

  • Pre- and post-editorial consultation calls

Consultation

Not sure where to start? Want to talk submission strategy? Confused about the business side of books? Contact me for a consultation, where you can speak with me at an hourly rate about all of your book publishing questions.

Rates

Rates vary depending on the needs of the project. To get an idea of standard industry rates for editorial services as compiled by the Editorial Freelancers Association, click here.

Disclaimer: working with me does not guarantee a contract from an agent or publisher, nor will I put you in touch with an agent or publisher. All services described are offered on a freelance basis only and I make no claim to represent any publisher or other business with which I may have an affiliation or relationship.