Writing Pursuits Premier Services
First Chapter Analysis
$249 $149
A great way to get started.
Up to 5,000 words.
Book Coaching
$199
Up to 5,000 words per session.
Story Diagnostic
$1,499
Up to 60,000 words.
$275 for each additional 10,000 words.
Other Services
SUBSTANTIVE EDITING
Substantive editing concentrates on the big picture of a completed manuscript. Notes are provided to the author, but no changes are made directly to the manuscript.
See the FAQs below for more.
LINE EDITING
Line editing is the polishing step. The major revisions are complete. This is a time-intensive process, and if your story is not ready, paying for a line edit is a huge waste of money. If your manuscript is complete, you may submit it for appraisal. If accepted, you will receive a free sample edit and an estimate.
COPY EDITING
A copy edit should come after you make your last revisions following the line edit because new errors are introduced during the revision process. A copy edit focuses on eliminating the “PUGS”—errors in Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling. I do not usually accept copy editing jobs these days.
PROOFREADING
Proofreading is an essential step that comes after your book is formatted, when you have your proof copy ready to be published. Formatting involves touching the document, and errors creep in. I do not usually accept proofreading jobs these days.
Services FAQs
The First Chapter Rubric is a way to evaluate the first chapter of your novel and is based on the Story Rubric created by J. Thorn. You can try it for yourself by downloading it from here. Want my input? Sign up for the First Chapter Analysis service above.
The Story Rubric is simply a means of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a manuscript including: Genre, Character, Worldbuilding, Wants & Needs, Showing vs. Telling, Passive Voice, Theme, and The Three Cs.
The Story Rubric, created by J. Thorn, is used by all Three Story Method Certified Editors to streamline the editing and revision process for short and long form fiction.
The Story Diagnostic is the featured service at Writing Pursuits. It is based on the Three Story Method, created by J. Thorn, and only offered by Three Story Method Certified Editors. Get an unbiased assessment of your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses through a comprehensive Story Rubric.
The assessment covers:
Character (characterization, dialogue, protagonist’s wants and needs, character arc)
Genre (expectations, setting/world building)
Style (emotional tone, theme, pacing)
Mechanics (showing vs. telling, passive voice, other issues)
Plot
Conflict
Choice
Consequence
No edits are made directly to your document.
The Story Diagnostic service includes:
Thoughtful read through of entire manuscript
Completed Story Rubric (see Services)
Unlimited follow-up email communication
Recorded 60-minute Zoom or Google Meet call
Free digital download of THREE STORY METHOD
Guaranteed completion in 60 days or less
A substantive edit tackles the big issues to help you avoid spending money on a line edit before your story is ready. No edits are made directly to your document, but comments may be inserted to aid communication.
The editor will act as a consultant on your project’s premise, content, and organization, including the following topics: character, plot, setting, point of view, theme, and style.
Entire scenes and chapters may need to be rearranged, rewritten, or eliminated. This step is critical to the future success of your novel. If you have experienced critique partners, then you may have garnered most of the benefits of a substantive edit. If there’s any doubt about the end result, don’t just hope for the best. Devote the necessary funds to this process.
Unless otherwise stated, my hourly rate is $50 USD.
Line edits are available on a case-by-case basis. Many manuscripts are not ready for a line edit; my goal is to save clients from spending money on this service before the foundational work is done. No incomplete manuscripts will be accepted.
Unfortunately, I do not. I have worked successfully with writers from the US, the UK, and Canada.
All work is invoiced through PayPal in US Dollars. PayPal processes many forms of payment. For most projects, half of the estimate is due before work begins.
Testimonials
** Writing Pursuits LLC was formerly known as Word Marker Edits.
Is your first chapter ready?
Be confident!
What if you had a resource to help you figure out the strengths and weaknesses of your first chapter? An objective, informative rubric to go by?
If your first chapter doesn’t work for the reader, then you probably have lost a customer for life. Or a chance signing an agent and getting published.
Don’t leave things to chance.
This rubric will help you identify the problem areas in your first chapter and figure out how to fix them.
Be ready for queries. Be ready for readers. Get the results you dream about.



Writing Pursuits, Since 2014
Prepare your story for the journey ahead.
Kathrese McKee has been editing fiction since 2014. Writing Pursuits, formerly Word Marker Edits, is here for the long haul. When you type The End, it’s only the beginning. From first chapter to last, let an experienced editor with solid references help you polish your manuscript.
