Writing Pursuits Premier Services

First Chapter Analysis

$249 $149

A great way to get started.

Up to 5,000 words.


  • Thoughtful read through of your first chapter
  • Completed First Chapter Rubric
  • 60-minute Zoom call to discuss your chapter
  • 30 days of follow-up email communication

Book Coaching

$199

Up to 5,000 words per session.


  • 60-minute Zoom call to discuss your manuscript
  • Recording of Zoom call for your reference
  • Thoughtful read of your chapters, scenes, or outlines
  • Topics we may discuss include: characterization, genre expectations, world building, Three Cs, and more.

Story Diagnostic

$1,499

Up to 60,000 words.

$275 for each additional 10,000 words.


  • Thoughtful read through of entire manuscript
  • Completed Story Rubric (See FAQ below.)
  • 60-minute Zoom call to discuss your manuscript
  • Audio and video recording of Zoom call
  • Unlimited follow-up email communication
  • Free digital download of THREE STORY METHOD
  • Guaranteed completion in 60 days or less.

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


I would recommend her to any author who wants to produce a high-quality reader experience.

I’ve worked with Kathrese on three projects. Each time she amazed me with her ability to strengthen my prose, catch details I’ve missed, and enhance the impact of my stories while staying true to their heart. She’s also incredibly organized and thorough, so I can rest easy knowing my manuscripts are in such great hands. I would recommend her to any author who wants to produce a high-quality reader experience.
Kaylin Lee
The Destined Series

I recommend her work!

Kathrese at Word Marker Edits** is professional and thorough. She brings her experience to help you make your story better. She explains the reasoning behind her edits so that you grow in your writing craft. I recommend her work! 
Tricia Mingerink
Beyond the Tales series

Professional and precise the entire time.

I appreciate your work so much. Not once did it feel personal. Professional and precise the entire time, and I was able to apply the work with greater ease than with previous edits. 
L.A. Thornhill
The King and Prophet Chronicles

I highly recommend 
her services.

Kathrese has served as the editor for two of my books and I can truly say she has helped me
“prepare my story for the journey ahead”. Besides bringing her expertise to my writing projects, 
Kathrese also exhibits enthusiasm and encouragement during the process. I highly recommend 
her services.
Marilyn Peveto
When Your Heart Endures

She’s a detail-oriented editor for writers who need a logical, linear thought process applied to their fiction.

I have given over my manuscripts and my self esteem to Kathrese, my writing and critique partner, and she miraculously improves both! Not only does she ferret out my inconsistencies and plot convolutions, but she also handles my sensitive writer’s ego with care and gentleness. She’s a detail-oriented editor for writers who need a logical, linear thought process applied to their fiction.
Laura Anderson Kurk
Glass Girl & Perfect Glass

I never want to release a title she hasn’t had her eyes on.

Kathrese blew me away with an almost superhuman attention to detail for everything from grammar to quietly lurking formatting issues. I never want to release a title she hasn’t had her eyes on.
Nancy Kimball
Chasing the Lion

I appreciated how she took the time to turn nearly every correction into a “teaching moment.”

As an indie author, I wanted to publish the best possible product, and Kathrese helped me to do just that. Her keen eyes spotted many things that I would have found in the work of others but missed in my own work because I was too engrossed in the flow of the story. I appreciated how she took the time to turn nearly every correction into a “teaching moment,”  which served to strengthen my writing skills. I will pass each of my future books in front of her detail-oriented eyes for sure!
Beth Steury
Choices Matter series

She not only found a plot hole in my suspense novel, but suggested a way to solve it.

I recommend Word Marker Edits** for your editing needs. Kathrese is knowledgeable and fun to work with. She not only found a plot hole in my suspense novel, but suggested a way to solve it. I appreciated her dedication to my story. She definitely improved it, and she’ll improve yours, too.
Mary L. Hamilton
Pendant

** Writing Pursuits LLC was formerly known as Word Marker Edits.

author at desk with title

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.


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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.