Hi. I’m delighted that you’re interested in working with me (or recommending my services to others).
If you’d like to learn more about book writing and editing before deciding which option is best for you at this stage of your author journey, check out my deep dive in this blog post: “The 5 Types of Book Editing Every Author and Editor Needs to Understand”
Manuscript Editing
This is my deepest analysis and most comprehensive level of editorial feedback:
- project launch questionnaire
- 20-minute virtual project questionnaire review and launch meeting (w/recording and transcript)
- 2 manuscript read throughs
- in-line notes of varying levels of detail
- multi-page editing report, including:
- general notes related to each of the 7 Critical Writing Craft Competencies (the fundamentals of substance, structure, and style) with examples and in-line notes copied and pasted from your manuscript for context
- chapter-by-chapter or scene-by-scene overview notes (quick first impressions)
- individualized, strengths-based solutions to the most critical problems identified
- clearly articulated next steps to help you overcome analysis paralysis or fear
- an Aware Author Resource Packet (folder) that includes:
- up to 3 custom video tutorials to help pull concepts together and present feedback in a different way for layered learning
- glossary of key words, phrases, and concepts
- quick-reference style guide
- and a customized list of external resources to help you fill information and skill gaps
- 30-minute virtual delivery meeting to help ease you into my feedback and answer any additional questions that may have come up since project launch (w/recording and transcript)
- additional 45-minute multi-topic Q&A and brainstorming session within 3 months of feedback delivery (w/recording and transcript)
up to 80k-100k words $60/1,000 words ($4,400 minimum fee)
100-110k words $70/1,000 words
4-5 weeks
This is a deep-level analysis you might think of as a light substantive edit. It’s the most popular option among my clients who are already represented by a literary agent or have secured a traditional publishing deal and those who aspire to be traditionally published or compete against traditionally published authors..
- project launch questionnaire
- 15-minute virtual project questionnaire review and launch meeting
- 1 manuscript read through & 1 follow-up quick read
- multi-page editing report, including:
- general notes related to each of the 7 Critical Writing Craft Competencies (the fundamentals of substance, structure, and style) with a few examples from your draft
- individualized, strengths-based solutions to the most critical problems identified
- clearly articulated next steps to help you overcome analysis paralysis or fear
- an Aware Author Resource Packet (folder) that includes:
- glossary of key words, phrases, and concepts
- quick-reference style guide
- and a general list of external resources to help you fill information and skill gaps
- 20-minute virtual delivery meeting to help ease you into my feedback and answer any additional questions that may have come up since project launch (w/recording and transcript)
up to 80k-100k words $45/1,000 words ($4,400 minimum fee)
100-110k words $50/1,000 words
3-4 weeks
This is a popular option for both inexperienced writers and seasoned authors.
It’s a cost-effective way for uninitiated writers/aspiring authors to get a feel for their level of craft and a cost-effective way for seasoned authors to have a qualified professional give their draft one more look before pitching their project or delivering a tight draft to their literary agent or publisher or moving forward toward self-publishing.
- project launch questionnaire
- 1 read through of your manuscript
- a few in-line comments
- 2-3 paragraph summary of my analysis and general revision/next steps recommendations
up to 80k words $17/1,000 words ($1,200 minimum fee)
80-100k words $20/1,000 words
5-10 business days
Sensitivity reading is baked into everything I do because your perspective and the way you characterize individuals and groups are embedded in the structure of your manuscript.
If you have general questions or concerns, I invite you to book a consultation. See session options below.
Query Letter & Book Proposal Reviews
A query letter is often the only chance you’ll get to grab the attention of an individual literary agent or acquisition editor, and a book proposal (including sample chapters) is your full pitch to potential investors.
The importance of demonstrating your grasp of the book publishing industry, where you and your book fit in it, and your level of competence/competitiveness cannot be understated.
So, for best results, I prefer to go in cold—no project launch questionnaire, no get-to-know-each-other call. We do it as close to real-world conditions as possible.
A bit intimidating? Yes. That’s by design.
This dress rehearsal and the deep level feedback and recommendations I’ll provide (including a note about where and why I would have stopped reading if I were an agent or editor) will give you more confidence when you do start pitching for real.
$2,200 (up to 65 double-spaced pages)
5-7 business days
A query letter is often the only chance you’ll get to grab the attention of an individual literary agent or acquisition editor.
So, for best results, I prefer to go in cold—no project launch questionnaire, no get-to-know-each-other call. We do it as close to the real-world process as possible.
A bit intimidating? Yes. That’s by design.
This dress rehearsal and the deep level feedback and recommendations I’ll provide (including a note about where and why I would have stopped reading if I were an agent or editor) will give you more confidence when you do start pitching for real.
$500.00
2-4 business days
As-Needed Coaching-Consulting Sessions
This service is great if you’re looking for an option that’s high value, budget friendly, pop in when you need me, and pay as you go.
All paid sessions include the video meeting recording and transcript, typically delivered within 24 hours.
The Aware ApproachTM SPECIAL LAUNCH PRICING for Sessions Booked in May
1-hour $100 (regular price $250)
1.5 hours $125 (regular price $300)
Cristen’s Project Preferences & Specialties
Trade Nonfiction & Academic-Trade Crossover Nonfiction
- personal and professional development
- critical thinking, intellectual integrity, civil discourse
- public policy, law, human rights, social issues
- science and medicine/medical practice, evidence-based medicine, epidemiology, medical anthropology, medical history
- disability and neurodiversity/especially autism, ADHD, and AuDHD (from the lived experience and social model of disability perspectives)
- art and culture criticism (intersectional critical analysis—literature, film, culture/politics, philosophy)
- psychology and psychiatry/mental health (from an inclusive, social model of disability perspective)
- anthropology, culture, multiculturalism
- religious fundamentalism and political extremism
- film, music, sports/entertainment (craft/skill development)
Commercial Memoir
- traditional story arc structure (character driven)
- essay collection structure
Literary and Upmarket Fiction
- novels
- novellas
- short story collections
Literary Agent & Client Testimonials
“After 15+ years in publishing, I can say that Cristen sets the gold standard for freelance editing. She recently worked with us on a client’s memoir proposal, including an extensive amount of co-writing of sample chapters. From the start of the process, I was highly impressed with her writing, her ideas, and just how much organization and inspiration she brought to the project. Her writing was beautiful, clear, and very true to the author's unique voice. Collaborating with her has been a joy for both author and agent. She had tremendous impact on this project, and we will look forward to working with her on many more, given our experience.”
–Lilly Ghahremani, JD, MBA, literary agent and co-founder of Full Circle Literary
“Cristen is the most BRILLIANT editor I have ever worked with. Her editorial comments on my novel ... helped me recognize several patterns in my writing style, both good and bad. She has an eye for what good writing should read like, and every single comment she made was 100% accurate. That kind of editing is a gift that few people possess. She will always be my go-to editor.”
–Etaf Rum, then debut novelist of A Woman Is No Man who went on to secure agent representation, a 6-figure contract with HarperCollins, and became a New York Times bestselling author
“When I came to Cristen as a first-time author, I had what could best be described as a book outline with a few chapters written. She was quickly able to develop a structure behind my work, directing my efforts down a clear, constructive path. Just as important, she provided what I imagine all authors need: an experienced industry professional to discuss ideas with and guide one through the often-challenging process of not only completing the book you have the potential to write, but a proposal as well. As the first major acquisition editor who saw my book proposal commented, ‘For a first-time author, this certainly is not a first-time proposal.’ Simply put, without Cristen as my editor I would never have the opportunities in front of me that I do today.”
Steve Adelman, co-founder of the Avalon Nightlife brand worldwide and author of Nocturnal Admissions: Behind the Scenes of Tunnel, Limelight, Avalon, and Other Legendary Nightclubs (Santa Monica Press)
“I cannot speak highly enough about Cristen Iris as a developmental editor. Six months before my manuscript was due to my publisher, I started working with her. I gave Cristen a monstrosity of a draft that was refusing to yield into the meaningful book that I knew it could be. I had been working on the draft for a year. It was over 30% longer than I had promised my publisher and had major problems with redundancy and presenting complex concepts. The feedback Cristen provided gave me a clear vision on how to restructure the manuscript and to simplify my presentation of information. She provided a detailed letter addressing specific questions I had posed to her as well as other insights she had about the manuscript. Cristen also shared notes on each of the chapters and the manuscript that was marked up with comments. Perhaps the most valuable feedback was several hours of videos that Cristen provided about my manuscript. Watching them was like taking a master class that tailored for me. I have learned so much through working with Cristen, and my manuscript is turning into the meaningful book I had envisioned.”
–Lisa Schelbe, PhD, Associate Professor Florida State University, College of Social Work and author of Some Type of Way: Aging Out of Foster Care (Oxford University Press)
“It was a privilege to work with Cristen. She is a highly knowledgeable editor and a wonderfully precise thinker. Her skill, commitment to excellence, and ability to understand my intent, inhabit it, and articulate it improved my manuscript tremendously…”
–Heather Sears, founder of Kinsho Kitchen and author of Mind to Mouth: A Busy Chick's Guide to Mindful Mealtime Moments
“Cristen has proven to be a critical component of my manuscript preparation. She executed her role with professionalism, which includes timeliness and integrity. I tend to be direct when I talk, and she worked well with that. She wasn’t afraid to be critical where and when appropriate and didn’t hesitate to acknowledge when her initial comments may have been off a bit. There are two things I wanted from a developmental editor that I found in her:
- She identified things I would never have been able to identify and was able to help me see and understand them.
- She helped me resolve several internal conflicts I was having with how to do certain things. The value of that cannot be underestimated.
Shortly after I began processing her edits, I told her I felt like I should have paid her more. I was blessed (or lucky if you prefer) to have found her.”
–Larry Mandelberg, consultant, speaker, and author of Businesses Don’t Fail. They Commit Suicide: How to Survive Success and Thrive in Good Times and Bad
“Through a series of phone calls, well, more like countless times of me bugging Cristen, she always greeted me with grace, kindness, and at times mercy…. Anyone who, whether a professional or a novice like me, is looking for some help and assistance with writing, your one stop is Cristen Iris. It’s an over-stated cliche, but I literally could not have done this without her. I had a beat and a concept, but she helped make it solid.”
–Billy Kilson, 2x GRAMMY Award® winning drummer and author of The Solid Beat Concept: A Modern Method for Musical Advancement (Authority Publishing)
“I just wanted to thank you once again for your notes on my manuscript. I can’t begin to tell you what a significant difference your thoughts made on my ability to tweak the writing and take it to a new level. Your advice was, I felt, so spot-on and I really just can’t thank you enough. All this time I’ve been sending to agents and editors and hearing, ‘I like it but I’m not connecting,’ with no thoughts on what they’re not connecting with or how to fix it. Yours was the first real advice I’ve been given and I’m just beside myself.”
—C.H. Armstrong, author of Roam (Cathie subsequently secured a traditional publishing contract with Central Avenue Publishing and is now a literary agent herself.)
