“I handed [Cristen] a mess, and [she] created structure and an actual, readable book.”
“Thank you for helping me in the most profoundly professional and inspired collaboration.”
“After 15+ years in publishing, I can say that Cristen sets the gold standard for freelance editing.”
“Cristen Iris is the embodiment of excellence, grace, and humility.”
“[Cristen] is a wonderfully precise thinker.”
“Outstandingly informative.”
I specialize in working with high achievers on commercially viable projects.
I help clients craft high-value nonfiction projects, memoirs that read like novels, and novels that move like films.
For film-related creative consulting and collaborative writing, please contact me for more information.
Ghostwriting and book collaboration are two industry terms used to describe the same service. As your ghostwriters/book collaborator, I take your ideas and stories and shape them into a book that matches your vision and voice.
Full Manuscript Ghostwriting + Book Proposal $44,000-58,000 (rate negotiable based on "with" status and considered on a project-by-project basis)
Co-Writing + Book Proposal $23,000-34,000
Start to First Draft Delivery: 4-6 months
As a book doctor, I diagnose problems and treat mangled manuscripts. I bring order to chaos, replacing stress with solace.
Book doctoring lives in the space between developmental editing and ghostwriting.
Book Doctoring + Book Proposal $24,000-34,000 (rate negotiable based on "with" status and considered on a project-by-project basis)
Start to First Draft Delivery: 3-5 months
As your developmental editor, I review your complete manuscript and make revision recommendations to help you craft a commercially viable book.
Developmental Editing $4,000-6,000 (rate based on genre, word count, and required turn-around time)
Developmental Editing + Book Proposal Consulting $7,000-9,000
Project Launch to Delivery: varies based on scope and author engagement
For authors who aspire to be traditionally published, I offer results-oriented book proposal writing. I designed this service specifically for authors who plan to write their own book but want a professional writer to jumpstart the writing process. (Book proposals typically contain 2 sample chapters.)
$5,000-6,000
As your developmental editor, I review your complete manuscript and make revision recommendations to help you craft a commercially viable novel.
Developmental Editing + Query Letter Consulting $5,300-7,300 (rate based on genre, word count, and required turn-around time)
Project Launch to Delivery: 1 month
I offer query letter and sample pages reviews for debut novelists who aspire to be traditionally published.
Query Letter + First 50 Pages Review $2,000
Project Launch to Delivery: 1 week
"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
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A literary agent recently said, "I'm glad [client] worked with you to hone the proposal because the hard work shows and cohesiveness shows." (October 2021)
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According to client Steve Adelman, "The first major acquisition editor who saw my book proposal commented, 'For a first time author, this certainly is not a first time proposal.'"
Can you help me find a literary agent or publisher? Yes. I see myself as a literary matchmaker. If I know an agent who I think is a great fit for you and you for them, I will pitch your project directly to them.
Can you help me with marketing and promotion? Absolutely. A big part of any book proposal is the marketing plan section. We'll be discussing this from day 1. The execution of the plan is up to you, but I'm here to help with strategic planning and to offer as-needed advice for the life of your book.
If you ghost- or co-write my book, do you own the copyright? No. I'll be doing work for hire. You own your copyright.
Do you work on commission? Rarely. But if you're already contracted with a literary agent or publisher, we can discuss payment in the form of a percentage of your advance and book royalties.
Do you offer straight hourly rate consulting? I offer a 1.5-hour stand-alone consultation for $350 and take on hourly rate clients on a case by case-by-case basis.
Narrative Nonfiction: human rights/equality; animal rights/veganism; evidence-based medicine/plant-based diet; epidemiology and medical anthropology; environmentalism/sustainability; film, television, pop culture; sports; science; technology; personal and professional development; legal; disability and neurodiversity
Academic-to-Trade Crossovers: anthropology, psychology, sociology, neurology
Memoir: celebrity and high impact, platform driven
Fiction: literary and upmarket
PLEASE NOTE: The services above reflect my current rates and ways of doing things. I reserve the right to change my rates, services, and processes as the market changes and I find more effective ways of getting results for my clients.
