Editing & Coaching
Why work with me?
I’m a puzzler of plots, a virtuoso of voice, and a sucker for stories that pierce the heart, wallop the funny bone, or rattle readers’ thinking. Armed with an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, I’m also keen on teaching and speaking about the writing craft, and I have extensive experience as a freelance editor. I have been on conference and workshop faculty for SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the Writing Barn, Highlights Foundation, Writers League of Texas, National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and more. Some of my previous clients refer to me as their manuscript fairy godmother, which I find delightful. There is never a guarantee of publishing success, but I am happy to report that many of my previous mentees have landed agents and publishing deals.
Whether you’re looking for one-time feedback or a months-long coaching plan, I’d be delighted to work with you.
- I have unique expertise with children’s literature, but I am equally adept with adult books.
NEW! I’m now an editor for Reedsy. For more information about my offerings and availability, CONTACT ME THROUGH MY WEBSITE HERE or through my Reedsy account.
Note:
*All manuscripts must be double-spaced with one-inch margins and a standard font. Please do not send me manuscripts until invited to do so.
*I am not the best editor for sci-fi, horror, erotica
Critiques & Editing
À la carte Consultation
If you’re stuck on a story problem or bogged down in a submission, marketing, or query quagmire, I can help. We’ll spend up to an hour on a Zoom or phone call to address your questions and concerns. Optional: I will review up to 2,000 words of your manuscript ahead of our call to familiarize myself with your project(s) and your writing style. This is not an editing session.
— One 60-minute phone or Zoom call for Q&A and a review of up to 2,000 words — $100
Editorial Assessment (Better than a traditional critique)
If your manuscript is in an early stage, or if you’re looking for big-picture feedback about your overall narrative and how the component parts are working (or not) before you pay for a developmental line edit, this is the best option. After multiple readings of your manuscript, I will prepare a multi-page editorial letter with kudos for what works well and suggestions for addressing your manuscript’s specific challenges. Special attention will be paid to structure, point of view, character development, narrative arc, organization, theme, and voice. At this level, written feedback is limited to the summary letter
—Fiction picture books up to 800 words — $175 (Plus an additional $10 for each additional 100 words)
—Nonfiction picture books up to 1200 words, including or excluding back matter (your choice) — $200 (Plus an additional $10 for each additional 100 words)
—MG and YA nonfiction – CONTACT ME
—Chapter books:
Up to 5,000 words — $350
Up to 10,000 words — $450
—MG, YA, Adult Novels —Rates begin at $.020/word. CONTACT ME
Developmental edit with line-level feedback
The most comprehensive option, a developmental edit digs deeper at the line level. It is often best to postpone this kind of granular feedback until after a big picture Editorial Assessment unless I have reviewed your manuscript in advance and agree that it is ready for this edit option. After multiple readings of your manuscript, I will provide feedback via track change comments on your manuscript, with some modeling to fully illustrate my suggestions. I will also compose a multi-page letter that summarizes your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses while offering realistic encouragement. Special attention will be paid to structure, character development, point of view, narrative arc, organization, theme, and voice. You will have the option to revise and resubmit your manuscript at a reduced rate.
—Fiction picture books up to 800 words — $225 (Plus $10 for each additional 100 words)
—Nonfiction picture books up to 1200 words — $250 (Plus $10 for each additional 100 words)
—MG and YA nonfiction – CONTACT ME
—Chapter books:
Up to 5,000 words —$500
(up to 10,000 words) — $700
—MG, YA, Adult Novels —Rates begin at $.020/word. CONTACT ME
—Adult fiction and nonfiction—Rates vary. CONTACT ME
Coaching
Sometimes you need an accountability partner, cheerleader, and writing guru to help you transform your idea into a first draft or your first draft into a polished draft. Whether you’re looking for one-month or many months of coaching, we can customize a plan to fit your goals, budget, and time.
What kind of coaching would be most helpful to you? Here are some things to consider:
- Do you hope to traditionally publish or self publish?
- Do you prefer to receive editorial feedback via phone, Zoom, or written feedback?
- What kind of contact would best keep you motivated and on track: phone, Zoom, or email?
- Do you work best when you have specific deadlines?
- Do you want to be challenged with side-writing exercises to help you flesh out your story while improving your craft?
- How many manuscripts do you hope to work on during a month of coaching? What genres and formats?
- How many months of coaching would be ideal for you?
- How many times per month would you prefer to submit manuscript pages for my feedback?
- How much time do you have each week to dedicate to your writing?
- What does an ideal coaching plan look like to you?
RATES: I offer an introductory 30-minute phone or Zoom call to determine if we are a good match and to conceptualize the perfect coaching plan for you. Afterward, I will send you a rate quote, which averages between $60-$100/hour.
CONTACT ME to schedule a call or for more information
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Small Group Critique Cohort
Occasionally, I offer four-week critique workshops in which a small group of writers (max of 4 or 6), grouped by genre, receive professional written and verbal feedback from me, as well as feedback from their cohort peers. We will meet once a week via Zoom to raise pompoms for each writer’s work while offering constructive and respectful feedback. Through our private Facebook group, I will be available for a month of Q&A, resource sharing, and community. Bonus: Writers often extend their critique relationships with each other beyond our 4-week sessions.
Ghostwriting & IP Projects
Children’s books and adult books — CONTACT ME
For rates and availability, CONTACT ME HERE. Or you can contact me through Reedsy (click the logo). If I am not available to work with you and your manuscript on your schedule, I will gladly recommend other freelance editors.
Testimonials:
“Special thanks to…Donna Janell Bowman for being the best writing teacher and mentor an aspiring writer can ever wish for.” —Susan Hansen
“…your detailed feedback really did teach me a lot about my own process and approach- much more so than other writing “coaches” (professors in my grad program), so cheers for that. I will also say that you are a really good coach. You gave critical but necessary feedback that showed thought and care for my work and my person. I think it’s really easy for reviewers to pass off beginning writers as incompetent. Instead, you took the stories seriously even with their flaws which is encouraging and gave me confidence to keep going. That’s hard to do. I feel like there was a lot of room for me to ask questions, which you responded to quickly and with resources. I hope that we can keep working together.” –Katie P.
“Donna has helped me with two picture book biographies. Both experiences have been terrific. She is a careful reader with a great sense for what brings a story to life. Her comments are incisive and spot-on, but not pushy or insistent. She understands the story I am trying to tell and takes my work that extra step (or two or three) further to make it the best it can be. The value I get from my critiques with Donna is worth every penny spent.” — Audrey Ades
More Kind Words
“I’m so happy that Donna critiqued my (non-fiction) manuscript. Donna’s suggestions reinvigorated my love for this subject (unlike other critiques I’ve had that make me consider giving up completely) and helped me see my narrative in a new light. I learned so much from her questions, exercises and the overall process that I know I will use for future projects.” –Kari Lavelle (who signed with an agent 6 weeks after critique)
“One of the best ways to improve your writing is to learn from more experienced writers. If you’re looking to take your manuscript to the next level, I highly recommend purchasing a critique from Donna. Her feedback does not skimp. She dives deep into your manuscript and will help you see what’s missing by offering many suggestions for improvement. She even did a color-coded outline of my book. I’ve never received a more thorough critique! Donna’s expertise and encouragement were pivotal in my path to landing an agent.” –Kim Rogers
“The time and care that Donna took with my recent manuscript were obvious in the spot-on thoughtfulness of her editorial comments. The changes I made in response to her feedback were the ones that got this story over the hump and out on submission. Sharing that manuscript with Donna was one smart move, and it’s one that I’ll be eager to repeat.” —Chris Barton, award-winning author of THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH (Eerdmans, 2015) and WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON’S SUPER-SOAKING STREAM OF INVENTIONS (Charlesbridge, 2016), and THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS (Charlesbridge, 2009)
“I couldn’t possibly have written my debut picture book, The Youngest Marcher, without Donna’s guidance. Her expertise in structure, voice, plot development and resolution, setting, and character made all the difference. I highly recommend her critique services; they’re worth every penny.” —Cynthia Levinson, author of THE YOUNGEST MARCHER (Atheneum, 2017), WE’VE GOT A JOB: THE 1963 BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S MARCH (Peachtree, 2015), and HILARY RODHAM CLINTON: DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN (Balzer & Bray 2016)
“Donna digs in deep. Her expertise with non-fiction picture book biographies surpass the typical one-page critique. She will help you find the heart of your story and which way to focus your efforts moving forward. With years of practice, including an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, her critique will get you to the next level.” —Cate Berry, VCFA graduate and author of the forthcoming picture book PENGUIN AND TINY SHRIMP DON’T DO BEDTIME P(Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins, 2018)
“I had struggled with a story for some time when I invested in a critique with Donna. Not only did I receive fresh insights, I felt like my book gained a champion – someone who would join me in willing it into the world and would also share the tools to help me find the universal in what had become intensely personal. Donna delivers – with kindness and compassion, grit and grace. Your best work deserves her focused attention.” —Aimee Thomas
“Donna has helped me with just about every book I’ve had published. She has a knack for getting in there and helping a writer to narrow their focus, to find the core of their story. Recently on a picture book project, when I was stuck on a plot point, Donna offered feedback that helped me to strengthen my story arc while understanding my character’s motivation better. That manuscript is now in acquisition with a major publisher. Thank you, Donna, for helping me to see the world through my character’s eyes.” —Don Tate, award-winning author, illustrator, and author/illustrator of many picture books including IT JES HAPPENED: WHEN BILL TRAYLOR STARTED TO DRAW (Lee and Low, 2012), and POET: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF GEORGE MOSES HORTON (Peachtree, 2015), and STRONG AS SANDOW: HOW EUGEN SANDOW BECAME THE STRONGEST MAN ON EARTH (Charlesbridge, 2017).
