Services Offered

  • Manuscript / Proposal evaluation

  • Submission preparation

  • Offer / Contract negotiation

  • Substantive editing

  • Industry consultation

Areas of Expertise

  • Adult literary fiction and nonfiction

  • Arts & culture

  • Autobiography

  • Biography

  • Crime fiction

  • Environmental

  • Food

  • Health

  • History

  • Investigative journalism

  • Memoir

  • Middle-grade fiction and nonfiction

  • Poetry

  • Pop Culture

  • Science

  • Short story collections

  • Sports

  • Young adult fiction and nonfiction

FAQ

HOW CAN YOU HELP ME?

The ways are endless! If you want to know if your project might be appealing to a major publisher or agent, we’ll tell you; if you need someone to negotiate an offer you’ve received or a contract you’re having trouble understanding, we’ll get you the best deal possible; if you need a good edit before you self-publish or a literary mechanic with almost two decades of submission experience to whip your proposal into shape, we can help.

CAN I AFFORD THIS?

Just as each author is unique, so too are their needs. Our aim is to open doors to the publishing industry, so we have many reasonable service tiers to ensure you are getting exactly what you need for a price you can afford. Head over to our Contact page, and let us know what you are working on, and how we can help.

WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH ME? 

Chris will. If for some reason he feels there is somebody with a specialized expertise who you would be better served working with, he will suggest it. Chris is versatile, but where your writing is concerned, fit is everything.

HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?

That depends on what you need and how many other writers are already in the queue. In general, evaluations usually take about two weeks, and editing (depending on the length) can take another month. Once we’ve connected and have a sense of the services you’ll require, we’ll set up a delivery plan that works for both of us.

DO YOU REQUIRE PAYMENT UP FRONT?

Not to hold your place, but once work has commenced, we do ask for deposit. You will also be asked to sign an agreement laying out all of the terms of our arrangement, so that everybody’s expectations and responsibilities are clear.

WHAT IS A MANUSCRIPT / PROPOSAL EVALUATION?

This is the first step. We will read your material critically and prepare a brief report on what is currently working and what isn’t, what you can do to make it better, and how we can help. We will also let you know where we feel your work fits into the publishing ecosystem. We have a strong sense of the current market, and will let you know where we feel you should be focusing your attention.

I WANT TO KNOW IF I’M ANY GOOD - WILL YOU BE HONEST?

We will. Getting a straight answer in this industry is often as hard as getting a publisher. This is a subjective business in some ways, but form rejections and sugar-coating don’t help you understand what you really need to know. Not every novel is a Giller winner, not every book will end up with a major publisher, some stories work best self-published, and some should just stay in your drawer. If you want honest feedback grounded in over a decade of experience, we’ll give it to you straight.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COST ME?

If you’re like me, you’re more likely to pick up an item at a flea market with a price sticker attached than one without, so here goes. My goal is to personally tailor a package that specifically suits your needs, but below you’ll find a range:

Basic Manuscript Evaluation
For a flat fee of $1,500 (paid 50% on signing, 50% on delivery), I’ll read your full manuscript and provide approximately five pages of detailed notes. These cover what’s working, what isn’t, how the manuscript can be strengthened, and where it might fit in the publishing landscape. This is a flexible service—we can tailor the focus depending on what’s most helpful for you, whether that’s more industry insight, suggestions for cutting, or other areas of concern. This package doesn’t include editing, but it does include a follow-up call where you can ask me anything.

Full Editorial Package
This includes everything from the basic evaluation, plus a comprehensive substantive edit. In addition to manuscript feedback, you’ll receive a submission strategy, a draft cover letter, and a list of potential Canadian editors. (I don’t recommend specific agents—I'm not affiliated with other agencies, and trying to predict what they want is a bit of a fool’s errand.) The heart of this package is the editorial work: we’ll collaborate to sharpen your manuscript, strengthen its structure and flow, and elevate it to a draft that’s truly submission ready. The full editorial package typically costs $5,000, paid in two installments. The final fee depends on manuscript length and editorial needs—after reviewing a sample, I’ll provide a firm quote.

What I Bring
I specialize in big-picture editorial work—clarifying vision, refining voice, deepening structure, and helping you bring forward what’s not yet on the page. I’m not your best bet for catching every grammatical slip (there are great line editors for that), but I bring a strong creative lens and active marketplace experience that sets my work apart.