Calculate the cost of your developmental edit.
BubbleCow uses clear, word-count-based pricing. Add your manuscript word count to the calculator below and you will see the full cost of your developmental edit.
The price is transparent from the start. There is no hidden quote process, no unexpected add-ons, and no need to submit your manuscript before you know what the edit will cost.
This is not budget editing. It is detailed professional work from Gary Smailes, including developmental feedback, line editing, manuscript comments, a full editorial report, post-edit support, and unlimited revision support after the edit.
The price per 1,000 words is $40.
Estimated developmental edit cost: Enter your word count
Calculated from the current rate of $40 per 1,000 words.
You need more than a list of problems.
Most serious writers reach a point where they are too close to the manuscript to see it clearly.
You may know something is not working. Beta readers may have pointed to pacing, character, structure, or confusion in the opening chapters. You may feel the book is close, but not quite ready. The hard part is knowing what the real problem is, why it matters, and what to fix first.
Developmental editing is not about handing you a vague list of faults. It is about diagnosis.
Gary Smailes reads the manuscript as an experienced editor and looks for the deeper issues affecting the reader experience: structure, plot, pacing, character, point of view, exposition, clarity, tension, and genre expectations.
The aim is not to overwhelm you with criticism. The aim is to give you a clear, practical revision direction so you can move the book closer to a publishable standard.
What developmental editing helps solve.
Developmental editing looks beyond the surface of the manuscript. It asks whether the book works for the reader as a whole, not just whether the sentences are clean.
Gary Smailes looks for the deeper issues that shape the reading experience: the problems that can make a manuscript feel slow, confusing, uneven, underdeveloped, or not yet ready for publication.
- Structure: Does the manuscript have a clear shape, and does each chapter or section move the book forward?
- Plot: Do events connect through cause and effect, or are there gaps, weak turns, or unresolved promises?
- Pacing: Does the book move at the right speed, or do important sections drag, repeat, or rush past key moments?
- Character: Are the main characters developed, motivated, and active enough to hold the reader's interest?
- Point of view: Is the narration controlled, consistent, and effective for the story being told?
- Tension: Does the reader understand what matters, what could be lost, and why they should keep reading?
- Exposition: Is background information helping the book, or slowing it down before the reader needs it?
- Genre expectations: Does the manuscript understand the kind of reading experience its audience is likely to expect?
- Reader experience: Where might readers become confused, bored, unconvinced, or emotionally disconnected?
These issues are often connected. A pacing problem may really be a structure problem. A character problem may weaken tension. Too much exposition may be hiding the story's strongest moments.
The value of developmental editing is that it looks at the manuscript as a whole, identifies the real causes, and gives you a clearer route into revision.
Editing is a partnership.
A strong developmental edit should not take the book away from the writer. It should help the writer see the manuscript more clearly and make better revision decisions.
Gary Smailes works as an editorial partner. His role is to bring experience, distance, and professional judgement to the manuscript, while keeping your voice, your intention, and your book at the centre of the process.
The aim is not to impose a different story or rewrite the manuscript for you. The aim is to show you where the book is working, where it is not yet strong enough, and what kind of revision will move it closer to a publishable standard.
This means the feedback is honest, but practical. If something is not working, Gary explains why it matters to the reader and gives you a way to think about the fix.
You remain the author. The edit gives you the diagnosis, priorities, and direction you need for the next stage of the journey.
What you receive in a BubbleCow developmental edit.
A full BubbleCow edit gives you detailed developmental feedback, line editing, manuscript comments, and a clear revision direction.
The work is carried out personally by Gary Smailes. You are not passed to a junior editor, anonymous freelancer, or marketplace team. Gary reads the manuscript, diagnoses the deeper issues, and gives you practical guidance for the next draft.
- A detailed editorial report explaining the manuscript's strengths, weaknesses, recurring issues, and revision priorities.
- Comments directly on the manuscript showing how the larger issues appear on the page.
- Line editing included to support clarity, rhythm, consistency, flow, and sentence-level execution.
- Tracked changes where relevant so you can review suggested edits and stay in control of the manuscript.
- Chapter-by-chapter feedback to help you understand how each part of the book is working.
- Practical solutions for the issues most likely to affect the reader experience.
- Clear revision priorities so you know what to focus on first.
- Progress updates during the edit, so you know where the work stands.
- A post-edit video call to discuss the feedback and clarify your next steps.
The purpose is not simply to mark up a manuscript. It is to help you understand the book more clearly and revise with more confidence.
Inside the editorial report.
The editorial report is one of the most important parts of the developmental edit. It gives you the big picture: what is working, what is not working, why the problems matter, and what to focus on in revision.
This is not a short summary or a loose collection of comments. Gary Smailes uses the report to explain the manuscript as a whole, identify patterns, and give you a practical route into the next draft.
Your report may include:
- An overall diagnosis of the manuscript and the main issues affecting the reader experience.
- A summary of strengths so you understand what is already working and should be protected during revision.
- A clear list of key issues so you know what needs attention first.
- Genre and reader expectation notes to help you understand how the book sits within its likely market.
- Plot and structure feedback on the shape, movement, and logic of the manuscript.
- Character feedback on motivation, agency, development, consistency, and reader connection.
- Pacing and tension feedback showing where the book may slow down, rush, repeat, or lose momentum.
- Point of view and narration feedback where the perspective, voice, or control of information affects the reader.
- Exposition and clarity feedback where background information, explanation, or confusion weakens the reading experience.
- Chapter-by-chapter feedback to help you understand how each part of the manuscript is functioning.
- Revision priorities so you know what to fix first and what can wait.
- Practical next steps to help you move from feedback into action.
The report is designed to help you make decisions. It does not simply say "this is wrong." It explains what is happening, why it matters, and how you might approach the fix.
Comments directly on the manuscript.
Alongside the editorial report, you receive comments directly on the manuscript. These comments show how the wider issues appear on the page.
This matters because a report can explain the big picture, but the manuscript comments show you where the reader may feel the problem as they move through the book.
Gary may use comments to point out places where the pacing slows, motivation becomes unclear, exposition interrupts the story, point of view shifts, dialogue weakens, or a scene is not doing enough work.
The comments are not random notes. They are part of the same editorial diagnosis as the report, helping you connect the wider feedback to specific moments in the text.
Where line edits are made, tracked changes show the suggested edits clearly. You remain in control of the manuscript and can accept, reject, or adapt changes as you revise.
Line editing is included.
A BubbleCow developmental edit also includes line editing. This means Gary does not only look at the structure of the manuscript; he also works on the writing on the page where it affects clarity, flow, rhythm, consistency, and reader experience.
Line editing may address awkward phrasing, repetition, overwriting, unclear sentences, dialogue flow, exposition, word choice, and places where the prose is getting in the way of the story or argument.
This line editing supports the developmental work. It helps you see how larger manuscript issues are showing up in the sentences, paragraphs, and scenes themselves.
However, this is not a proofreading-only or copyediting-only service. The main focus remains developmental editing: the structure, movement, meaning, and reader experience of the whole manuscript.
The aim is to help you strengthen both the big-picture shape of the book and the way the writing carries that book to the reader.
This is for serious writers who want professional feedback.
BubbleCow is best suited to writers who have completed a manuscript and are ready to take revision seriously.
You do not need to be an experienced author. You do need to be open to honest feedback, willing to revise, and serious about making the book stronger before publication.
This may be right for you if:
- You have finished a manuscript and know it needs professional attention.
- You are preparing to publish and want to understand whether the book is ready.
- Beta readers have raised concerns, but you are not sure how to solve them.
- You are worried about structure, pacing, plot, character, clarity, or reader engagement.
- You want detailed feedback from an experienced editor, not vague encouragement.
- You want practical solutions and clear revision priorities.
- You see editing as part of the professional writing process, not as a last-minute polish.
The best fit is a writer who wants to understand the manuscript properly and is prepared to do the work needed to lift it toward a publishable standard.
How the process works.
The process is designed to be clear, direct, and transparent from the start. You know the cost before you commit, you see the quality of the feedback before paying for the full edit, and you work directly with Gary Smailes throughout the process.
- Check the price. Add your manuscript word count to the calculator and see the full cost of the developmental edit.
- Request a free sample edit. Send the first 2,000 words of your manuscript so Gary can show you the kind of feedback you would receive.
- Review the sample feedback. You can judge the honesty, detail, usefulness, and style of the feedback before deciding whether to continue.
- Book an optional meeting. If useful, you can arrange a call to discuss the sample edit and ask questions about the full edit.
- Confirm the full edit. If you decide to proceed, the first invoice is issued, usually for half the total fee.
- Gary begins the edit. You receive a clear delivery date and progress updates while the edit is underway.
- Receive your full feedback. You receive the edited manuscript, detailed editorial report, comments, tracked changes where relevant, and revision guidance.
- Revise with ongoing support. After the edit, you can revise with unlimited post-edit support, asking questions and seeking clarification as you work through the feedback.
- Discuss the next steps. After you have had time to read the feedback, you can have a post-edit video call to clarify the report and plan your revision.
The aim is to remove guesswork from the process. You know what the edit costs, who is doing the work, what you will receive, and what happens next.
Start with a free 2,000-word sample edit.
Before booking a full developmental edit, you can send the first 2,000 words of your manuscript and receive a free sample edit from Gary Smailes.
The sample edit lets you see the quality of the feedback before you commit. You can judge the honesty, detail, usefulness, and style of the comments for yourself.
This is not a token sample or a way to get free proofreading. It is a genuine demonstration of how Gary works: how he reads, how he identifies problems, how he explains why they matter, and how he suggests practical ways to revise.
If you are considering a full edit, the sample gives you evidence before any money changes hands.
Clear safeguards for your manuscript and the edit.
Developmental editing is a professional relationship, and the process should be clear from the start. BubbleCow uses a transparent framework so you know how your manuscript, payment, and editorial work are handled.
- Contract: The edit is covered by clear terms so both sides understand what is included.
- NDA: Your manuscript is treated confidentially, with a non-disclosure agreement included as part of the process.
- File safety: Your manuscript files are handled carefully and stored securely during the edit. Read the File Safety page.
- AI policy: BubbleCow is built around experienced human editorial judgement, not automated manuscript feedback. Read the AI Policy.
- Transparent payment: Payment is handled by invoice, with the cost made clear before you commit.
- Clear boundaries: You know what the edit includes, what it does not include, and what happens after delivery.
The aim is simple: you should feel confident about the process before you hand over your manuscript.
Support during and after the edit.
A developmental edit should not leave you alone with a large report and no idea what to do next. Gary Smailes stays involved as you work through the feedback and begin revising the manuscript.
During the edit, you receive clear communication and progress updates, so you know where the work stands and when to expect your feedback.
After the edit, you can arrange a post-edit video call to discuss the report, ask questions, and clarify the main revision priorities. This gives you the chance to talk through the feedback directly with Gary and make sure you understand the next stage of the work.
BubbleCow also includes unlimited post-edit revision support. As you revise, you can return with questions, ask for clarification, and get guidance on how to apply the feedback to the manuscript.
The aim is to make the edit part of a serious revision journey, not a one-off document drop. You receive the report, the manuscript comments, the line edits, and the support needed to help you move the book forward with confidence.
What writers say about the feedback.
Writers often come to BubbleCow because they know something in the manuscript needs attention, but they are not sure what the real issue is or how to fix it.
The feedback they value most is the honesty, detail, clarity, and practical direction: not just being told that something is wrong, but understanding why it matters and what to do next.
