I have worked in the lesbian/WLW publishing community for more than 14 years, and during that time I’ve been blessed with wide and varied opportunities to learn what makes a manuscript successful. Aside from my 19 novels across three different publishers (Bold Strokes, Bywater, and Brisk), I’ve also self-published a collection, which gives me a unique perspective to share with those just starting their publishing journey.
Editing has become one of the greatest joys of the middle stage of my career. After getting my start working the submissions process (AKA the slush pile) for Bywater Books for several years, I developed a strong sense of what separates the manuscripts that get rejected from the ones that get offered call backs and contracts. I have mentored both Anna Gramlich of Bywater Books and Tagan Shephard of Bella in the pre-publication stages of forthcoming releases.
Finally, between my inside understanding of publishing and my own writing success, I found I have knack for helping young authors raise their writing game, not only to the point of publication, but also for developing and refining craft. I currently serve as the Senior Romance Editor of Bywater Books, and in that role I have had the honor of editing multiple Golden Crown Literary Award-winning books for Anna Burke and Jenn Alexander. Helping these amazing writers shepherd their work from draft form to finished, polished, and highly successful books is among some of the most fulfilling experiences of my long and diverse career.
Services
To schedule an author consultation service, please email me at rachel_spangler@yahoo.com.
Publishing Consult via Video Chat or Phone Call - $50 for 30 minutes
Are you looking to get your first book published but still have questions about the industry or the process? Use this time to get answers from someone who has been there. Talk over the pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing. Figure out if you need an agent. Get the inside scoop on standard contract provisions, or practice your pitch session. You get half an hour with someone who has been there before and is eager to help you succeed.
Story Consult via Video Chat or Phone Call - $50 for 30 minutes
Working on a novel and need a little boost? Send me a short (no more than one page) synopsis and a short blurb about what’s got you flummoxed. We can chat about that saggy part in the middle of every plot. We can discuss tools for working on character development. I can share exercises to beat writer’s block. Sometimes, an author can just be too close to a project to see the forest through the trees. I’m here to help set you back on the right track and then let you take it from there.
Read-through of the First 15 Pages or 10,000 Words - $125
You send me the start of your novel, and I will do a full write up of what I notice as a writer and editor, and as someone who has worked the slush pile for long enough to know what gets picked up. Then after you review those notes, we will schedule a time to talk via video chat or phone for 30 minutes so you can ask me questions and we can go more in depth. This service will give you a chance to look at what you have and develop tools for edits going forward. I can also give you a sense as to how your manuscript would read as a submission to a midsized, queer publishing house.
First Full Read-through (up to 100,000 words) – $750
Send me your full, most polished manuscript, and I will read it over with the eyes of both a publisher and a substantive editor. When I am finished, I will do a full write up with what I see as the major overarching issues and suggestions for things to look for during edits/revisions. Info will focus on the big-ticket issues like plot, character development, pace, and arc, though I will also mention if I see other issues popping up with regularity. I will not make notes on the manuscript or highlight individual instances. Any questions about my notes or tips for tackling the edits can be addressed via a 30-minute phone call or video chat.
Full Round of Substantive Edits (up to 100,000 words) - $1,000
At this level there’s no difference between what I’m doing for you, and what I do for professional authors like Anna Burke or Jenn Alexander. I will do a deep and detailed read of your full, most polished manuscript. All of my comments will be embedded in the manuscript document via track changes, so you can see real time examples of what I’m noticing. I will make suggestions for big ticket, substantive issues like plot, character, narrative structure, etc., but I will also offer tips on how to improve prose or add impact to pivotal scenes. Details would include but not be limited to point of view, overused words, refining dialog, etc. At no point do I edit for grammar, spelling, or typos.
Further Substantive Edits – (Contact for a quote)
With most of my professional authors, we do 3 progressive passes on a single manuscript. The first usually focuses on large, overarching issues. The second dives deep into craft and cleaning up unresolved issues. The third focuses on polishing the nitty-gritty details that take a manuscript from good to great. If you are interested in this level of work, please contact me via email so we can discuss your unique manuscript and goals, then come up with a plan that meets your individual needs.
*All services are subject to availability. Due to my own busy writing schedule, there may be considerable wait times for items that involve full read-throughs.
*Patrons on Patreon receive a 10% discount on author services.
