Editorial Services

Hi! I’m Rachel. I’m a literary agent, but before founding The Swyer Agency, I spent years working on the editorial and scouting side of publishing. I worked on the editorial staff at Anderson Literary Agency, served as an international literary scout, and was part of the team at Netflix evaluating manuscripts for potential film and television adaptation.

I’ve read thousands of manuscripts and developed a clear understanding of what makes a project stand out, where manuscripts commonly lose momentum, and how editors assess a book’s potential.

When I edit your manuscript, I read it from multiple perspectives: as an engaged reader, as an editor, and as someone who understands what acquisitions teams are looking for. My notes address more than craft alone. I consider structure, pacing, character, voice, audience, and market positioning — helping you understand not only how to strengthen the book, but how to position it to reach the right readers and publishing professionals.

What I Offer:

Developmental editing— $0.06/word

A developmental edit is a full read of your manuscript focused on the big picture — whether the story is working at the structural level and how it's likely to be received in the current market.

    • You’ll receive a detailed editorial letter, typically 8–15 pages, addressing structure, pacing, character development, narrative arc, point of view, voice, stakes, and market positioning. The letter will identify what’s working, what may be holding the manuscript back, and what to prioritize in your next revision.

    • Your manuscript will also include diagnostic comments throughout. I’ll flag specific passages that illustrate the larger issues raised in the editorial letter—for example, a scene that undermines tension, a character whose motivation is unclear, a section where the pacing stalls, or material that may not be earning its place. These comments are intended to illuminate the manuscript’s larger concerns; they are not line-level corrections.

    • The service includes a 30-minute follow-up call to discuss the editorial letter, talk through your revision plan, and answer questions.

Line editing — $0.05/word

A line edit is a close pass through your manuscript at the sentence and paragraph level. This is hands-on work — I'm in your prose, page by page.

    • You’ll receive your manuscript with tracked changes and comments throughout. I’ll work closely at the sentence and paragraph level, paying attention to clarity, rhythm, tone, voice, dialogue, repetition, transitions, and word choice.

    • I’ll tighten sentences that need tightening, clarify passages that feel muddy, and flag places where the prose or dialogue isn’t carrying its full weight. The goal is sharper, more precise writing that still sounds like you—not a rewrite of your voice, but a careful refinement of it.

Editorial Roadmap — $0.02/word ($750 minimum)

An editorial roadmap is for writers who want a professional assessment before committing to a full edit. It tells you where your manuscript stands and what to focus on next.

    • A written revision plan, typically 4–8 pages, based on a full read of your manuscript. The roadmap identifies the project’s core strengths, primary areas for improvement, and the revisions most likely to strengthen the next draft.

    • Depending on the manuscript’s needs, it may address structure, pacing, character, voice, point of view, stakes, thematic coherence, and market positioning. It is a strategic document designed to give you a clear, practical path forward.

    • An Editorial Roadmap does not include tracked changes, in-manuscript comments, or line-level editing.

Submit Your Manuscript for Editorial Review

A Note on Editorial Services and Representation

Editorial services are available only to writers who are not represented by The Swyer Agency. Authors represented by the agency are never charged for editorial work; editorial guidance provided as part of representation is always included.

The Swyer Agency does not offer literary representation to authors whose work we have evaluated or edited privately or in a consulting capacity, as doing so could create an actual or perceived conflict of interest. Purchasing an editorial service does not guarantee or create an opportunity for representation.

Authors who query the agency for representation will never be directed toward paid editorial services.