Developmental Editing for
Work That Matters

Clarity, care, and expert guidance to help you shape your story.

Let's work together

How I Can Support Your Work

Every project is different. These offerings are designed
to meet you where you are and help move your work forward.

ESSAY EDITS

Detailed marginal comments and written feedback to strengthen individual essays while maintaining your voice and intent.

BOOK-LENGTH EDITS

Comprehensive editorial feedback focused on structure, voice, and overall cohesion to help your manuscript become clearer, stronger, and more effective.

EDITORIAL CONSULTING

Flexible, one-on-one editorial consulting tailored to your specific needs, offering feedback, accountability, and guidance on craft, revision, and next steps toward publication.

BOOK PROPOSAL COACHING & EDITING

Instructions for developing a successful book proposal while providing deadlines and accountability, as well as feedback and edits on completed book proposals.

Kelly Sundberg paper and pen essay edit icon Essay Edits

Thoughtful feedback and line-level insight to elevate clarity, voice, and impact.

    • Extensive marginal comments

    • A 1-2 page letter of detailed single-spaced feedback.

    • A 30 minute follow up Zoom call to address any questions.

    • Prices start at $150 for flash essays and $300 for longer essays.

    • Turnaround is 2-3 weeks.

Let's get started

Kelly Sundberg paper and pen essay edit icon Book-Length Edits

Big-picture editorial guidance to strengthen structure, voice, and meaning.

  • What’s Included:

    • This edit is ideal for someone who has a first draft of a completed book and is looking for broad feedback before settling down for revisions. It includes a detailed letter with feedback, as well as a 45 minute follow up Zoom call. Though I will provide some marginal comments, there will not be line edits. 

    Investment & Timeline

    • Prices start at $1500, and turnaround is 6-8 weeks.

  • What’s Included:

    • Includes marginal comments on sentence level issues, an editorial letter with in-depth feedback on how the book is working overall (structure, voice, characterization, narrative arc, etc), as well as analysis of each chapter or essay. A one hour follow up Zoom call is also included.

    Investment & Timeline

    • Prices start at $3000, and turnaround is 8-10 weeks.

  • What’s Included:

    • This evaluation of your first 50 pages (conventional formatting and double-spaced) of your manuscript comes with marginal comments, an editorial letter, and a thirty-minute Zoom call to offer guidance as you revise.

    Investment & Timeline

    • The cost is $500, and turnaround is 4-6 weeks.

Let's get started

Kelly Sundberg paper and pen essay edit icon Editorial Consulting

Flexible, personalized support designed around your needs—from ongoing accountability to one-time strategy sessions.

    • Assistance drafting query letters for agents.

    • Accountability coaching and feedback on new pages.

    • Publication Tips & Guidance.

  • Prices will be determined based on the project.

Let's get started

Kelly Sundberg pen book proposal coaching and editing icon Write Your Book Proposal With Me

Book proposals are notoriously tricky to write. Luckily, I’ve sold two books on proposal and helped many others write their own proposals, so I’m uniquely situated to guide you through the process.

    • Instructions for how to write the various elements of a book proposal. 

    • Deadlines and Accountability Coaching

    • Editing throughout the process, as well as edits on the completed proposal. 

  • Prices start at $500 for edits on completed proposals & $3000 for collaborating throughout the process.

    Timelines will depend upon the writer’s schedule and needs.

Let's get started

Are you a writer who...

Is seeking clarity and structure?

Preparing for publication?

Wants to strengthen their voice?

If this is you, I can help. I work with writers who are close to something powerful and ready to take their work further.

Let's work together

What People Are Saying

  • "Kelly returned my manuscript with highly creative insights and a revision plan I implemented in a single weekend. She's immensely encouraging, generous, and one hell of a book coach."

    —Syrah Linsley

  • "Dr. Sundberg is gifted at teaching writing — she creates a space where students feel safe writing vulnerable material. I never expected I'd be working on my own memoir, and I have her to thank."

    —Dawn McCombs

  • "Kelly's clear, concise feedback — delivered with such care — helped me get my essay over the finish line. A talented writer and compassionate teacher with a keen eye for what makes writing really work."

    —Ashley Bethard

  • "I reached out to Kelly for editorial advice for my memoir in progress because I have always loved and admired her writing; I knew she was a skilled crafter of words. But I had no idea what a genius editor she would turn out to be. She gave me sensitive, creative, and thoughtful feedback on both my manuscript and my query letters. I can't recommend her highly enough."

    —Heather Bryant

My Editing Philosophy

Whatever you’re working on, I will strive to meet you where you’re at, and my focus as an editor is to uncover the beating heart of your project. In order to accomplish that, we must first find the compass that guides your manuscript. While editing, I become a kind of excavator, because once the compass has been found, the rest tends to become easy. My feedback is thorough, thoughtful, and always intended to encourage rather than discourage.

A Considered Approach to Editing

01.

READ DEEPLY

Understanding your intention comes before making any changes.

REFINE WITH CARE

Understanding your intention comes before making any changes.

02.

CLARIFY DIRECTION

Every edit serves the story, not the ego.

03.

Work With Me

Ready to Take your writing further?

Let's work together to bring your story to life.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your project.

Let's work together
Let's work together