🔍 First Draft Deep Dive

A one-time, big-picture read of your messy first draft—so you can revise with clarity, purpose, and confidence.

🎉 NaNoWriMo & Novel November Special
My editorial rates are deeply lowered to support authors during NaNoWriMo and Novel November, helping you finish, revise, and polish your story with professional guidance. Rates may increase throughout November depending on interest and availability, so booking early (pre-November) is the best way to lock in this special pricing before spots fill.

💰 $0.004 USD per word
🧾 Minimum Project Fee: $100 USD
✨ Covers manuscripts up to 25,000 words

📌 For authors who’ve completed a first draft and want high-level, story-wide feedback before jumping into revisions.

💬 Not sure if this is the right service for you? Let’s talk about where you are in your process and I’ll help you find your best next step.

✨ What Is This?

First Draft Deep Dive is a full read-through and written evaluation of your first draft. It’s ideal for writers who’ve just finished the manuscript and want clarity before revising.

This isn’t a detailed editorial breakdown or a full developmental edit. Instead, I’ll give you a big-picture sense of what’s working, what’s not, and how you can improve your story in the next draft. It’s a light professional edit that is perfect for a first draft.

💡 You’ll walk away with a clear sense of direction and specific revision goals—no margin notes, no tracked changes, no overwhelm.

💬 What Authors Are Saying

“I was so deep in my first draft I couldn’t tell if anything actually worked—especially the romance. Natasha’s feedback helped me see exactly where the emotional tension was this, where the chemistry was strongest, and what parts of the story needed restructuring. Her report gave me direction without overwhelming me, and for the first time, I felt confident heading into my first round of revisions. Every romance writer should do this before self-editing!”
—Elena M., Contemporary Romance Author

“I finished my first draft months ago, but I was completely stuck on what to do next. I knew the story had potential, but I couldn’t see it clearly anymore. Natasha’s feedback was exactly what I needed. Her notes on structure, character arcs, and emotional flow were clear, thoughtful, and encouraging. I finally have a plan—and the motivation—to start revising. This service got me unstuck and gave me the clarity I’d been waiting months for.”
—Deejay, Aspiring Women’s Fiction Author

📌 Who This Is For

• Authors with a completed first draft
• Writers unsure what’s working or how to revise
• Authors preparing to self-edit or dive into an alpha read
• Anyone feeling lost or overwhelmed after finishing their book

🧾 What You’ll Provide

• A completed manuscript in .docx format
• A short form with:
  – Your story’s subgenre, tropes, and heat level (if applicable)
  – A brief summary of your plot and characters
  – Any known concerns (e.g., “the middle feels slow” or “I’m worried the characters don’t grow enough”)
  – Whether this is your first attempt at revision or a rescue of a dusty draft

📘 What You’ll Get

• One full read-through of your manuscript
• A 3–5 page (approx.) written editorial report covering:
  – General strengths and weaknesses
  – Plot cohesion and clarity
  – Character arcs and relationship development
  – Story beats and payoff
  – Emotional and pacing flow
  – Clear suggestions for what to revise next

This service helps you identify what needs fixing, strengthening, or cutting so you don’t waste time spinning your wheels.

💵 Payment Terms

NaNoWriMo & Novel November Discount Rate (Rate subject to availability)
$0.004 USD per word
🧾 Minimum Project Fee: $100 USD
✨ Covers manuscripts up to 25,000 words

To reserve your spot, a non-refundable minimum payment of $100 USD is required at the time of booking. This secures your project on my schedule and counts toward your total service cost.

If your total project cost exceeds the minimum:
• 50% of the total fee (minus the deposit) is due on or before your scheduled start date
• The remaining 50% is due before delivery of your completed editorial report

💡 Example pricing:
For a 50,000-word manuscript ($200 total):
• $100 due at booking (non-refundable deposit)
• None due by your project start date as it is covered by the deposit (50%)
• $100 due when your feedback is complete

💸 Manuscript Loyalty Pricing Applies

This service qualifies for my Manuscript Loyalty Pricing program. When you complete more than one editorial service for the same manuscript, you’ll unlock growing discounts (2.5% per service) and earn retroactive credit—up to a total of 20% off.
👉 See how Loyalty Pricing works →

🪜 Need Help Planning Your Writing Journey?

Each of my services fits into a structured, author-tested 11-step writing process designed to take your novel from concept to polished manuscript.
👉 Explore my 11-Step Writing Process →

📩 Manuscript Submission

Please submit your full manuscript in .docx format by your scheduled start date, or no later than 8:00 AM ET that morning.

If your manuscript is submitted late, I may need to reschedule depending on availability. Please label the file with your working title and name.

📄 Confidentiality & Professional Agreements

Every manuscript is handled with care and professionalism. This service includes:

• A signed confidentiality agreement to protect your manuscript and ideas
• A professional service contract outlining expectations, payment terms, and delivery timeline

🔍 Genre & Content Guidelines

This service is available for fiction manuscripts of any genre, including romance, fantasy, mystery, women’s fiction, sci-fi, and beyond. I’m happy to work with authors across genres as long as the story is fully drafted and focuses on character development, emotional arcs, and narrative structure.

I do not accept manuscripts that include rape as an active plot element. If the event occurred off-page and is only referenced, we can discuss comfort levels in advance.

If your manuscript contains dark, graphic, or taboo content, please include relevant trigger warnings so I can confirm the project is a good fit before booking.

🕒 Turnaround Time

Turnaround time is variable, depending on your manuscript’s length and my own writing deadlines. Reports may be completed in as little as one week, or may take several weeks for longer drafts or during high-volume periods.

💬 Curious about availability? Reach out anytime! I’d love to chat about your project and get you on the schedule.

🛠️ Why Work With Me?

As a romance author and story editor, I know the emotional whiplash of finishing a first draft: pride, panic, and a thousand unanswered questions.

This service offers clarity, encouragement, and direction, not overwhelming detail. It’s built for writers who need a gut check, a professional eye, and a roadmap for revision that feels doable.

I’m here to meet your story where it’s at—messy, flawed, and full of potential.

💌 Ready to Book?

Let’s shine a light on your first draft—and figure out where your story goes from here.
💰 Introductory Rate: $0.004 per word (Pricing while it lasts)
🧾 Minimum Project Fee: $100 USD

📩 Head over to my contact form and let’s get started! (I reply fast!)
Not sure if this is the right fit? I’d love to talk it through—just ask!