Folio IA manuscript editing studio, from the publishing side
Let itstand.
Currently booking Summer 2026
Plate I
i. I came to editing from publishing, where reading hundreds of manuscripts taught me to ask a simple question: what is this book trying to do, and is it doing it well?
Three ways in, depending on where your book is. Each one is just you and me; reading like a publisher would, marking like an editor does, and meeting you where the manuscript actually needswants to be read.
I.
Editorial Assessment manuscript critique & detailed editorial letter
If you need to know where your manuscript actually stands. A detailed professional read resulting in an honest, concise but detailed editorial letter: a diagnosis of what is working, what is not, and exactly what to do about it.
Full read · up to 80,000 words
Narrative structure & arc: whether the shape of your manuscript serves the story it is trying to tell, and where the architecture needs rethinking
Particular attention to opening & closing pages—what agents read first
The most rigorous editorial engagement available. A full structural read paired with in-text annotations throughout your manuscript, plus two one-on-one calls to work through the revision together—a genuine editorial relationship.
Extensive editorial letter · structure, character, pacing, voice, theme
In-text marginalia chapter by chapter, scene by scene
Two 45-minute follow-up calls to discuss edits
Guidance & submission positioning
3–4 week turnaround
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From$1,600 CAD~50% below market rate
III.
Copy Edit sentence-level polish, ready for submission
Your manuscript is structurally finished. This is the meticulous sentence-level pass to make it print-ready.
Dialogue, spelling & rhythm standardized throughout
Full style sheet documenting every editorial decision
Up to 80,000 words · 2–3 week turnaround
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From$1,100 CAD~45% below market rate
How a project unfolds.
Every project runs through the same four chapters. No surprises in the margin.
Ch. 01
Inquiry & discovery call
Send a short note through the contact form telling me what you're writing and where the manuscript sits. I follow up with a free discovery call within two business days.
Ch. 02
Sample read & fixed quote
I read the first ten to twenty pages and return a fixed quote, calendar, and short editorial note—so you can see how I read before you commit. No obligation.
Ch. 03
Contract & deposit
We sign a simple contract and you reserve your slot with a 50% deposit. The remaining balance is invoiced on delivery. Your start date is held the moment the deposit clears.
Ch. 04
Edit & deliver
I deliver the marked manuscript, editorial letter, and style sheet in a single folder. A follow-up call and one round of email questions are included with every project before we close.
“
Finally forty years after its inception, it's finally here. Special thanks to Jaquelin who did all the seriously hard work on this baby.
— P. SELLERS· SEASONED NOVELIST, THE LAST MARTINI
Folio II — Begin
Send the manuscript.
Folio II · The Editor
Hi —
I'm your manuscript's biggest critic.fan.
From working on the inside—author management, editorial, marketing—to running a small studio that brings that same eye to manuscripts before they reach a publisher's desk.
Let it stand.
A different angle
Most editors are writers first. I'm an editoradvocate first—trained inside publishing, devoted to your book.
Icame from working the slush pile at an indie publisher, reading hundreds of manuscripts, evaluating what worked and what didn't. I worked directly with authors for years, helping them with their branding and marketing strategies. Author advocacy is what I do best, but working on the business side, I have been trained to consider readers too. What do they want to pick up? What keeps them turning pages? What makes a book attractive to a publisher, and out to a stranger in a store?
I bring those questions to your manuscript without losing what makes it yours. Every project I take I read in three ways: once as a reader, once as an acquiring editor, and once as a friendly outside set of eyes on the line. The notes you get back are honest, kind, and rooted in how books actually work in the world.
I edit literary fiction, memoir, historical fiction, you name it. I'm drawn to interesting and important stories, no matter the genre.
Background
MA, English Language & Literature University of Munich
BA, English Language & Literature Queen's University
Publishing Studies Toronto Metropolitan University
Experience
Trade publishing specialized in historical fiction, memoir, nonfiction, & poetry
Editorial & acquisitions education, fiction, and narrative nonfiction
Author management branding, awards, grants & social media strategy
Independent practice dozens of manuscripts shepherded
Affiliations
Editorial Freelancers Association Full member
ACES: Society for Editing Member
Independent Book Publishers Association Allied member
A few from the shelf
Recent projects, with permission.
Selected · 2023–2026
P.Sellers
THE LAST MARTINI, MOSAIC PRESS
TP Wood
TIME SISTERS, IMPRINT TO BE ANNOUNCED
Coming soon
Title & imprint to be announced
Coming soon
Title & imprint to be announced
Coming soon
Title & imprint to be announced
Folio III · Begin
Send the manuscript.
Tell me a little about the book—what it is, where it sits, and what you'd like a reader to do with it. I respond within two business days.
Email
hello@steteditorial.ca
Response
within 2 business days
Booking
Summer 2026
Hours
Mon–Fri, 9am–9pm ET
Marginalia · Frequently asked
A few questions before you write.
How do you decide which manuscripts to take? +
I take on roughly twenty projects a year. I read the first ten pages and the synopsis you send before quoting. The only criterion is whether I think I can be useful, there's no taste test on subject matter.
How do I know which service is right for my manuscript? +
If you're between drafts and want an honest diagnosis of what's working, start with an Editorial Assessment. If your structure feels uncertain and you want to revise alongside someone, the Developmental Edit is the deepest engagement. If the book is structurally finished and you're preparing to submit, a Copy Edit is the final polish. When in doubt, send the first ten pages and a paragraph about the book—I'll tell you honestly where I think you'd benefit most.
Will you help me find an agent or publisher? +
While that is not included in my services, but I'll happily talk you through a query letter and point you toward agents or publishers whose lists fit your work. Many of my clients have signed with agents within a year of our work together.
What if I need only part of the manuscript edited? +
Partial reads are available for any service at a pro-rated rate. An Editorial Assessment on the first 75 pages is a common starting point for writers mid-draft.
Payment & cancellation? +
50% to hold the slot, 50% on delivery. If life happens, deposits roll to a future slot up to a year out. I haven't yet had to cancel on an author.
stet
$150CAD
a quick note —
New · A first look
Is your first chapter working?
Your opening pages decide whether a reader keeps going. Send me chapter one and I’ll tell you, honestly, what’s landing and what isn’t — voice, hook, pace.
