My Services

The Story Compass Session

The Story Compass Session is a focused, one-on-one working session designed to help you identify the specific issue holding your draft in place.

At this stage of revision, guessing starts to cost more than it helps. In a single call, we look closely at what’s happening on the page and what the story needs next, so revision can move forward instead of circling the same ground.

What You'll Walk Away With

✔ An understanding of what’s going wrong
✔ The deeper story reason the draft is stalling
✔ What this moment needs to accomplish in the larger story
✔ Step-by-step guidance to revise with purpose

What You Bring

One focused story problem (submission of up to 3,500 words) such as:

A single scene or chapter that keeps falling flat
A turning point or emotional beat you can’t land
A synopsis + a clearly defined problem you want solved

What's Included

Pre-Session Intake Review

Before we meet, I review your pages and your questionnaire, which includes a key question: “What would make this session a success for you?”

This lets us go straight to the heart of your problem.

60-Minute Story Compass Call

A focused, collaborative session where we:

Identify the underlying issue beneath the stuck moment
Clarify what the scene must achieve for your story
Pinpoint where tension, logic, or emotional beats break down
Refine the structural or emotional turn
Build a clear revision plan you can follow immediately

You’ll never leave wondering what to do next.

Compass Notes

After the call, you’ll receive a concise document outlining:

A summary of the core issue
The 3–5 most impactful changes to make
A simple sequence for revising the scene smoothly
Optional next-step suggestions

This becomes your reliable reference as you revise.

Session Fee:

$225 CAD

The Clarity Developmental Edit

Revising a full manuscript is a different kind of work.
You’re no longer solving problems scene by scene—you’re holding the entire book at once, where every change ripples outward.

The Clarity Developmental Edit is a full-manuscript developmental edit designed to help you see how the story is functioning as a whole, identify what’s breaking momentum, and determine which changes matter most next.

What You'll Walk Away With

✔ A clear diagnosis of what’s not working at the manuscript level
✔ The deeper story reason the draft is losing momentum
✔ An understanding of which story threads are carrying the book and which ones need support
✔ A focused revision roadmap that shows you what to tackle first
✔ A confident starting point for your next draft

This is for you if…

You have a complete or near-complete manuscript
You feel overwhelmed or unsure how to approach revision
You want clear developmental guidance, not vague critique
You’re working with layered plots, emotional arcs, or complex worldbuilding
Your story has potential, but shaping it at the manuscript level feels difficult

What's Included

Full-Manuscript Developmental Edit

I read your manuscript carefully and in full, with attention to:

Character motivation and emotional consistency
Plot structure and narrative cohesion
Pacing, tension, and scene purpose
Worldbuilding consistency (particularly for fantasy and speculative fiction)
Thematic throughlines and emotional payoff

The goal is to understand how the story is working and help you adjust it with intention.

Editorial Letter

You’ll receive a comprehensive editorial letter outlining:

The core strengths of the manuscript
The key issues shaping the draft at a global level
How character, plot, and worldbuilding support or undermine each other
The highest-impact changes to focus on in your next draft

This letter is designed to help you revise with intention.

In-Manuscript Comments

You’ll receive targeted margin comments throughout the manuscript that:

Highlight moments that are already working
Flag places where clarity, tension, or motivation weaken
Identify patterns affecting the story at a global level
Offer specific guidance where revision will have the most impact

These comments are intentional and selective. They are designed to support revision, not overwhelm you.

Priorities & Scene Mapping

An overview designed to help you focus your revision and see how that focus plays out across the manuscript.

Includes:

One to two primary revision priorities to anchor your revision effort
A scene-level map outlining each scene’s strengths and pressure points
Clear markers showing where scenes connect directly to the revision priorities

The goal isn’t to prescribe how you revise. It’s to help you see where to focus, so revision moves forward deliberately.

60-Minute Debrief Call

After you’ve reviewed your feedback, we meet for a focused hour to:

Walk through the big-picture insights
Clarify the revision roadmap
Answer questions about the feedback
Identify the best place to begin revising

You leave the call with confidence and a clear starting point.

30 Days of Clarification Support

For 30 days after delivery, you may email clarifying questions related to your feedback or revision framework.

Support is available during weekday business hours and is limited to clarification of the feedback provided. This does not include review of revised pages, new material, or ongoing revision guidance.

Rate:

$0.06 per word (CAD)

Sarah has edited two of my novels, one published and one forthcoming in 2025. Her feedback definitely sped up my writing process—my last manuscript was submitted two months early, and my in-house editor requested very few additional revisions. I found Sarah’s feedback was relevant and insightful. She clearly identified areas for strengthening without impinging on my vision or my writing voice and her suggestions were valuable in prompting new ideas. I will definitely work with Sarah again.

Working with Sarah Brinley as my developmental editor was an absolute pleasure and a privilege. Sarah has a passion for storytelling that comes through in everything she does. She understands what goes into creating a great story and has a keen eye for narrowing in on the strengths and weaknesses of a manuscript. What I appreciated most about working with her, though, was the kindness with which she approached the process. Her feedback was helpful and insightful while also being incredibly supportive. I felt like she was on my team and truly wanted me and my project to thrive. If you choose her as your editor, you're making a great investment in your work.

Sarah was an alpha reader for my debut novel, Control My Night, and the developmental feedback she gave during this critical stage of my manuscript’s formulation was so helpful! Sarah has such a safe and gentle way of imparting suggestions, so you always feel like you’re in safe hands. She works as a collaborator, not as a judge. Her knack for smelling out opportunities and weak spots with character arcs is amazing!

Sarah is a storyteller in her bones! She has a way of seeing the core of your story and helping you bring it to the surface. Her ability to see my story as a whole and immediately pick out what is working/isn't has been incredibly helpful and leveled up my writing. Her feedback always leaves me feeling inspired and motivated to keep going, plus I have tons of fun getting to brainstorm ideas with her. As a writer, story ideas are precious and vulnerable, and I trust Sarah with all of mine. I know she's going to take care of my ideas and help me make them the best they can be.

You can't go wrong working with Sarah. She's without a doubt one of the most conscientious human beings I know, a skilled editor, and probably more worried about taking care of your heart than you are. She's also smart as all get out. Just do it!

Sarah has an excellent understanding of story craft and structure. She delivers honest and helpful feedback in a respectful way. She is the perfect person to help take your writing to the next level!

Sarah is amazing! Her feedback precisely pointed out strengths and weaknesses of my text and offered actionable recommendations on how to improve without being overbearing or prescriptive. She will absolutely make you a better writer!