When the path from premises to Conclusion is OBSCURED, I can illuminate your argument.
I am a developmental editor:
I specialize in improving the content and structure of manuscripts.
There are many types of editing, focusing on things like grammar, formatting, or manuscript acquisition. As a nonfiction developmental editor, my strength is analyzing and refining ideas.
Within dev editing, my specialty is helping academic and trade-nonfiction writers improve the clarity, flow, and logical consistency of their arguments.
Services
If you’re writing persuasive nonfiction, especially in science or philosophy, I can ensure that your arguments are expressed as convincingly as possible.
Rates are approximate, and may vary according to the density of the material.

manuscript Evaluation
A high-level analysis of structural and logical issues, without suggested fixes.
TRADE NONFICTION: $0.035/w
ACADEMIC TEXT: $0.060/w

DEVELOPMENTAL EDIT
A more thorough critique of a manuscript, including suggestions for big-picture revisions.
TRADE NONFICTION: $0.040/w
ACADEMIC TEXT: $0.065/w

Book Doctoring
A comprehensive, multi-stage edit, altering, rearranging, and deleting text where necessary.
TRADE NONFICTION: $0.050/w
ACADEMIC TEXT: $0.070/w
IN NEED OF MY SERVICES?
FAQ
+ Which service tier do I need?
A manuscript evaluation is best if all you want is an overview of potential big-picture problems with your manuscript. It will be up to you to figure out the best way to fix them and implement the changes.
A developmental edit is best if you also want my detailed suggestions on how to fix the problems I identify. I will not directly edit your text, but I will provide a thorough editorial note that includes suggested revisions, and some marginal comments on the draft.
Book doctoring is best if you want me to handle the whole process, from assessing the manuscript through implementing the revisions I suggest. After providing my assessment, I will consult thoroughly with you to arrive at mutually agreed-upon solutions before I begin rearranging and deleting text, adding transitions, and rewording sentences to fit the new structure.
If you’re not confident that you want to commit to the more expensive options, you can hire me for a lower tier to begin with, and later decide if you want to upgrade — your initial payment will be counted toward the final total amount.
+ What’s the difference between a beta read and a manuscript evaluation?
While both beta readers and dev editors will identify problems with a manuscript, beta readers‘ notes don’t usually explore why the problems are problems. A beta reader’s comments will often be brief, subjective, or opaque (e.g., “This doesn’t make sense”), because they take for granted that the author will understand how to diagnose and fix the problem once it is identified.
A dev editor providing a manuscript evaluation will be much more specific and thorough about what the problem is (e.g., “You seem to be treating these two concepts as distinct, but it’s unclear what the distinction is. If there is no meaningful difference, that would have substantial implications for your overall argument because…”). A beta reader will also not usually provide as much broad, big-picture structural feedback (e.g., which chapters or sections can be cut, what ideas need to be added or embellished, the core narrative that should be emphasized).
+ Do you correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, word usage, or formatting? / Can you write a book based my outline?
No, these are not the role of developmental editors. Correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, and so on are what copyeditors do. Writing original text based on another person’s idea is the role of ghostwriters. You can learn more about the distinctions between different types of editing in this guide for hiring editors provided by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
+ How far along should my manuscript be if I want to make use of your services?
You can have anything from an outline to a complete first draft. If you have a more polished draft, you can still hire me, but you will likely have to redo a lot of that work after making broad structural changes.
+ Can you do a quick turnaround?
No: I work part-time, so if you have an upcoming deadline, I will likely not be your best choice.
Contact
Who I am
Despite leaving a career in research, I will always be an academic at heart.
I received a PhD in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, but decided I wanted to make a broader impact than I could as a professor or researcher. I aim to improve trade nonfiction on academic subjects, in order to deliver their content most effectively to lay audiences.
My passion is honing arguments and clarifying theses wherever I find them.
Anna Sedlacek, PhD
Blog
Thoughts of a Survival Machine
I love to bring philosophy to any topic I can, and I have a passion for philosophy of science and scientific literacy. I maintain this blog primarily as an outlet for honing my thought processes and improving the foundations of my own beliefs.
Basic Instinct
Genetic determinism in its purest form may be scientifically incoherent, but it is worth investigating the fears that often surround it.
On the Nature of Natural Selection
If you hear “natural selection” and your mind jumps to “survival of the fittest,” this post is for you. I’ll strip the theory of evolution by natural selection down to the studs, in order to rebuild it without misconceptions.
The Phenotype Pincer
Does evolutionary psychology erase moral responsibility? The short answer is no, but the long answer is more complex than we like to think.