Victoria Barrett's editing skills have been honed as the publisher of Engine Books, where she has personally (and deeply) edited every title, as well as at Freight Stories and Puerto del Sol. She has worked with debut writers and seasoned veterans. The titles have been reviewed positively in places like Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, People, Entertainment Weekly, O Magazine, the Washington Post, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the New York Times Book Review. Engine Books authors speak frequently about Victoria's invaluable ability to read a manuscript on its own terms and help them find the heart of the story.

Victoria offers manuscript consultations, developmental edits, line edits, and publicity plans for fiction writers at all stages of their careers. She also offers book coaching services to writers in all genres. All editing options are available for both book-length manuscripts and shorter works.

Manuscript consultations consist of three reads of a novel, short story collection, or shorter work, beginning with global story consultations, scene- or chapter-level editorial feedback, and conclude with suggestions, whenever possible, for appropriate markets and submission plans for the work. Participating writers may choose written or videoconference feedback at all stages except the line-edit, which will be delievered in writing. Victoria strongly prefers written feedback at all stages, as it provides both writer and editor with a permanent written record.       

Developmental edits consist of an in-depth manuscript read complete with global, story-level notes and, whenever possible, suggestions for appropriate markets or next steps in the development process. Participating writers may choose written or videoconference feedback.

Line edits consist of full sentence-level markups to help writers develop and hone their voices and language choices. They are delivered in writing and accompanied by written observations about general tendencies for writers to amplify and/or address in revision.

Publicity plans are limited to writers with complete manuscripts in literary fiction and related genres. Plans include steps, instructions, and contact information to walk writers through conducting their own publicity process for their books. (Great for writers planning to publish with very small presses or to self-publish. Accuracy of contact information provided is prioritized but not guaranteed.)

Book coaching can take many forms—whatever best serves the writer—including accountability checks, feedback, and other services.

Consultations for complete manuscripts up to 400 pages* in length are $3,500.

Developmental edits and line edits for complete manuscripts up to 400 pages in length are $2,000.

Publicity plans for manuscripts up to 400 pages in length are $750.

Full consultations for shorter works, such as short stories and novellas, are $10/page, with a minimum of $250.    

Developmental edits and line edits for shorter works, such as short stories and novellas, are $5/page.

For all services, 50% payment is due upon scheduling, with the remainder paid when Victoria delivers the final step of feedback. Fees are payable by check, credit card, or PayPal—you can make arrangements when you schedule the consultation.

All page rates are dependent upon standard manuscript format: Times New Roman, 12-point type, double-spaced, one-inch margins.

Book coaching can be priced at $75/hour, or on a project basis to be negotiated.

Victoria is also available for the following for-hire services, which will be quoted on a per-job basis:

cover design and interior layout
print and ebook production
web design