Introducing
Developmental Editing
The 1:1 Developmental Editing experience to turn your first draft into a publish worthy manuscript under the tough-love guidance of a professional editor & story coach, so you can figure out what's not working in your novel and how to fix it… without losing your voice, your vision, or your sanity via 8,471 rewrites.
If you're a fiction writer working on a meaningful story in a mainstream genre {YA, Fantasy, Romance, or any upmarket fiction with something real to say} at any of the following stages:
- You’re stuck in the editing/rewriting loop with your first draft
- You're hoping to query agents and want to submit the strongest version of your story
- You're gearing up to self-publish and want your novel to match the quality of traditionally-published books.
ANND you find yourself saying…
“I wish someone could just tell me how to fix this damn book once and for all!”
Then, this is for YOU.
SHOW ME HOW IT WORKS
Srishti brings a rare balance of rigor and sensitivity to her work, strengthening the writing while fully respecting the author’s voice.
Aniqa A, Debut Author
Aniqa A, Debut Author
P.S. I'm typically booked out 8-10 weeks in advance! Bookings open for Jan 2027. Apply Now! 💛
REAL TALK: You can self-edit this book ten more times, join another writing group, and read every “writing advice” on the internet...
But none of it can replace a Developmental Editor who knows their SH*T.
In fact, Developmental Editing is THE answer to knowing what's working in your story, what's not, and executing a revision through changes that actually make a difference.
On top of that,
- You get honest constructive feedback along with specific, actionable advice.
- You stop rewriting in circles and start editing with intention
- You save yourself months {sometimes years} of trial-and-error revisions
- You understand WHY something's not working and grow as a writer in the process of making it work
- You get to approach agents, publishers, and your readers with true confidence, holding a manuscript you're proud to put your name on
Buuuuuuuut you might be sitting with your open laptop at 1 am, re-reading Chapter 17 just one more time… and you still can’t tell if it’s actually as good {or bad!} as it seems in your head.
You keep moving things around
Adding scenes, deleting scenes
Tweaking sentences
Changing your character’s eye color for the 5th time {yup, I see you}
But you’ve got NO* idea WHY you’re doing WHAT you’re doing.
ANNND…
You’re wondering if anyone will ever read this crap except your mom.
“Who the heck am I to call myself a writer?!” you think.
And I TOTALLY get it!!!
You might be this close 🤏 to throwing your book out of the window.
But that doesn’t mean you should.
‘cause as someone who was once exactly where you are….
I am SO excited to say that it does NOT have to be this way.
What if you could get real, constructive feedback on your novel, grounded in *your* author vision from a tough-love editor and know *exactly* what to revise {& how}
— all without 8,371 rewrites?
{And finally finish editing that damn book once & for all?! 😍}
Especially if you’re that introvert writer girlie who stays up at 2 am scribbling notes on non-existent people she’s made up and writing stories she’s afraid to share…
Girl, you deserve this!
And that’s why, over 5+ years and 170+ manuscripts, I’ve built my Developmental Editing experience around a process that tells you WHAT’s not working, WHY it’s not working, and hands you a few specific, actionable ways to make your vision come to life your way.
Oh, and not to forget — I do NOT use AI for my client projects… ew!
‘cause before being your developmental editor, I’m an actual human being who is CRAZY passionate about how stories work and how to make them work EVEN better…
ANND I’m on a mission to help YOU revise that damn book like the author you already are!
Here’s why my
1:1 Developmental Editing Experience is ABSOLUTELY worth it!
01
Author Vision-Led Approach
Your author vision acts as my anchor to ground the feedback in, so you’re revising intentionally towards the story in *your* mind {over a random “bestseller” template on the internet}.
02
3 Layers of Feedback
You get 3 layers of specific, actionable feedback via In-Line Comments, Chapter Analysis and Editorial Letter; all working together so you know what's off, why it's off, and where to look next.
03
Post-Edit 1:1 Support {Calls + Email}
You get two 90-min 1:1 coaching calls after the edit to discuss the feedback with me in real time PLUS 3 months of email support, so you’re not navigating anything alone.
04
100% Human Edits {Zero-AI Policy}
You can be fully confident that no AI has ever touched your manuscript ‘cause all my feedback comes straight from my own *human* head and heart. It’s a non-negotiable for me!!
05
Returning-Client Preferred Pricing
Once you've worked with me, you're officially part of the Kathansh Happy Authors Circle, with special pricing on future coaching calls, second read-throughs AND line edits {if you need them}
06
Edit With Ease Pathway & Resource Kit
You’ll get my signature editing system, showing you exactly HOW to execute your revision using my feedback. Launching mid-2027, and yours for free if you're already a client.
Imagine how it will feel…
- Getting 3 different opinions from 3 different beta readers and feeling more confused than ever!
- Worrying an editor will change too much of your story and it won’t feel like your own anymore…
- Tweaking random sentences and changing your MC’s last name 3 times… without knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing.
- Overthinking about whether your story is even worth it and always feelings like it’s not there yet…
- Getting specific, actionable advice from a creative professional who knows her sh*t & makes you pull yours together
- Reading through your feedback, realizing every suggestion sounds like a clearer, sharper version of YOUR author vision.
- Opening your feedback and finally thinking, "oh. THAT'S what's going on & I know exactly how to fix it"
- Saying "this book is ready" out loud, and actually believing it.
Ready to make it YOUR reality?
You're invited to
Developmental Editing
{The Complete Author Feedback Package}
The 1:1 Developmental Edit experience built entirely around YOUR author vision, so you know exactly what to revise and why, without losing what makes it yours… ANND turn that damn book into the strongest version of your story ever to exist.
YES! I’M READY TO APPLY
Here’s what you get:
Developmental Editorial Letter
A detailed assessment of your story as a whole… covering everything from plot structure to character development to thematic depth {and so much more} allowing you to see your manuscript's biggest flaws & opportunities in one glance.
Inside you're getting:
- A big-picture walk through of each major story element one at a time with special focus on suggestions grounded in *your* author vision.
- Specific examples pulled directly from *your* manuscript to show you what works, what doesn’t and why.
- Every recommendation ranked by priority {fix-this-first, tackle-this-next}, so you're never stuck wondering where to actually begin.
The Chapter Analysis
A visual spreadsheet analysing the chapter by chapter flow of your manuscript; highlighting what's working, what's underwhelming, and specifically how each one can be strengthened to match your author vision.
Inside you're getting:
- Individual notes for every single chapter helping you track story flow and reader emotions
- A clear breakdown of “what happens in the story” from reader perspective, what’s working effectively enough and what might not be hitting the mark w.r.t. your author vision.
- An exclusive suggestions column, so you know exactly what to revise per chapter.
In-Line Comments
Story-specific comments dropped directly within your manuscript, flagging smaller-scale details {plot holes, pacing dips, character inconsistencies} that might not make it into the Editorial Letter or Chapter Analysis.
Inside you're getting:
- A mix of praise and critique with a balance of reader reactions vs editorial observations.
- Easy cross-referencing & expansion of feedback, so nothing from Chapter Analysis or the Editorial Letter feels disconnected.
- A quick mark-up of recurring story-craft patterns {like too much telling over showing, or missing foreshadowing} wherever they show up.
What My Author Clients are saying:
I hired Srishti for my 89,000-word adult fantasy novel. Man, am I glad I did!
Jennifer Waldrop
Author of the bestselling GROW series, USA
Srishti brings a rare balance of rigor and sensitivity to her work, strengthening the writing while fully respecting the author’s voice.
Srishti brings a rare balance of rigor and sensitivity to her work, strengthening the writing while fully respecting the author’s voice.
Working with Srishti was a deeply reassuring and professional experience. Despite this being my debut as an author, she never treated my work or questions as anything less than worthy of time and care. She answered every doubt with patience and clarity, and took the time to explain her entire developmental editing process in detail.
I would wholeheartedly recommend her to any writer, especially first-time authors.
Aniqa
Debut Author
Srishti went above and beyond with her feedback.
Summer Story
Debut Author
Srishti provided thoughtful, detailed feedback that went far beyond surface-level comments, offering insights into pacing, character motivations, story structure, worldbuilding, and overall marketability.
Her notes were thorough, constructive, and clearly came from someone who genuinely engaged with the manuscript.
What impressed me most was her enthusiasm throughout the process. It never felt like she was simply checking boxes, she was invested in the story and took the time to explain both what was working and where improvements could strengthen the manuscript. Her feedback helped me identify key areas for revision while also giving me confidence in the strengths of the novel.
Professor Chaos
Debut Author
Working with Srishti has been a pleasure.
Kenneth Pfeiffer
Author of Underground Profits to Wallstreet Wins
Srishti's feedback is extremely helpful and very detailed!
Vivian Sader
Author of A Curse of Illusions
Once you sign up, here's what happens next:
How It Works:
STEP 1
Author Vision Playbook
You'll fill out my Author Vision Playbook, questionnaire designed to help me understand YOUR vision, your goals, and exactly what you want out of this edit before I even open your manuscript.
STEP 2
Kick-Off Call
We'll hop on a quick 45-min kick-off call to go over your Playbook answers together, so I can ask any clarifying questions and make sure we’re on the same page about your author vision.
STEP 3
Edited Files
I'll critique your manuscript, and deliver your developmental edit {the Editorial Letter, Chapter Analysis, and In-Line Comments} straight to your inbox within the agreed timeline.
STEP 4
Post-Edit Support
You'll hop on two 90-min 1:1 coaching calls with me after going through your feedback to discuss any follow-up questions you may have around my feedback and brainstorm potential revision directions.
ANNNNND THERE'S BONUSES TOO!
Post-Edit 1:1 Coaching Calls x 2
You get two 90-minute calls with me, scheduled within 15 days of your developmental edit being delivered to your inbox. We’ll go through your follow-up questions and brainstorm potential directions for your revision together.
Three Months of Post-Edit Email Support
After the two bonus coaching calls, you’ll have 3 months of support via email or WhatsApp to ask me any more follow-up questions… ‘cause I know questions may arise once you sit down to revise.
Special Discounted Second Read-Through
Once you've revised based on my feedback, you get access to a discounted second read-through {if booked within 6 months of completing your original edit}, so I can make sure your revisions actually landed in line with your author vision.
This round is not a full developmental edit, but a compressed version focusing specifically on your revised sections.
Kathansh Happy Authors Circle
Once we work together, you're officially part of my Happy Authors Circle, with priority booking and preferred rates on future coaching calls, line edits, and more books by you. I'll be there whenever you need me again in your author journey.
Author Spotlight Interview
When your book comes out, I want in on the celebration too. You'll get featured on my blog through an Author Spotlight Interview {or a guest post, whichever you'd rather do}, talking about your book, your process, and your journey as an author.
Edit With Ease Pathway & Resource Kit {coming mid-2027}
I'm currently building my signature revision pathway to help writers like you use feedback more effectively and fine-tune their self-editing process. Once it launches, it's yours for free if you're already a developmental editing client. More on this soon!
So… what's the investment?
I do NOT do one-size-fits-all pricing and
I don't think you'd want me to either.
‘cause every book is different.
And the level of time, attention, energy and effort required can vary a LOT.
However, I do work within a fair investment range, built from years of doing this work.
Now where YOU land within that range depends on your word count, timeline, and the depth of work your story actually needs.
Which is why, instead of throwing a random number at you, I prefer to first look at your specific project, understand your needs and then, give you a custom quote.
If you’re ready, just fill out this Developmental Editing Application, share a sample of your manuscript, and I'll get back to you within 1-2 business days :)
Ready to Apply?
Here's What Happens Next:
STEP 1
Fill Out My Application
You'll fill out my Developmental Editing Application, telling me about your story, your goals, and where you're at in your writing journey.
STEP 2
Discovery Call
We'll hop on a discovery call to get to know each other, discuss your project in more detail, and go over specifics like your investment, timeline, and a sample preview of my feedback.
STEP 3
Contract & Payment
If we're a good fit, I'll send over the contract. Once that's signed and your payment's in, we're officially ready to get started on your book.
So, why should you trust me with your book?
Fair question! And I’m glad you asked :)
I {Srishti} am on a mission to help writers write & revise that damn book into a publish-ready manuscript they're proud to put their name on.
‘cause I know one thing very clearly:
You want to write that book, know your story’s actually working, and get there without losing yourself, your voice, or your sanity via 8,471 rewrites.
I know this ’cause about ten years ago, I was just like you, scribbling my first novel in the middle of a BTech degree, wondering why there weren’t more real, accessible writing resources out there.
That drive took me all the way to the US, where I spent nearly 3 years earning my MFA in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco. And when I returned to India in 2024, I knew exactly what I wanted to build.
That’s how Kathansh was born: to make the knowledge of fiction writing feel accessible AND empowering for writers worldwide.
Now, with 5+ years in the industry {winning contests, working at a publishing house, and now running Kathansh}, I’ve helped 80+ writers turn their messiest ideas into manuscripts they’re genuinely proud of.
Everything I do here is backed by one belief: storytelling is sacred and YOU deserve to tell your story in your own voice, in your own way.
And I’m here to make that happen for you!
YES I’M READY
Srishti did an excellent job on my manuscript. She infused a lot of in-depth suggestions that I will incorporate into the story. It was a very satisfying partnership and I'll definitely use her services in the future!
Karen Ann Hopkins, Author of The Fortuna Coin
Karen Ann Hopkins, Author of The Fortuna Coin
Woes & Worries of a Writer
Before You Apply…
Let's Clear the Air
I’m not gonna lie to you and say they’re cheap ‘cause they aren’t {p.s. if you do find a too-good-to-be-true deal, run away from the scam!}. The process of developmental editing is significantly time taking and exhaustive in nature, so you’re paying for years & years of storytelling experience learnt via life and 100+ books …. actually applied to your story.
And that, my dear writer, is what I’d call an investment.
Also, what’s the cost **of putting out a book you might be embarrassed of years down the line?
Yup, now THAT’s expensive!
Cause your friends and family love YOU and they would always have a bias towards not hurting your feelings. Even if they want to give constructive feedback, it’s usually opinionated like a reader’s reaction… and that’s not the same as a creative professional who has read hundreds of manuscripts and can tell you WHY something’s actually working, or not.
AI can spot patterns, yes, but it simply cannot understand what your story is truly trying to say. Developmental Editing is about subtext, intention, and the emotional truth underneath your words, things only a human who’s read your book AND lived a real life… can catch.
That’s exactly why I run a 100% Human Edits {Zero-AI} Policy.
No exceptions.
Straight answer — nope, it’s not required.
And you CAN self-edit if you wish to.
But before you make that choice, I’d like to make you aware of two things:
1) You’re most likely too close to your own story {than you realize} and that is going to make it ten times harder than it has to be… PLUS all the years you’ll lose going back & forth in your head could be better spent writing more stories you love.
2) Publishing is a competitive field. Whether you’re planning to query agents or self-publish, either way, to have a real chance, you’ve got to turn your book into the strongest version of the story you want to tell. That’s where Developmental Editing really comes in… to make sure you’re not losing out on what you don’t know in the first place.
Still wondering if you should apply?
Stop overthinking and apply TODAY
if any of this is true:
- You’ve just finished the first draft, read it a couple times and maybe struggling with what to do next… yup, just apply & I’ll take it from there!
- You’re done self-editing your manuscript… again and again and again… and you know you’ve done the best you could have all by yourself.
- You’re ready to take your writing seriously. And this isn't just a “hobby” for you. It's a story you're actively working to finish and share with readers.
- You have a strong vision for your story and want an editor who strengthens that vision, not one who tries to rewrite it into their own.
- You're planning to query agents for traditional publishing and want to submit the strongest version of your story to have a real chance.
- You’re preparing to self-publish, and you want to walk into that process with the confidence and quality of a traditionally published book… Without worrying if it’s "good enough” yet.
- You care about staying true to your voice, and you want a 100% human editor who swears to not using AI in any client projects ANND is ready to sign a contract on these terms!
FAQs
I personally read every single application and if it feels like a good fit, I'll invite you to hop on a {free} discovery call with me within the next 1-2 business days. If it's not quite the right match, I'll let you know that too, so you're never left wondering.
Developmental editing works best on a completed first draft {or a self-edited one} because I'm evaluating your story as a whole. If you're not quite there yet but feel you might be in the next few weeks/months, you can apply anyway and we can talk timing on our discovery call.
If you are an existing author client of mine and need me to look at a specific portion of a revised manuscript I've already worked on in the past… I can surely help with that.
Or if you are new client hoping to get my opinion on the opening chapters of your book, then my Editorial Assessment could be a better fit.
My primary expertise is in fiction. I specifically love working with upmarket fiction {i.e. meaningful stories in mainstream genres} like YA, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, and Thrillers, basically any story with something real to say. Sometimes I even take up selective pieces under literary fiction if I connect with your story idea.
I normally don't take nonfiction for developmental editing. However, I do take up certain selective projects where the genre lines get blurred… like Memoirs and Auto-Fiction novels {stories inspired by real life but lightly modified for effect}.
While I don't do typical full-chapter sample edits {because meaningful feedback needs full story context}, I do offer a *Developmental Preview* i.e. a handful of example comments on a single page of your manuscript that I walk you through on the live call, so you can get a real feel for my style before deciding.
I can also show you examples of my feedback from my other author clients’ manuscripts {with their permission, of course!}
You don’t see a price on this page because I do NOT want to throw out random numbers before understanding your manuscript's full scope and your author goals. Doing so risks setting wrong expectations and creating more confusion later. So, I reserve your custom quote until after I've reviewed your application and understood your goals on our discovery call.
That's exactly what our discovery call is for! It's a no-pressure conversation where we both get a feel for whether this is the right match, for your story and for how we work together. If it's not, no hard feelings, I'd rather be upfront than take on a project that isn't right for either of us.
Then we talk about it! Creative differences are normal and to be expected with any editor.
My feedback is meant to open a conversation around an editorial observation and my suggestions are meant to get you brainstorming for a solution.
You're always the final decision-maker on your story, my job is to make sure every choice you make is an intentional one.
I typically get booked out 8-10 weeks in advance, and at any given time, I'm usually accepting projects within the next 3-4 months. If your timeline's further out than that, I'll add you to my waitlist at no charge, and you'll only pay once your 3-4 month slot comes up.
If you want to block my dates for a specific month in the future {without being on the waitlist}, that’s possible with a 40% deposit fee.
Turnaround depends on your manuscript's word count and where you land in my schedule. Usually, a 50k-word novel can take me about 3-4 weeks from the day I start on your book. We'll confirm your exact timeline on our discovery call, so you know precisely when to expect your feedback.
Sometimes I can, depending on my availability and timeline, but it's never guaranteed. A rush order means squeezing in extra hours on my end, so it comes with a rush fee on top of your regular investment, decided once I understand your project's scope. Please mention your timeline on your application, and we'll discuss whether it's possible on our discovery call.
Nope, not for your manuscript. I have a 100 % human editing policy for all my client projects and all feedback comes from me reading and thinking through your story myself. It's a non-negotiable, written directly into our contract.
A full transparency disclosure: I might use AI in the internal tasks of my business {marketing, research, boring admin stuff — things that do NOT form part of the services I offer}, so I can dedicate more of my human brain and my precious time for my client projects.
Also, some writers prefer to use AI-notetaker bots as meeting recorders for our coaching calls, but that remains the specific writer’s choice and is never my policy. I’m happy to use regular call recording with no AI anywhere.
My 100% Human Edits policy is about MY work on your book, every suggestion and piece of feedback is entirely mine and never AI-generated. What I do require is that the manuscript itself is genuinely written by you, not AI. If you used a tool to brainstorm an idea or organize your thoughts along the way, that's your process and your preference, but I only work on manuscripts where the story on the page is authentically yours.
I also accept books written by *human* ghostwriters as long as you legally hold the rights for it.
Absolutely! Your manuscript is shared with me privately and kept fully confidential, this is covered directly in our contract. You also retain copyright and ownership to your book and gain full permission to my suggestions & feedback in your revised manuscript any way that best serves you.
Editorial Assessment gives you my editor's perspective on your manuscript's strengths and weaknesses, so you become aware of what's actually holding your story back. It's a great fit if you've already had a developmental edit elsewhere and want a second opinion, or if you're stuck in the querying phase and want an editor's opinion on the story before sending out more submissions.
Developmental Editing is the full author’s feedback package and a lot more exhaustive in nature. As your developmental editor, I’ll be closely engaging with your narrative to identify what's working, what's not, WHY it's not, and then suggest potential directions to actually fix it.
Just reach out! You can email me directly at hello@kathansh.com, or use the chat icon on the bottom left of this page to message me on WhatsApp, whichever's easier for you.
Soooo….
If you're still here deciding if this is for you, there's one last thing I'll say.
And it’s this:
No matter what you decide, whether you choose to sign up for Developmental Editing with me or not… DO NOT spend another day overthinking your book and yourself.
‘Cause you DON’T want to look back later and think, “Gosh, I missed out on so much progress, I wish I’d started sooner.”
And that's because I KNOW that this experience will:
- Give you the specific, actionable feedback you've been craving
- Protect your voice and your vision every single step of the way
- AND hand you the confidence to call yourself an author, not just someone "working on a book for 3 years"
I’m here to help YOU write and revise that damn book into something you're truly proud of.
THIS is your *official* invite to fill out the application and take one more step towards your author dreams.
With so much heart,
Srishti
RECAP
Here’s Everything you get
when you sign up
THE EXPERIENCE
- Author Vision Playbook: to get you feedback grounded in YOUR author vision
- Kick-Off Call: to ensure we’re on the same page about your vision before I start the edit.
- 100% Human Edits Policy: every suggestion comes from my own *human* head and heart
- Developmental Editorial Letter: a full assessment of your story's big-picture elements
- Chapter Analysis: a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of what's working, what's not, and why
- In-Line Comments: story-specific notes flagging the exact moments within manuscript
THE BONUSES
- Post-Edit 1:1 Coaching Calls x2 : to talk through your feedback and brainstorm revision directions
- 3 Months of Post-Edit Email Support: to ask follow-up questions at your leisure
- Discounted Second Read-Through: to make sure your revisions actually landed
- Kathansh Happy Authors Circle: priority booking & preferred rates for future projects
- Author Spotlight Interview: celebrating your book {when published} via a featured blog post
- Edit With Ease Pathway & Resource Kit {coming mid-2027}: yours free as an existing client
