Your book draft is done, and now it's time to make it sparkle.
A developmental edit will help you work magic in revisions.
The Cauldron
Developmental Editing
Finishing a book draft is a major milestone. You’ve climbed to the summit, maybe fought a dragon or two along the way, and the destination is in sight. Except when you get there, you realize there are more peaks ahead: Revisions. Rewrites. Mountaints of major and minor edits stand between you and a publication-ready manuscript.
It’s time to start preparing your draft for submission to agents or getting ready to publish it yourself, and you already know that is going to entail a lot of additional work.
Reaching new heights with your manuscript isn’t a journey you can undertake alone. It’s time to call in more support. (Seriously—there’s neuroscience research on this: we’re really bad at editing our own writing!) A developmental edit might be the next thing your book needs.
You don’t have to figure out the next phase all on your own. Working with the Literary Witch on a developmental edit is a way to inject some magic into the process and to get the deep, supportive, and critical feedback you need to revise your book with confidence.
Welcome to The Cauldron—developmental editing for motivated writers who have a finished draft of their book and want to know what comes next.
The Cauldron is a developmental editing process that will kickstart the transformation of your manuscript, taking it from an early draft to a more refined, powerful version of your writing. Whether you plan to submit your book to agents and publishers or self-publish, a developmental edit can help you see what work is still ahead of you and tackle it without fear.
The Cauldron is for writers working on nonfiction books (especially thought leadership and memoirs) as well as novels (especially genre fiction).
No one writes a perfect first draft, and every book benefits from a rigorous outside edit. As the Literary Witch, I step in to offer an expert perspective on your draft to help you uncover new insights and develop a clear plan for revising your book so it has the greatest chance of success.
The Cauldron is a space of transformation that invites us to assess the raw material of your existing draft and continue to refine it. Real writing alchemy happens when you take your creative intuition and combine it with targeted feedback.
The Cauldron is the container where your draft improves and the finished book makes itself visible.
The Cauldron
- Clarity of thought and expression
• Organization
• Idea development
• Pacing and structure
• Story arc
• Character development
• Plot
• Themes
• And more
Rather than making direct changes to the manuscript itself, I write extensive in-line comments with questions, observations, and suggestions. My feedback is suggestive rather than directive, and I provide a detailed rationale for the revisions I recommend. I point out patterns, highlight what is working well in the writing, and keep my feedback focused on helping you grow your craft so you can move toward your publishing goals more quickly.
I am a demanding editor, but also a kind one. (Said another way, I’m going to push you to do your best work without making you cry.) One of my gifts is seeing the gap between where your draft is now and where it could be with revisions, and helping you chart a course to get from here to there.
In addition to in-line feedback, I create a revision roadmap—an editorial letter with an explanation of my feedback and an organized, easy-to-follow plan for tackling the recommended changes. You’ll receive a high-level overview of what to expect as you review my in-line feedback, and the revision roadmap offers suggested editorial starting points based on how the changes will affect the next draft of your book.
The Cauldron is a developmental editing process that provides incisive, in-depth editorial feedback to help you transform your book into the best version of itself.
It all starts with a vibe check.
You can schedule a call to talk about your book—the current state of the draft, your major questions, and your publishing goals—to see if we are a good fit to work together. I’ll also offer a test edit of up to 5 pages (or a maximum if 1,250 words) so you can experience what it’s like to receive feedback from me before signing on for a full edit.
From there, we begin putting everything we've got into The Cauldron.
Gather the Ingredients: We’ll meet for 30 minutes to set the stage. During this meeting, we will have time for a creative ritual and a discussion of the draft, the developmental editing plan, and any specific points you want particular feedback on. After that, you’ll send me your manuscript—and then find something else to do while I work on edits!
Let It Brew: I will spend 4-6 weeks with your book manuscript. During this time, I will read the draft multiple times and add my editorial feedback directly to the document. I will also start drafting the revision roadmap. Once my edits are complete, I’ll return the edited manuscript to you along with the revision roadmap.
Close the Circle: To complete the process, we’ll meet for an hour. This is your opportunity to ask questions about my feedback and the suggested revision plan so that you can begin edits with a sense of confidence and clarity about what is most important. We’ll wrap things up with another creative ritual.
At the Close the Circle stage, you can also choose to request additional support. The three-month Grimoire pathway is available as an add-on once developmental edits are complete. The Grimoire offers one-on-one coaching while you revise the manuscript, including two monthly one-on-one meetings for accountability and assistance.
The Cauldron is designed to help you transform your writing and step fully into your power as an author so you can revise your book and move it toward the next stage of its publication journey.
How does it work?
- A free vibe check meeting and sample edit of up to 1,000 words
- A 30-minute opening call with a creative ritual and discussion of the draft
- Detailed in-line comments and feedback on your draft
- A revision roadmap with summary feedback and a plan for making changes
- A 60-minute closing call with a discussion of your revision plan and a creative ritual
- The Grimoire (Optional): 3 months of one-on-one coaching as you edit
Investment:
The Cauldron starts at $2,500 for book drafts up to 75,000 words.
If your manuscript is longer than 75,000 words, there is an additional per word fee (.03-.08/word, depending on genre and topic). You’ll have a chance to review the final investment following our vibe check call.
The Grimoire (Optional): If you want one-on-one coaching support while you implement edits, the three-month Grimoire pathway is available for a reduced investment of $3,000 (normally $4,950).
Extended payment plans are available and discounts are provided automatically for queer, neurodivergent, and BIPOC writers, as well as graduate students. More information is available upon request.
- Finished with your book and ready for supportive, critical editorial support that will push you to hone your craft and improve the next draft
- Craving feedback that has a real explanation behind the recommended changes versus a top-down checklist or an automated suggestion that’s probably wrong
- Motivated to transform your draft so that it moves closer to being publication-ready, whether you’re pursuing traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing
- Ready to experience the magic of working on your book in partnership with a writing expert
- A passionate writer who feels unsure about the next right step to take when bringing your book into being
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I'm here 24/7 for you!
Oat cake bonbon lollipop powder tootsie roll brownie bear claw icing marshmallow. Cheesecake gingerbread wafer macaroon chocolate bar ice cream cheesecake.
Danish topping dragée bear claw. Halvah candy marzipan dessert. Liquorice sweet roll ice cream sugar plum caramels candy canes bonbon sesame snaps candy canes. Fruitcake cotton candy soufflé marshmallow sugar plum tart liquorice liquorice.
Weekly sessions
The Cauldron is for you if you are...
"There's no way I would have been able to produce a memoir of this caliber without Bailey's help."
"I now feel like a writer, not just a storyteller. I am looking at the manuscript so differently.
Bailey offers respectful feedback and encouragement."
"It takes a keen and sensitive eye to catch all the discrepancies and an avid lover of words to really grasp the heart of your intention. Bailey did all this and more."
I can't wait to put your book on my shelf.
Here's what my clients are writing.
Magic?
Your writing deserves feedback. You deserve support.
Writing a book is about more than finishing the first draft. It’s also about what goes into the second draft and beyond. It’s easier to grow your craft and get your book ready for publication with help from an engaged and supportive team.
Developmental edits are an investment in yourself as a writer and the future success of your book.
Working with the Literary Witch? That just makes it magical.
Your writing deserves feedback. You deserve support.
©The Literary Witch, 2026