A Professional Look at Your Manuscript
You’ve taken your manuscript as far as you can on your own—for now.
You’ve written pages—maybe many pages. You care about the work. You may even feel close.
But at a certain point, effort isn’t the problem.
What’s needed is a way to see the work clearly—and a path forward.
Developmental Editing and Coaching is for writers who are ready for the next step
“Katherine led this manuscript out of those rough stages and helped me create a story I can feel proud of.”
— Sue Lamoree, author of The Invisible Thread (multi award-winner)
What are Developmental Editing & Coaching?
I use both terms—developmental editing and coaching—to describe this work.
Developmental editing looks at the manuscript itself:
- the underlying movement of the story
- structure, conflict, and arc
- what’s working—and what isn’t yet
It’s about seeing the book clearly.
Coaching is where the work continues.
It’s the ongoing work of:
- making decisions
- revising the manuscript
- staying connected to the story as it evolves
And support for the later work of:
- Deciding between indie or traditional publishing
- Creating synopses and proposals
- Querying
Most writers need all of these:
- clarity about the book
- support as they bring it to life
- direction for what happens next
How We Begin
Free Introductory Conversation
A 30-minute conversation about your manuscript and what you’re working toward.
If you’re working on a book and wondering what your next step should be, this is a place to begin. A chance for us to talk about your project and whether working together would be a good fit.
Book an Introductory Conversation
Clarity Session
Investment: $400
A focused 90-minute developmental session that brings clarity to your manuscript and what will move it forward.
Before we meet, you’ll send:
- a brief synopsis
- the opening pages of your manuscript
During the session, we’ll:
- explore what’s emerging in your manuscript
- talk through what you want the work to do
- look at how that’s showing up on the page
- identify possible directions forward
You’ll leave with a clear sense of direction and next steps.
This is a strong place to begin if you’d like a closer, professional look at your work.
Deeper Work
Manuscript Assessment
Investment: $1500
A developmental assessment of the opening portion of your manuscript.
You’ll send up to 50 pages, and I’ll read with an eye toward:
- the underlying movement of the story
- character and narrative momentum
- where the book is holding together—and where it isn’t
We’ll meet for a 90-minute session to map out:
- what’s working
- what needs to change
- how to approach the next phase of revision
Full Manuscript Review
Investment: $3000
A comprehensive developmental edit of your full manuscript (up to 75k words).
This includes:
- a full read-through
- structural and developmental feedback
- a detailed conversation about the direction of the book
How the work builds
Many writers begin with an Introductory Conversation, while others move directly into a Clarity Session.
From there, we decide together what the manuscript needs.
Some continue into a Manuscript Evaluation or Full Review. Others move into ongoing coaching as they revise.
Katherine is capable of reading something I’ve written as if she has met my characters and makes room for them in her thoughts about what they might want or need. This is an amazing gift.
— Bernice Zuckerberg Gordon
Coaching: Bringing the Book to Life
The developmental work shows you what the book needs.
Coaching is where we actually do the work of bringing it there.
We meet regularly as you revise—staying in close conversation with the manuscript, tracking changes, making decisions, and keeping the story aligned with its deeper movement.
Most successful writers work with me twice monthly, which provides the strongest balance of momentum and integration.
This work unfolds over time, so coaching is structured as a one-year engagement.
The standard investment is $600 per month when the year is paid in advance.
Writers often begin with a Clarity Session and then decide whether they’d like ongoing support.
The Labyrinth
Charter Membership — $37/month
Premium Membership — $97/month
Many writers complement their coaching work with Labyrinth membership—a space for:
- workshops
- community
- monthly salons
- group coaching (Premium)
- ongoing connection to the work
Labyrinth can provide a meaningful layer of support between sessions.
About My Work
I’m the author of seven books and I’ve been developing manuscripts and teaching writers for more than three decades. My work draws on a background in education and theatre, and I use a range of approaches from the structured and analytical to the intuitive and embodied.
More than anything, I help writers see their work clearly, often in ways they haven’t been able to see it themselves.
I specialize in that moment when everything begins to come together.
What Writers Say
Katherine’s insightful thoughts and writing exercises have helped me to tease out the strands of my novel draft at so many crucial stages—from that initial big idea with a vague sense of characters and trajectory to the complex task of weaving a compelling narrative tapestry. As I look toward a finished work in a new and uncharted genre, I find myself returning to those insights over and over.
— Holly Cupala, author of Tell Me a Secret and Don’t Breathe a Word
I have been taking writing classes from Katherine Grace Bond since 2012 and have worked with her as my writing coach from 2023-2025. Katherine has a wonderful clear and concrete teaching style combined with a thoughtful and flexible personality. Working with her has allowed me to gain an almost indescribable level of insight into uplifting my own personal craft of writing.
— Debra Waxman
Begin
If you’re ready to take the next step with your manuscript:
Book an Introductory Conversation
Or reach out if you’re not sure where to begin.