What Type of Edit Does Your Memoir Need?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  What do you dread the most when you open your manuscript?

  • A.
    I am not sure what my book is actually about.
  • B.
    My sentences feel clunky.
  • C.
    I see too many typos and inconsistencies.
  • D.
    I have no idea how to turn my ideas into actual scenes.
• 2.
  If I read one random page from your draft, what would I notice first?

  • A.
    Strong stories, unclear point
  • B.
    Clear ideas, wordy sentences
  • C.
    Solid prose, needs surface-level polish
  • D.
    Raw material, needs shaping and accountability
• 3.
  What drains your creative energy the most?

  • A.
    Choosing what belongs in my memoir and what doesn't
  • B.
    Rewriting sentences over and over
  • C.
    Overthinking commas and semicolons
  • D.
    Not knowing what to write next
• 4.
  What best describes the state of your manuscript today?

  • A.
    80–120K words, messy structure
  • B.
    Solid structure, sentence-level mess
  • C.
    Mostly clean, ready for a final pass
  • D.
    Fifth draft, still unbelievably messy
• 5.
  What feedback do you receive the most often?

  • A.
    Lacks a focus or a thread
  • B.
    Good content, awkward phrasing
  • C.
    Lots of grammar and punctuation errors
  • D.
    The big idea is unclear and needs direction
• 6.
  What kind of help would give you the most relief?

  • A.
    Someone to evaluate structure and scenes
  • B.
    Someone to tune rhythm and phrasing
  • C.
    Someone to catch every tiny error
  • D.
    Someone to help me think and keep me accountable
• 7.
  What style of feedback would be the most helpful to you right now?

  • A.
    "Consider cutting this scene. It does not serve your point."
  • B.
    "Tighten this paragraph and vary sentence length."
  • C.
    "Hyphenation and capitalization will fix this sentence."
  • D.
    "Remember that your point is X. In the next session we'll use that to outline chapter 5."
• 8.
  How do you prefer to work on revising your manuscript?

  • A.
    I want to implement the feedback myself and learn from the process.
  • B.
    I prefer stylistic refinement but with some structure already in place.
  • C.
    I need detailed corrections to finalize my manuscript.
  • D.
    I want professional guidance and accountability throughout the writing process.
• 9.
  What is your current experience level with editing or writing?

  • A.
    I am looking for guidance to improve my content and structure.
  • B.
    I want to refine my prose and stylistic choices.
  • C.
    I need help polishing my grammar and style.
  • D.
    I seek motivation and accountability to complete my manuscript.

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  You need a developmental edit!

  A developmental edit focuses on big picture structure and revision. You want a developmental edit when you're not sure what's working and what's not working. A developmental editor will annotate your manuscript and deliver a thorough editorial letter with actionable feedback. Look for an editor who offers a follow-up call so you can ask any lingering questions.
• 2.
  You need a line edit!

  A line edit focuses on tightening your prose, improving rhythm, word choice, and pacing at the paragraph level. It is suitable when your story has a clear arc but needs stylistic refinement. Request a sample edit before hiring.
• 3.
  You need a copy edit!

  A copy edit ensures your manuscript is grammatically correct, consistent, and polished. It is appropriate when your structure is final and your prose is close to finished. The editor will correct errors and provide a style sheet. Ask about their style guide and whether they provide a style sheet.
• 4.
  You need a developmental edit with a writing coach!

  This setup combines feedback with professional support and accountability. Ideal if you experience procrastination, overwhelm, or lack of inspiration. Ask the coach about their process, timeline, and what to expect during the collaboration.