The Developmental Editing Program

BLACKBIRD WRITING STUDIO

The Developmental Editing Program

By the time a writer reaches this tier, they have done something rare: they have stayed. Through the Bones of Storytelling, through the curated workshop, through the thirty-week formation. They have committed to the long game.

This is close, collaborative, professional work. What traditional publishing once offered its writers — a devoted editor who loves the work and understands what it is trying to become — is what this program provides. The result is not a polished draft. It is a manuscript ready to meet the world.

PART ONE

The Full Manuscript Read

Offered seasonally · Limited availability · Enrolled students only

Before a writer can know where their manuscript needs to go, someone who understands story at the deepest level must read the whole of it with developmental eyes — tracking structure, arc, character, thematic coherence, narrative momentum, and the singular logic of this particular book.

Jennifer reads the complete manuscript, then produces a written assessment covering:

The written assessment is followed by a 90-minute debrief conversation. The writer leaves with the map and the compass.

PRICING

Availability: The Full Manuscript Read opens in June. Spots are limited and fill early. Writers wishing to begin fall term with a clear revision plan are encouraged to book summer reads by May.

The Full Manuscript Read is optional — not a prerequisite for ongoing sessions. Writers may enter the one-on-one program directly. That said, for writers bringing a complete manuscript, the Read is the most efficient starting point and ensures every subsequent session is pulling in the same direction.

PART TWO

Ongoing One-on-One Sessions

This is the engine of the Developmental Editing Program.

Working session by session, at a word count that matches the writer’s pace and project, Jennifer reads, marks, and thinks with each writer about their pages — then meets with them to work through what has been found. Every session includes Jennifer’s full developmental reading of the submitted pages, written line and craft notes, and a 60–90 minute conversation. Nothing is generic. Everything is specific to this writer, this manuscript, this moment in the work.

Writers choose the word count tier that fits their pace and revision stage. Higher word counts move the manuscript forward faster; smaller word counts allow deeper work on complex or early-draft material. Tiers may be adjusted between sessions.

OPTION A – SINGLE SESSIONS

For writers who want one-on-one attention without a full-year commitment. Sessions booked as calendar availability allows. No guaranteed spot.

OPTION B – 20 SESSION COMMITMENT

A guaranteed place on Jennifer’s calendar throughout the year, plus a 10% reduction on the per-session rate. Recommended for writers working toward agent submission. Five spots per year.

THE DESTINATION

The Arc of This Work

Writers do not come to this program in a hurry. Those who reach this tier have typically been developing their craft and manuscript at Blackbird for two to four years. They arrive because the work is ready — or almost ready — to become what it actually is.

Jennifer has established relationships with agents who have committed to reading Blackbird writers. A writer does not leave this program until the manuscript is ready to be seen. That is not a sales promise. It is a standard

“The Studio is built for writers serious about the long game.”