“Editing is where a good manuscript stops being accidental and starts becoming deliberate.”

Jackson Dean Chase

Editing

Stronger structure. Tighter prose. Your voice intact.

A good editor should make the book more itself, not turn it into something the editor would have written.

Jackson Dean Chase provides editing for authors who want clearer structure, stronger pacing, tighter prose, more effective scenes, and an experienced outside perspective on what is—and is not—working.

The goal is not to impose a different voice.

It is to identify what the manuscript is trying to accomplish and help it accomplish that more effectively.

Editing Is Where the Book Takes Shape

Writing creates the raw material.

Editing is where that material becomes deliberate.

Jackson has spent years writing, revising, publishing, and restructuring his own fiction and nonfiction. His strongest editorial skills include prose tightening, pacing, structural analysis, implementing complex revisions, and strengthening a manuscript without stripping away its identity.

He also genuinely enjoys the revision process.

Once the words are on the page, there is something concrete to shape, cut, strengthen, move, question, and refine.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing addresses the manuscript at the story or book level.

Depending on the project, that may include:

  • overall structure
  • pacing
  • character arcs
  • plot progression
  • scene effectiveness
  • stakes and escalation
  • emotional beats
  • continuity
  • unnecessary material
  • missing setup or payoff
  • chapter organization
  • narrative momentum

The objective is to identify both the manuscript’s strengths and the places where its larger architecture is working against it.

Line Editing

Line editing works closer to the prose itself.

This may include:

  • tightening sentences
  • eliminating repetition
  • improving rhythm
  • strengthening clarity
  • sharpening dialogue
  • improving transitions
  • reducing unnecessary exposition
  • strengthening action
  • improving word choice
  • preserving consistency of voice
  • identifying places where prose is slowing the story

The purpose is not to flatten style into generic “correct” prose.

Distinctive writing should remain distinctive.

It should simply work better.

Manuscript Critiques

Sometimes you do not need someone to edit every sentence.

You need someone to tell you what the manuscript needs.

A manuscript critique provides an editorial evaluation of the work as a whole, including its strongest elements, major weaknesses, structural issues, pacing problems, character or narrative concerns, and priorities for revision.

This can be particularly useful when:

  • you have completed a draft but do not know what to revise first
  • something feels wrong but you cannot identify the cause
  • beta-reader feedback conflicts
  • you are considering a major rewrite
  • you want professional-level feedback before investing in a full edit

The result is a clearer revision plan without the cost of a complete line-by-line edit.

Fiction Editing

Jackson’s fiction background spans horror, noir, thriller, action, speculative fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, young adult, supernatural fiction, and cross-genre work.

His editorial approach is particularly well suited to manuscripts where:

  • pacing matters
  • voice matters
  • scenes need momentum
  • dialogue needs to sound natural
  • action needs to remain clear
  • tension needs to escalate
  • genre expectations matter without becoming formulas

Cross-genre manuscripts are welcome.

Nonfiction Editing

Jackson's nonfiction background includes autobiography/memoir, financial education, self-help, and writing craft guides.


Nonfiction editing may include:

  • structure
  • organization
  • clarity
  • repetition
  • argument flow
  • pacing
  • chapter sequencing
  • reader accessibility
  • removing unnecessary digressions
  • prose tightening
  • maintaining a consistent authorial voice

The objective is to help the reader understand the material more easily without sanding away the author’s personality.

What Jackson Does Not Want to Do to Your Book

Editing should not become a contest between author and editor.

Jackson will not try to make every sentence sound like his writing.

He will not automatically eliminate unusual stylistic choices simply because they are unusual.

And he will not treat every editorial preference as an objective rule.

The question is always:

Does this choice help the book do what the author intends?

If it does, there may be no reason to change it.

A Practical Editorial Approach

Jackson approaches editing as problem solving.

That means distinguishing between:

  • something that is technically unusual and something that is actually ineffective
  • a symptom and its underlying structural cause
  • intentional style and accidental confusion
  • useful complexity and unnecessary complication
  • productive ambiguity and unclear writing
  • revision that strengthens the manuscript and revision that merely changes it

An editor should be able to explain why a change would improve the work.

The author should remain the final decision-maker.

Before Requesting an Edit

When contacting Jackson, include:

  • manuscript type and genre
  • approximate word count
  • current stage of completion
  • type of editing you are seeking
  • your primary concerns about the manuscript
  • your desired timeline

If you are unsure what level of editing you need, describe the manuscript and the problems you are trying to solve.

Jackson can recommend the appropriate level of review.

Rates

Editing is quoted by project because manuscripts vary considerably in length, condition, complexity, and the depth of editing required.

A quote is provided after reviewing:

  • word count
  • genre
  • manuscript condition
  • requested level of editing
  • deadline
  • scope of work

For substantial editing projects, Jackson may request a sample before providing a final quote.

Request an Editing Quote

Have a manuscript that needs another set of eyes?

Send Jackson a brief description of the project, approximate word count, genre, and the kind of help you are looking for.

Request an Editing Quote

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