Developmental Editing and Manuscript Consultation

Welcome

I'm a freelance developmental editor and manuscript consultant who is equally at home with fiction and creative nonfiction. I work with a wide variety of authors on novels, memoirs, long-form essays, story collections, screenplays, and graphic novels. I offer a range of editing services—from sentence-level analysis to comprehensive, big-picture problem solving.

My strengths are locating the heart of a piece of writing, clearing away that which gets in the way of it, organizing the narrative, and getting a manuscript to sing by asking the right questions of the author. I am a compassionate and skilled reader of trauma narratives, and always work from a place of generosity—building on each author's unique voice to deliver their very best work.

Services

Developmental Editing

Developmental Editing is an in depth, top-to-bottom dive into your manuscript. This structural edit begins with a 30-minute introductory meeting to assess your goals. Then, after a close read of the manuscript, I will respond with a comprehensive editorial letter summarizing the work and its strengths, including notes on structure, character, pacing, theme, style, and voice—followed by actionable suggestions for improvement. I will also provide examples for strengthening  your work on a sentence level via MS Word Track Changes. The edit will conclude with a 90-minute meeting to discuss the letter in detail, answer all of your questions, and create a plan for appropriate changes toward the next stage of the manuscript. Rates for developmental editing range from $.035 to $.07 per word,* depending on the length of your manuscript and the depth of the work. Minimum: $595

Manuscript Consultation

Manuscript Consultations vary from editor to editor, and there is considerable overlap between a consultation and a developmental edit. In order to meet my clients' needs, I've created a way of working together which is a bit less time intensive and therefore easier on your budget. After an initial 30-minute meeting to discuss your goals, I will closely read and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript. In 75- to 90-minute follow-up meeting, I will recommend changes for the next draft, including notes on structure, character, pacing, theme, voice, and style, as needed. Please note: a manuscript consultation does not include an editorial letter, edits on the manuscript itself, or Track Changes, but you will receive a copy of my detailed notes from the meeting. Rates range from $.03 to $.05 per word,* depending on length and depth of work. Minimum: $425

Screenplay Assessment

A screenplay assessment is similar to a manuscript consultation. It begins with a 30-minute introductory meeting to discuss your goals, as well as any trouble spots or areas that need attention. Then, after a close reading of the screenplay, you will receive a three to five page assessment and we will convene for 75 to 90 minute meeting in which I will recommend changes with regard to character, objective, setting, plot, structure, pacing, plausibility, conflict and resolution, as necessary. The rate for an assessment is $7 per page.* Minimum: $650

*Discounted rates may be available in cases of financial hardship.

Client Testimonials

  • "It is hard to put into words the immense gratitude I have for Dustin. He brought to my project rigor, experience, curiosity, optimism, and kindness that finally broke me out of a serious writer's block. His understanding of storytelling has reshaped not only my book but my approach to all of my creative endeavors. He understands what it means to foster creative practice in this wild day and age."

    A. G. Chemeche’s writing has been featured in Jezebel, Harper’s Bazaar, Harvard Review Online, and The Michigan Quarterly Review, and Oldster, among others.

  • “I’ve been reanimated. I was stuck, and Dustin’s insights offered clarity and a way forward. Part of the gift of working with him as an editor is that he reenergized my faith in myself. I don’t write in a straight line, but—like an intuitive fairy godmother—he found a pattern, connected the dots, and helped me see what I was writing, which gave me a road map with which to go forward.”

    Anamarie Pasdar— memoirist and nonfiction writer

  • “When I was completely “stuck” on how to continue with my book, Dustin came to my rescue. His careful, smart, kind and insightful commentary and questions gave me the space to re-think my story so I could carry on. Dustin is an incredible editor and reader. I highly recommend him to any writer wanting or needing help from a true expert who cares.”

    Ann Jaramillo — author of the highly acclaimed and multiple award winning YA novel, La Línea.

  • “Dustin Schell is a formidable editor: he is both razor-sharp and incredibly kind as an editor, working from a place of generosity and wit. I've valued his edits to my novel tremendously--he has a keen eye for structure and pacing, but also for the rhythm and flow of each sentence. After one recent session with him, I decided to completely rework my manuscript, and it is so much better for it.”

    Flynn Berry‍ — ‍author of A Good Man on a Dark Night, Northern Spy, A Double Life (both New York Times Editor’s picks), and Under the Harrow (Edgar Award)

  • “Insightful, actionable, rigorous but also encouraging. A trenchant reader.”

    Alysia Abbott — author of Fairyland: A Memoir of my Father, and former leader of the GrubStreet Memoir Incubator

  • “Dustin found the heart of my book and helped it beat harder. It’s hard to express how much I value his feedback—other than to say I won't publish another book without him.”

    Claire Cameron — bestselling author of How to Survive a Bear Attack (2025 Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction), and the novels The Last Neanderthal, and The Bear

  • “Dustin is generous and supportive editor – and one with a clear and valuable point of view. His background in theater and film gives him a good sense for the physicality of writing – the value of setting and visual elements – as well as what makes a satisfying arc for the reader. I felt like he understood what my underlying ideas were, my intentions and how I could better meet them.”

    Vestal McIntyre — author of Lake Overturn (Lambda Literary Award, Grub Street National Book Award), Strangers to Youth, and You Are Not the One

  • Dustin is an extraordinary reader of editorial work. I’ve worked with wonderful agents and big-named editors on six books at Little Brown and FSG. Dustin was right up there with the best in terms of his amazingly on-point comments on character, tone, dialogue, big plots, and plausibility. All the while, keeping a hand to the forehead of the current reading public to gauge potential rises in temperature. I would highly recommend him as a reader and editor to any serious writer looking to publish a book. He is terrific.”

    Katie Crouch — New York Times bestselling author of Embassy Wife, Girls in Trucks, Abroad, Men and Dogs, and The Magnolia League series

  • "Dustin recognized where my manuscript needed improvement and helped me get over a hump that I couldn't see without him. He was generous and kind at every point of our work together, and gave me concrete ideas for what I could next do to improve the manuscript."

    Jason Prokowiew — author of War Boys, winner, 2023 PEN America/Jean Stein Grant, the Lascaux Prize for Creative Nonfiction, and a 2022 Breadloaf Nonfiction Award

  • “Dustin is my favorite reader. He intuitively understands the tone of the writing and approaches it in a way that helps the writer to improve their piece by pointing out where the strong bits might be made stronger. His ability to be precise in his notes, but also to make the writer feel comfortable and accomplished in their writing makes him the best kind of reader.”

    Angelica del Campo — author of the graphic novels The Ghosts of Wreckers Cove (Comixology Originals) and Shrinking (2027)

  • “Dustin Schell is a fast, thorough, cheerful, and supportive editor who catches the small stuff and goes with ease into conceptual fine-tuning. But his most remarkable talent is for detecting what resonance is missing or wan, what emotional pathway needs strengthening. He helped me elevate an essay from fine-enough to heart-rending.”

    Katherine Vaz — author of  the novels Above the Salt, Saudade (a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection), Mariana, (Library of Congress’ Top Thirty International Books) and the collections Fado & Other Stories (Drue Heinz Literature Prize) and Our Lady of the Artichokes (Prairie Schooner Award)

  • "Dustin helped resuscitate a manuscript of mine that was stalled out, using his rare gift of grasping the writer’s intention, and his ability to locate a story’s spine. And he did this while being kind and charming. To say that I'm happy to have found him would be an understatement."

    Chris Wells — novelist, essayist and teacher, Woodstock, NY

  • “Dustin is an incredibly gifted script doctor. I was at a dead end and he removed all my obstacles in two sessions. He has a great knack and a natural gift that transformed my work.”

    Allegra Donn — journalist and screenwriter, London

  • “Dustin saw past the messy, incohesive fragments of my manuscript, while brilliantly connecting with the heart and humor of my story, and helped me develop a roadmap for finishing the work. I am so grateful to him for getting me unstuck: Dustin's kindness, encouragement and incisive analysis were exactly the catalyst I needed to move forward with confidence.”

    Richard Samson — fiction writer, New York, NY

  • "Dustin has the rare gift of seeing both the bones and soul of a story, then guiding them into perfect harmony."

    Pilar de Reyes — memoirist and shamanic healer, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

  • “Dustin exceeded my expectations in every way. He engaged deeply with my manuscript, reading it twice and creating his own detailed synopsis before delivering a thoughtful, practical editorial letter. His feedback identified a key blind spot—an underdeveloped character—as well as other areas to deepen, tighten, or cut, and his actionable suggestions helped me move directly into my final revision before querying. Dustin’s relaxed, collaborative style made the process easy, productive, and fun. I look forward to working with him again.”

    Rodney Frazier — novelist, Wayne, PA and Provincetown, MA

     

  • “Dustin is the most perspicacious of editors. His keen analysis of my short story revealed connections in its narrative that I didn’t even realize I’d created. His ability to work both forensically—identifying salient elements, the central themes driving the story, and how to strategically better shape it—as well as sensitively respond to the heart of the story, the appeal of its characters, and a writer’s vulnerability, are…rare. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue working with him.”

    Doreen Schmid — fiction and nonfiction writer, Manchester, Vermont

  • "Dustin reads work with time, care, gentleness and compassion. He teaches the writer to listen for—and release—the pulse that beats beneath the page."

    David Young Kim — author of Groundwork: The History of the Renaissance Picture and The Traveling Artist in the Italian Renaissance, Associate Professor of the History of Art, UPenn

  • "Working with Dustin was a joy. His insights, reflections, and deep care for the work brought me closer to its heart and filled me with the directional clarity and energy to embark on revisions."

    Sarah Brooks — essayist, Santa Cruz, CA

  • “I came to Dustin with an essay braiding historical critique with my personal trauma narrative. One session with him felt like working with a more experienced gardener who knew how to pull up on seeds I had planted along the way. His feedback was thorough and insightful—identifying places for me to dig deeper—and very sensitive to the difficult content in my piece. I felt truly cared for, and will be asking him to read my next draft.”

    Mary Simpson's writing has appeared in The Brooklyn Rail, Broadcast, Bomb, Carroll Dunham: Green Period. (JRP), Parkett, The Happy Hypocrite, MAP Magazine, the Hoosac Institute Journal, and other publications

  • “Dustin Schell is a career-changing editor. After reading my partial novel manuscript, he went through it with me chapter by chapter, character by character, and helped me see what was and was not on the page, and then asked thoughtful questions that allowed me to build out the rest of the story in the most effective way for the reader. He invests in his authors, their characters and their worlds so deeply that to speak with him about your work is to speak with someone who knows the work and cares about it as much as you do. He's exceptional, and I hope to work with him again and again.”

    Piyali Bhattacharya's writing has appeared in Ploughshares, Literary Hub, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and National Geographic. She is the editor of Good Girls Marry Doctors: South Asian American Daughters on Obedience and Rebellion

  • “Dustin is a highly sensitive and astute reader and editor. My work interrogates vulnerable subjects, and I felt comfortable and safe navigating this territory with him. It is one skill for an editor to be able to shape and hone what is on the page, which Dustin has a discerning eye for. It is another more difficult skill to sense and envision material missing from a work to realize its vision. I was so pleased to find that Dustin possessed the latter talent, too. He has a poet’s eye for clearing away extraneous elements so the heart of a work shines. There is no doubt that my essay has benefited from Dustin's guidance.”

    Robin Messing — finalist Gulf Coast Creative Nonfiction Prize, and Mesa Review Creative Nonfiction Prize; winner Zoetic Poetry Prize; Robert Rauschenberg Fellowship

  • “Dustin Schell is a smart, well-read, thoughtful editor. He is generous with his time and his comments are invaluable. Schell has the ability to frame challenges as jumping-off points for new and interesting dimensions in a text. I feel very lucky to work with him and I trust his judgement completely.”

    Rena J. Mosteirin — author of Nick Trail’s Thumb (Kore Press Short Fiction Award, selected by Lydia Davis), poet, editor of Bloodroot Literary Magazine

  • “Dustin helped me shape my memoir's storyline and arc into a more sensicle and elegant manuscript. He has a fun, casual, collaborative style that made me comfortable throughout. I will certainly look to him again at the next stage of my work.”

    Kate Chen — GrubStreet Memoir Incubator, Boston

  • "Dustin brings a musical ear to his editing. He showed me where I could improve the flow, where the heat in my story was. He helped me polish my long-form essay, so I felt ready to submit, knowing my work was in its best form.”

    Anne Glazer — essayist, Chicago, IL

  • “Dustin Schell really got close to my manuscript. He's an excellent reader and was able to identify weaknesses in my story collection and to suggest some really wild and fun possibilities for a rewrite. After meeting with him I was excited to go back to the manuscript. Beyond all this, he's an affable guy and fun to talk to.”

    Jeff Bender has written for McSweeney's, Electric Literature , Guernica , Little Old Lady Comedy,  Slackjaw, Points in Case, and The Iowa Review

  • “Dustin offered everything I could have wanted out of an editor (and more), at a stage when I was stuck on revisions and needed his thoughtful, careful read to help articulate possible paths forward. In our first meeting, Dustin said that his ethos towards editing, especially for early drafts, was to help fathom what a manuscript wants to be and help suggest, from those intentions, ways to move a book towards those better versions of itself. I felt that in his feedback, which ranged from the very macro-scale -- how to tame and use a thorny, complex structure -- to the sentence-level, with an attentive, forward-looking ear for style. I'm immensely grateful to have had Dustin as a reader for a very first draft, and have already returned to his notes many times in revision.”

    Lio Wong — Grub Street Novel Incubator

  • "Dustin is able to see the choices ahead of you in a way you cannot or have not, and can direct you on how to let them open up possibilities. He sees your blind spots and those of your characters, and is able to address the unspent power waiting in them dramatically. So much of revising is about getting into the implications of what has already been invented—and that is one of his strengths. He is a master of noticing the subtle details and the character's gestures—the choreography on the page. His analysis of the structure of a narrative can lead you to the structure that will liberate the story."

    Alexander Chee — bestselling author of the novels Edinburgh, The Queen of the Night, and Other People’s Husbands (2027), and the essay collection How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, and editor of Best American Essays 2022. Professor of English and Creative Writing, Dartmouth College

  • "Dustin is a wise and generous guide who pointed out promising paths for my manuscript and made me feel courageous enough to follow them. I'm grateful for his insightful and compassionate approach to tender material."

    Leah Korican — memoirist, poet, and artist, whose work has appeared in Split Lip Magazine, Memoirland, Heartland Literary Magazine, Canary, Literary Mama, and the anthology Her Story (Shambala)

About

Dustin Schell came to editing and manuscript consultation from an unorthodox angle: as an actor and filmmaker, he has studied plays and scripts for nearly three decades—developing a keen eye for structure, language, and rhythm. He has enjoyed the privilege of living among writers, teachers of writing, and the literary community for almost as long. As a result, he has been a longtime reader for a number of published authors. As an editor and consultant, he has helped dozens of writers improve their work and achieve their goals. Schell was educated at University of Wisconsin—Madison and Circle in the Square Theatre School. He has been a screenwriting resident at The Hermitage Artist Retreat, worked with writers in GrubStreet's novel and memoir incubators, and is former co-host of Still Queer, an online reading series out of Still North Books & Bar in Hanover New Hampshire. He divides his time between New York City and rural Vermont.

Contact

Tell me a little about yourself and your project, including page and word count. I will get back to you with a free quote during business hours Monday through Friday, eastern time. 

Please note: I cannot work on projects that have been created in any part through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).