03 — Manuscript Development
Plot Development
Strengthening the events of a story and the logic that links them.
What this service involves
Strengthening the events of a story and the logic that links them. This work sits within our manuscript development practice, and is shaped around the particular manuscript in front of us rather than a fixed template.
Development work sits before the edit. It answers the harder questions — what the book is, who it is for, and what has to change — so that revision is purposeful rather than anxious.
How the work runs
- 01DiscoverUnderstand your work, goals, audience and ambitions.
- 02DevelopIdentify opportunities and establish the right direction.
- 03RefineStrengthen the work through focused literary expertise.
- 04DeliverPrepare the project for its next stage.
Questions
Before you begin.
- How do we begin with plot development?
- You send us the work, or a description of it, through the manuscript submission form or by email. We read it, ask any questions we have, and come back with a proposed scope, timeline and fee before anything is committed.
- How long does it take?
- It depends on length, condition and the scale of the work involved. We give you a specific timeline once we have seen the material, and we hold to it.
- Will the work still sound like me?
- Yes. Manuscript Development work at InkStone is built around your intentions. We explain our reasoning, raise queries rather than quietly rewriting, and leave the final decisions with you.
- What does it cost?
- Fees are quoted per project rather than from a price list, because manuscripts differ enormously. Tell us about your work and we will give you a clear, itemised quote.
Related services
- Manuscript Development
Manuscript Evaluation
A full read and written evaluation of where the manuscript stands.
- Manuscript Development
Manuscript Critique
Direct, constructive critique of what is working and what is not.
- Manuscript Development
Character Development
Deepening the people your reader is being asked to follow.
- Manuscript Development
Narrative Structure
Choosing and refining the shape the story is told in.
Begin
Send us the work.
We read what you send, then reply with an honest assessment and a clear proposal — scope, timeline and fee — before anything is agreed.