We don’t edit out what gives your story heart.
A romance doesn’t have to follow a script.
An alien doesn’t have to think like a human.
Sometimes, happily ever after is bittersweet.
The stories that move readers aren’t the ones that chase trends. They’re the ones that stay true to themselves.
At Stranded Alien Editing Services, we edit with intention, not convention.
Let’s give your story the edit it deserves.
ALPHA READ
$0.008 – 0.012/word
You wrote the story. Congratulations!
Now, you have a million questions.
Is the main character likeable?
Does the plot make sense?
Would a reader enjoy this?
That’s where an alpha read comes in.
An alpha read evaluates an early draft—whether its the complete manuscript or just the opening chapters. Alpha readers provide feedback on the foundation of your story.
Are there plot holes?
Is the character arc satisfying?
Does the worldbuilding make sense?
Most importantly, does the story work?
Select this service if you’re working on an early draft and need guidance before your next revision.
Deliverables:
Editorial letter providing feedback in the following areas:
Major strengths
Plot structure
Character development
Pacing
World building
Other areas for improvement
As well as real-time reader reactions and in-manuscript comments so you can evaluate if your story is hitting its marks.
This service does not include:
Grammar correction
Spelling and punctuation
Line editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
BETA READ
$0.012 – 0.018/word
You’ve gathered initial feedback and gone through revisions. Your story is no longer a first draft.
You’re really doing this.
But …
There’s a plot hole. Somewhere.
And that scene on pg. 212? Something doesn’t feel right.
And does that one goofy side character actually belong?
A beta reader evaluates a manuscript that has undergone one or more rounds of revision. Beta reading can still occur early in a story’s development, but often, major issues found by alpha readers have been corrected. While beta readers look for similar issues as alpha readers, beta reading looks beyond obvious structural issues to see how the story reads as a whole.
Does every chapter earn its place?
Do emotional moments land?
Are readers invested in your characters?
Select this service if you want to know how readers will experience your story or if you’re preparing for developmental editing.
Deliverables:
Editorial letter providing feedback in the following areas:
Chapter-by-chapter notes
Story strengths and weaknesses
Remaining plot holes
Confusing scenes and sections
Emotional engagement
Character likability
Pacing
Overall reader experience
As well as real-time reader reactions and in-manuscript comments.
This service does not include:
Grammar correction
Spelling and punctuation
Line editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
Scientific sUBJECT MATTER Review
$0.025 – 0.035/word
Your main character is a scientist? We love it!
But they just brought non-sterile tips into the biological safety cabinet.
And somehow transfected cells with naked siRNA.
Oops.
You story’s science doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to feel authentic.
Whether your main character is a graduate student, a researcher in Antarctica, or the lead xenobiologist aboard a space ship, believable science helps readers stay immersed in the story.
That's where we come in.
Scientific subject matter reviews are available for the following topics:
Genetics
Molecular biology
Cell biology
Toxicology
Stem cell biology
Pharmaceutical research
Laboratory procedures
Experimental design
Scientific terminology
If your character is a scientist or if your story delves into scientific topics, ask us if we can provide expert feedback.
worldbuilding evaluation
$0.010 – 0.025/word
You drew the maps.
You named all the gods.
You’ve painstakingly outlined the politics of all six fairy kingdoms and the vampire covens warring against them.
So, why did that guy die when he was bitten, that guy turned, and … Well, we’re not really sure what’s going on with Frank.
Every fictional world has rules.
Let’s make your story follows yours.
Not ready for a complete developmental edit, but your worldbuilding needs some consistency? Select a worldbuilding evaluation if you have a complex science fiction or fantasy setting and want to refine its consistency before the next stage.
We’ll help those fairies make sense.
Deliverables:
Magic system consistency
Internal logic
Timeline continuity
Creature and alien biology plausibility
Cultural consistency
Continuity between chapters
… and any other worldbuilding concerns you'd like us to examine.
Developmental edit
$0.035–0.055/word
You’ve gathered feedback from half a dozen readers.
You’ve revised until your eyes cross.
The plot makes sense.
Your favorite dialogue survived.
But …
Why does the alien risk everything to save that guy?
And why, exactly, is the ship’s engineer essential to the mission?
If the answer is “Because the plot needs them,” that’s where a developmental editor can help.
Developmental editing (also called structural or substantive editing) is a comprehensive, high-level review of a story that focuses on structure, plot, character growth, and overall organization.
Select this service if you’re preparing to query agents or are getting ready to self-publish and want detailed feedback before line editing or copyediting.
Deliverables:
Comprehensive editorial letter
Hundreds of in-line comments (No, seriously. Brace yourselves.)
Plot analysis
Character arc evaluation
Worldbuilding assessment
Pacing analysis
Theme evaluation
Point-of-view consistency
Dialogue analysis
Scene effectiveness
Actionable revision recommendations
This service does not include:
Grammar correction
Spelling and punctuation
Line editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
Ready to begin?
Let’s create something great together. Fill out the form to begin.