Developmental Editing for Your Novel or Book

Have a story you know is worth telling—but something isn’t quite working yet?

I provide professional developmental editing to help authors strengthen their manuscripts before publication. I look beyond grammar and spelling to examine the story itself: structure, pacing, character development, plot, continuity, worldbuilding, and the overall reading experience.

I’ve spent years writing, editing, ghostwriting, and publishing books of my own and for private clients. My experience includes fiction and nonfiction, fantasy, YA, romance, Christian fiction, memoir, and long-form series, with projects managed from manuscript through publication.

My goal isn’t to rewrite your book into my story. It’s to help you identify what is already working, uncover what isn’t, and give you practical guidance for making the manuscript stronger while preserving your voice and your vision.

What I Look For

Depending on your manuscript, I may evaluate:

• Story structure and overall organization
• Plot development and story logic
• Pacing and tension
• Character development and character arcs
• Dialogue and character interactions
• Point of view and narrative consistency
• Setting and worldbuilding
• Continuity and internal consistency
• Scene purpose and effectiveness
• Exposition, information flow, and showing vs. telling
• Repetition and unnecessary material
• Stakes, conflict, and reader engagement
• The manuscript’s opening and ending
• Themes and whether they are effectively developed
• Potential areas of confusion or reader disconnect

You’ll receive honest, constructive feedback designed to give you a clear path toward revision.

A Note About Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is different from proofreading or copyediting.

I won’t simply correct commas and spelling mistakes. I’ll read your manuscript as a story and help you understand how it is working—and where it can become stronger.

I believe good editing should serve the author. You make the final decisions about your manuscript; my job is to give you the perspective, analysis, and practical recommendations you need to make those decisions confidently.

Send me your story, and let’s make it the strongest version of itself.