Developmental Editing for Fantasy, Horror, and Queer Romance Writers

I help speculative, upmarket, and genre-blending fiction writers strengthen their manuscripts before querying, submission, or self-publication.

I share my knowledge with other writers and editors through workshops and teaching the course Editing Fantasy Fiction for the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

My goal as a fiction developmental editor is to help authors like you develop and confidently submit books that resonate with your intended readership. This might involve aligning your manuscript with current market expectations or intentionally choosing to do something different.

Alongside my developmental editing work, I copyedit novels for various US publishers and have collaborated with Penguin, HarperCollins, and Pan Macmillan among others. Take a look at my portfolio for more details.

I currently take on a limited number of developmental editing projects each year, focusing on writers who have already invested significant time in developing their craft.

I don't work with authors who use generative AI tools to produce, rewrite, or edit text. Using AI-powered spelling and grammar tools or generative AI for background research is absolutely fine.

Editorial Assessment

An editorial assessment offers a high-level developmental overview of your manuscript. The Editorial Notes version is a lighter-touch alternative to the editorial letter.

I read your novel once and deliver editorial feedback as notes (usually four to six pages) and on a feedback call.

My feedback here focuses on solving the major developmental issues with your novel rather than the fine details.

Editorial Notes (notes + call):

£650 for up to 60,000 words, £10 per 1,000 words thereafter

Editorial Letter (a formal letter + call):

£900 for up to 80,000 words, £10 per 1,000 words thereafter

Detailed Manuscript critique

I read your novel twice. First, as a regular reader would experience it. On a second, detailed reading I mark up the text with manuscript comments focused on specific developmental issues.

This feedback covers both big-picture fixes and more detailed developmental issues. You also receive a more comprehensive editorial letter (usually 12 to 20 pages).

Price (manuscript comments + letter + call):

£1399 for up to 60,000 words; £10 per 1000 words thereafter

You can also purchase this service as an add-on after an editorial assessment. I discount the cost of the original service from the total cost of the developmental edit.

Full Developmental Edit

This includes everything mentioned in the detailed manuscript critique, but you also receive a detailed content summary with notes on the scenes, and moderate line edits too.

Price (manuscript comments + letter + call + line edits + content summary):

£33 per 1000 words

You can also purchase this service as an add-on after an editorial assessment or detailed manuscript critique. I discount the cost of the original service from the total cost of the developmental edit.

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"The editorial report was one of the greatest feedback tools I have ever received."

—Vincent Burke, Queer Romantasy Author

Testimonials

"The biggest value I received from Andy was in the way he helped me to deepen my entire story. He showed me where beats or characterizations I took for granted had gaps to a reader, or raised questions I hadn't considered."

—Robert Winter, Queer Romantasy Author

"Working with Andy made my debut novel better, and the results in distribution and reviews prove it."

—Nathan Wagner, Speculative Fiction Author

"Andrew's editing was of the highest standard. I learned a lot about the process from him and felt confident my manuscript was in good hands. It was a rewarding experience I hope to repeat soon."

—Ada Gadomski, Fantasy Fiction Author