Do I Need a Developmental Editor for My Queer Fantasy or Science Fiction Novel?

Signs your queer SFF novel needs a developmental editor

Queer fantasy and sci-fi are thriving right now in both indie and traditional spaces. But that also means competition is high, and agents and readers expect strong storytelling alongside meaningful representation.

So here's a tip: Whether you plan to self-publish, find an agent, or find a small publisher that gets your approach and values, I recommend you go through the process as if you are looking to find an agent because there is much value in working hard on learning how to pitch your project and summarize it in a synopsis. These are, after all, tools that agents and editors use to diagnose how well developed a project and author is.

One big sign your novel needs big-picture editing, then, is if you cannot easily pitch or summarize what it’s about. I know firsthand that careful work on learning how to pitch and summarize a project can help you clarify theme, figure out which scenes are redundant, and so on.

Another big sign is a feeling that something is not quite right or is “off” with your story, without knowing how to fix it exactly. Follow this intuition! And just for the record, for queer SFF, common big-picture problems can be: too much attention paid to worldbuilding over story, passive protagonists, sprawling, complex worldbuilding, author-insert slash wish-fulfillment characters with not enough character conflict, etc. These are all very common and part of the learning process, by the way—not signs of failure.

If you’ve self-published and have received this kind of feedback repeatedly in reviews, then that is a clear sign you could benefit from an editorial assessment.

If you’re looking for an agent and have received a large number of rejections (say, twenty or thirty rejections with no personalization), then I recommend hiring a developmental editor for speculative fiction.

Why beta readers often aren’t enough at this stage

Beta readers can be a great help, especially when you get similar comments from several different readers of the genre. But it’s tricky to rely on them, as you are constantly asking for a big ask (it takes quite a few hours to read a book) and their feedback can be unreliable, as can that of critique partners.

Beta readers tell you where they were confused or bored. A developmental editor helps diagnose why and shows you how to fix it at the level of structure, stakes, and character motivation. For example, a beta reader told an author that the writing sounded “robotic.” This could be a voice or pacing issue, or it could be something as simple to fix as not using contractions enough. A developmental editor can offer a deeper explanation grounded in storytelling craft.

What developmental editing for speculative fiction actually looks like

The most common kind of developmental edit authors request is an editorial assessment, often called a manuscript evaluation or manuscript critique. It’s the most affordable, and it involves just one read-through to diagnose problems in broad strokes, rather than propose a detailed cure (which a full developmental edit involves).

After an editorial assessment, most authors have a clear revision roadmap: which characters need stronger goals, where the plot loses momentum, which themes are underdeveloped or overexplained. This kind of feedback is often enough.

For new authors, I joke that learning to write a novel well is like learning how to spin six plates (or more) simultaneously without them all crashing to the floor: tension, characterization, story structure, worldbuilding, conflict, style, voice, etc. An editorial assessment provides enough feedback to tell an author where to focus their energies in the next revision round.

Some authors hire me for a couple of assessments at different points in the process, or we chat, and I coach them through the revisions on a call after doing an assessment. Others prefer more detailed feedback, which a full developmental edit provides.

Do you need to work with a queer speculative fiction editor?

Whoever you work with, your editor needs to have a solid grounding in story craft and understand the nuances of the perspectives, positionalities, and identities in your novel. It helps if they have lived experience of these. So I recommend carefully reviewing how your editor presents themselves on their website, in their blog materials, etc., and where possible (provided this suits how you work), have a call with them and a chat about your project before hiring them.

If I need help with story structure alone, there’s no need to hire a queer editor necessarily. But if I need help with character development and perspective, then I’d see that lived experience as essential. And all the different moving parts of story interrelate anyway. An issue with story structure may point to a lack of character goal or motivation, for example, and so in subtle, nuanced ways, it can make sense to source editorial help from someone who understands craft and your positionality – that is, how you navigate the world as a member of a marginalized group.

In short, choosing an editor is a bit like choosing a therapist. Technical expertise matters, but so does feeling understood, with a good vibe and working relationship needed to feel safe enough to share and explore your writing with someone.

If any of the above sound familiar, a developmental edit can give you clarity on where to focus your energy. You can read more about my services or get in touch to see if we’d be a good fit.