Developmental Editor for Dark Romantasy Books in a Series
Seeking a developmental editor for three dark romantasy books in a five-book series. This job will be for books 3-5. I will share the full synopsis for books 1 and 2 so you can get up to speed quickly, but for any interested applicant, you can also read the Amazon page/Goodreads pages for The Elf Witch and The Serpent Prince by Jacquelyn Gilmore to learn more about my Plot of the Six Saints' series (The Elf Witch is also a nominee for an Indieverse award in the Best Fantasy category this year). A bit more about me: I write dark speculative fiction about villain-coded characters, impossible choices, and the emotional cost of survival. My books span dark fantasy and dystopian sci-fi, but are united by the same themes: morally black characters, dangerous relationship dynamics, psychological intensity, and stories that explore what happens when survival demands monstrosity. It's important to me that this editor be consistent across the remaining books in the series because I want someone who can help ensure they escalate well and end on the right note. Also, this is my debut, and while I've vastly improved as a writer since the first book, I still need the help of a pro who will become a true partner and help me cross the finish line. Basically someone who can love the work/characters as much as me and collaborate with me on my vision to make them the best they can be :) I want to be very up front that these are dark books and the editor reviewing them must be comfortable with mature content/trigger warnings related to dark romantasy themes, including: - Disturbing violent scenes of death with descriptions of gore (executions, murder, etc.) - Body mutilation and self-harm (although this is due to sacrifical magic, not depression or suicide) - References to rape (off-page) and trauma related to it - Explicit language - Explicit sex (consensual) - Misogyny - Addiction Responsibilities will include reviewing manuscripts and providing feedback on character development, plot structure, and pacing, and suggesting improvements. The role requires a keen eye for detail and the ability to enhance the narrative while maintaining the author's voice. No AI editing, please. The project is part-time and expected to last 3 to 6 months. I am on a very tight timeline to finish this series, so I'm looking for a pro who can review an approx. 100,000-word manuscript within three weeks of recieving it. Below are the dates I will be sharing each MS (and after recieving it, you will have three weeks to complete the edit): - May 30 - June 20 - July 29 The ebooks and paperbacks are indie published, but I have an audiobook deal with Simon & Schuster that's driving the timeline so someone who can meet these deadlines while also producing excellent work is critical for me. I wish there was flexibility with the dates (trust me I do), but unfortunately everything is locked in. I will be narrowing down applicants in the next 3-4 days, with the final editor chosen in about a week. This project means so much to me, and I will be choosing carefully. I also publish around 3-5 books a year so finding a long-term partner is certainly on the table for this opportunity. Thank you in advance!!