Fantasy Editing

Editing a fantasy novel by yourself is hard!

Maybe your manuscript isn’t where you want it to be, but you don’t know how to fix it.

Or the idea of publishing your novel feels overwhelming, and you don’t know where to start.

 Whether your dream is to . . .

. . . you can rely on my knowledge and experience as a fantasy editor to help you get there.

My Process for Editing Fantasy Novels

I believe that the best results come from actionable advice, presented in a way that celebrates your strengths and gets you motivated for the revision process.

My process as a fantasy editor has 3 steps:

Clara was the perfect editor to swoop in and save me from myself on more than one occasion. Although swoop isn't the best term, she professionally listened to my banter and helped guide me accordingly.

As a debut epic fantasy author, I was overwhelmed and struggled from understanding my book's needs to figuring out how to write a blurb. Clara was happy to lend her knowledge and outline the best use of my budget. She went above and beyond multiple times during the all too familiar imposter syndrome we all face while helping me shape my story into the best it could be as my developmental editor.

I've been incredibly satisfied and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to new or seasoned fantasy authors who really want an editor who puts in the time. Clara not only dug in deep but was very careful to keep my voice and story my own. That to me is worth gold.

~L.R. Bryant, Author of Bound by Blood and Shadow

Types of Fantasy Editing

Most of the editing I do falls into one of the following categories:

Copyediting for Fantasy

You may be looking for a fantasy editor to polish your writing and help you convey your story clearly and effectively to your readers.

This is usually a copyedit, which can get you:

Developmental Editing for Fantasy

Or you might want a fantasy editor to focus on the story and the big picture and help each scene drive the story forward.

This usually means a developmental edit, which helps you with your:

Editorial Assessment for Fantasy

If you aren’t sure what your manuscript needs, can only afford a smaller edit, or want to include multiple rounds of editing to get your manuscript as good as it can be, you may want to start with an editorial assessment.

This includes the same type of story editing as a developmental edit but goes into less depth. It focuses on the big picture rather than including feedback on each scene or in-line comments in the manuscript document. With years of experience as a fantasy novel editor, I can quickly identify the main issues in your story and show you what needs your focus.

Clara was wonderful to work with! Blood of My Heart would not be what it is without her. She copy/line edited this book for me and even caught a few tiny plot holes while doing so. She was great at explaining her decisions, referencing her sources, and answering all my questions in a way that felt like she was truly trying to help not only the book, but me as a writer. Aside from the copy/line edit, she also helped me make some important decisions, listened to my ranting, responded to my many emails in a quick manner, and encouraged me in the places I was doing well.

She also did a fantastic job at helping me navigate the cruel task of writing a blurb. It took many revisions and new attempts on my part, but she made it pain-free and figured out what parts of my several blurbs worked best to piece together one that worked perfectly for the book. I only wish I had asked for help sooner!

I look forward to working with Clara on the next two books in this series!

~K.P. Burchfield, Author of Blood of My Heart

Fantasy Editing for Authors Planning to Query

If you are on a traditional publishing path and choose to work with me, you’ll get to:

Fantasy Editing for Self-Publishers

If you are on a self-publishing path and choose to work with me, you’ll get to:

Sample Edits & Free Consultations

To give you an idea of my editing style before we commit to working together, I offer a short sample edit or a 30-minute phone/Zoom consultation to new clients. This will give you an idea of my editing approach and whether it works for you.

I like to briefly review the manuscript beforehand, at least the first chapter or two but ideally the full manuscript. You deserve an editor who’s a great fit for your novel, so I like to make sure ahead of time that I’m the right person for your story and your writing style.

Seeing the full manuscript also helps me get a sense of how much work is needed so that I can provide an accurate quote.

For copyediting, a sample edit is the best way for you to get a sense of my editing style. This will include editorial suggestions in redlining as well as comments alongside the manuscript.

I’ve found that a phone or Zoom consultation is a better approach for developmental editing and editorial assessments. This will help us get on the same page about your vision for the story and give you an idea of how I approach story editing.

Scheduling Your Fantasy Edit

If you’re expecting to need editing within the next few months, now is the time to reach out! Sometimes my schedule fills up quickly, so it’s better to ask about my availability now than wait too long and end up with delays.

Fantasy Editing Costs

The prices below reflect common ranges for each of my fantasy editing services. Every edit is different, and the cost is based on the scope of the edit and how much work is needed, so these are just broad estimates that most fantasy manuscripts fall into.

Whichever type(s) of edit you choose, your novel will also get free query letter and synopsis editing or free blurb editing and keyword research once you’re ready to move forward with publishing.

Prometheus: The Greek Titan of forethought and innovation who brought humankind the gift of fire, leading to the development of art and civilization. Credited by the playwright Aeschylus with the invention of writing. [from the Greek προμηθεια (prometheia) FORESIGHT; πρό prep,  BEFORE; μαθεῖν vb (aor, act, inf of μανθάνω), LEARN]