strengthen this arc ↓ beautiful pacing here deepen motivation

Developmental Editor

Your story deserves to be unforgettable

Specializing in SFF and graphic novel scripts, I give you the clear, actionable feedback your manuscript needs to get from draft to query-ready.

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Rachel Wight — Developmental Editor

I see what your story wants to become

I work between the lines of what a story is and what it wants to be. As a developmental editor, I ask the big questions about character and narrative arcs that support everything that follows. If your story lives in the speculative, the fantastical, or the darker edges of genre fiction—you're in the right place. With experience editing graphic novel scripts at the traditional publishing level, I bring that same standard to your prose manuscript. I have a particular eye for worldbuilding, dialogue, and the kind of continuity that makes a story feel inevitable in retrospect.

Good editing requires collaboration. I won't rewrite your voice or impose my own vision. My job is to augment what's already working and structurally shift what isn't. We'll step back to view the big picture together, to bridge the gap between intention and execution.

Once I've gone through your manuscript, I'll provide you with a clear roadmap for revision—because the best stories aren't written, they're transformed. Let's find out what yours can become.

— Rachel Wight

Story-level editing for manuscripts that matter

Developmental editing goes beyond grammar and prose. It's the structural core that turns a good manuscript into a great book.

01

Story Structure

Does your plot keep readers turning pages? Are the beats landing where they should? I'll evaluate your narrative framework and help you build a captivating story.

02

Character & Arc

Compelling characters drive great fiction. Motivation, consistency, growth, and relationships make your characters believable. How they move in your world makes them likable.

03

Pacing & Tension

This is what drives readers to stay or leave. I'll identify where the momentum stalls and where tension can build towards a satisfying payoff.

04

Voice & Tone

Your creative signature is in your narrative voice. I'll help sustain a voice that's authentically yours, while maintaining a tone that's right for your story.

05

World & Setting

Setting establishes and accentuates your story. A lived-in, fleshed-out world should anchor readers. Whether contemporary or fantasy, I can help your world come alive.

06

Editorial Letter

Every project includes a comprehensive editorial letter—a detailed roadmap covering big-picture feedback, chapter-level notes, and actionable suggestions for revision.

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Books I've helped shape

How we'll work together

01

Discovery Call

We'll talk about your manuscript, your vision, and what you're hoping to achieve. No commitment — just a conversation to see if we're a good fit.

02

Sample Edit

I'll edit a sample of your manuscript (usually the first few chapters) so you can experience my editing style before committing to a full project.

03

Deep Edit

The full developmental edit. I'll read your manuscript multiple times, annotate throughout, and prepare a detailed editorial letter with chapter-level notes.

04

Follow-Up

After you've had time to digest the feedback, we'll have a follow-up call to discuss questions, priorities, and your revision plan moving forward.

It is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is common in all writing and among the best of writers.
— E.B. White

What authors are saying

 

Johanna Taylor

Debut Novelist

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Let's talk about your manuscript

Ready to take your story to the next level? Tell me a little about your project and I'll be in touch within two business days.