Developmental Editing for a Romance Book

Hi! I’m looking for a developmental editor to work with me on my 70,000-word romance manuscript, Behind the Mask. This is a second-chance romance that explores themes of chronic illness, mental health, grief, and depression representation. Please note that the project contains discussions of chronic illness, depression, and related sensitive topics. At the moment, I’m feeling a little stuck because I know what elements need to be added and where the story needs more depth, but I’m struggling to step back and look at the manuscript objectively. I’m finding it difficult to see whether the pacing, emotional arcs, character development, and overall plot flow are working as well as they could. I’m specifically looking for developmental editing rather than line or copy editing at this stage. I’d love someone who can help me evaluate and strengthen things like: * Overall story structure and pacing * Character arcs and emotional development * The progression of the romance and second-chance relationship * Plot flow and whether key moments have enough impact * Where additional scenes, conflict, or emotional beats may be needed * Ensuring the chronic illness and depression representation feels authentic, respectful, and integrated into the story I’m looking for an editor who enjoys character-driven romance and is comfortable working with heavier emotional themes. Ideally, I’d love someone who can help me identify what the manuscript needs while also preserving the heart of the story and my existing vision. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, I’d love to hear about your experience, your editing process, availability, and rates.