Developmental Editor for Romance Novel

Developmental Editor for Completed Contemporary Romance Manuscript (~68,000 words) Overview I'm seeking an experienced developmental editor to help me strengthen a completed adult contemporary romance manuscript with a light magical-realism element. The full draft is done (approx. 68,000 words), and I'm looking for big-picture editorial guidance on structure, pacing, character arcs, and emotional payoff before I move toward querying agents. Logline: A career-driven publicist who's terrible at love inherits a mysterious hand mirror that shows her exactly how each new relationship is destined to fail, forcing her to decide whether the future is fixed or whether she's the one standing in her own way. Think commercial, voice-forward romance in the vein of Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, and Abby Jimenez, with a touch of the uncanny. What I'm Looking For This is a developmental edit, not a copyedit or proofread. I want feedback on the story as a whole, including: Overall structure and pacing (does the story pull its weight scene to scene?) Character arcs and motivation, especially the protagonist's emotional growth Romance arc and tension (chemistry, beats, and satisfying payoff) How well the magical-realism device is integrated and whether its logic holds Genre fit and reader expectations for commercial romance Any plot holes, sagging middle sections, or underdeveloped threads Deliverables: An editorial letter (overview assessment plus prioritized recommendations) and in-manuscript margin comments. If your process differs, tell me how you work. Ideal Candidate Proven developmental editing experience with adult contemporary romance (please share relevant titles or samples) Strong grasp of current romance market conventions and comp titles Direct, specific, actionable feedback (I don't need hand-holding; I want honest notes) Able to preserve and sharpen an author's voice rather than rewrite it Reliable communicator who meets agreed deadlines To Apply, Please Include A brief note on your experience editing romance (with comparable titles you've worked on) A sample of a past editorial letter or dev-edit feedback (redacted is fine), or a short paid sample edit if you offer one Your per-word rate for a developmental edit at this length A realistic timeline you'd propose for a manuscript of ~68,000 words Your editing process and what your deliverables include Details Length: ~68,000 words (complete draft) Genre: Adult contemporary romance with magical realism Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) Budget: Bidding by per-word rate; please quote your rate and timeline Confidentiality: Full synopsis and manuscript shared with the hired editor; happy to sign an NDA I'm a professional author and publishing consultant, so I value editors who are candid, organized, and market-aware. I read every proposal. Looking forward to hearing how you'd approach this book.