Hire the Best Developmental Editors

Hi, I’m Eimear—a freelance editor, proofreader, and story-shaper. With 10+ years of experience in writing, editing, and proofreading across corporate and creative spaces, I specialize in transforming manuscripts into polished, engaging, and publication-ready work—while preserving the author’s voice. I hold a Master’s in Journalism and have completed the Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing, bringing strong judgment, accuracy, and narrative sensitivity to every project. My areas of expertise include: ✍🏻 Line & Copy Editing I refine sentences for clarity, flow, tone, grammar, and consistency, enhancing readability while preserving your unique voice. ✍🏻 Developmental Editing I provide thoughtful, constructive feedback on plot, character development, pacing, and overall storytelling—always respecting your vision. ✍🏻 Beta Reading You’ll receive concise, actionable notes on pacing, clarity, engagement, and overall flow. ✍🏻 Proofreading A meticulous final review focused on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and minor inconsistencies. If you’re searching for a freelance editor who prioritizes clear communication, detailed feedback, and supportive guidance, I’d love to hear more about your project. Testimonials: "Eimear is an exceptional editor, with excellent consistency, a strong eye for detail, and the ability to provide insightful feedback in a clear and thoughtful way. A fantastic editor anyone would be lucky to work with!" "I have worked with many copy editors in the past and Eimear was one of the best." "An exceptionally intelligent and helpful beta-reader. Provided highly nuanced points that made me think. Highly, highly recommended."

Every author believes their manuscript is ready until a reader, a publisher, or a poor review proves otherwise. By then, it is too late. I get to your manuscript before that moment does. Most manuscript problems are not obvious. They do not announce themselves. They sit quietly inside the story, in the pacing that slowly loses readers three chapters in, in the dialogue that almost sounds natural but does not quite land, in the structure that made perfect sense to the writer but leaves the reader slightly disconnected from the story they were promised. These are the problems that separate a manuscript that gets shelved from one that gets finished, shared, and reviewed well. Finding them is exactly what I do. I work with indie authors, first-time writers, and publishing houses who have put real work into their manuscripts and now need a trained, precise eye to bring that work to its full potential. My deepest expertise is in romance and dark romance, where emotional pacing, tension, and character chemistry are everything. A romance reader does not just want a happy ending. They want to feel every obstacle, every almost moment, and every page turn in their chest. Getting that right requires more than clean grammar. It requires an editor who understands the genre from the inside. I am currently building my Upwork portfolio, which means right now every project I take on gets my complete focus and best work. You will not be one of a dozen active clients. You will be the manuscript I am thinking about, and that level of attention is something that becomes harder to offer as a freelancer grows busier. Here is what I offer: 1. Copy editing and proofreading that catches every grammar, spelling, punctuation, tense, and sentence structure error without touching your voice or flattening your style 2. Line editing that improves clarity, flow, readability, and tone so your manuscript reads as smoothly on the last page as it does on the first 3. Structural and developmental feedback that identifies pacing issues, continuity errors, POV inconsistencies, repetition, and narrative problems that quietly damage the reading experience before a single reader ever notices them 4. Editorial assessment that gives you a clear, honest picture of exactly where your manuscript stands and what it needs to reach publication standard 5. Track Changes delivery in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so you see and approve every single change before anything is finalised 6. KDP formatting with correct margins, paragraph indents, scene breaks, and layout ready for both eBook and paperback upload Before I touch a single line of your manuscript, I take time to understand what it is trying to accomplish and who it is written for. That context shapes everything. I refine without rewriting. I sharpen your voice without replacing it. I meet every deadline, communicate clearly throughout, and flag anything that needs your attention before it becomes a problem rather than after. The result is a manuscript that feels like it was always meant to be a published book. One readers finish in one sitting, recommends it to everyone they know, and comes back to it when they want that feeling again. If you are ready to take your manuscript from well-written to professionally polished, send me a message with your genre, word count, and where you are in the publishing process. I respond quickly, and I will tell you exactly what your manuscript needs and how we can get it there.

Let's be honest. Most manuscripts don't fail because the writer lacks talent. They fail because nobody told the writer the truth. Your friend said it was amazing. Your writing group said "maybe tighten chapter three." Your mom cried at the ending, but she also cried at a paper towel commercial last Tuesday. None of that gets you published. None of that gets you reviews. None of that gets readers recommending your book at 1am to someone who should be sleeping. That's where I come in. I read fiction the way your future readers will hungry, impatient, and completely willing to put your book down if you lose me. The difference is I'll tell you exactly where you lost me, exactly why, and exactly what to do about it. Your readers will just leave a two-star review and move on with their lives. I specialize in science fiction, fantasy, and thriller, genres where pacing isn't a suggestion, world-building has to earn its word count, and readers will forgive you almost anything except being boring. What I'll do to your manuscript: ✅ Beta Reading — I read it as a reader first. No editorial filter, no politeness tax. You get my real reaction, where I was hooked, where I checked my phone, where I genuinely didn't see that twist coming, and where I absolutely did. That reaction is worth more than a hundred "it's great" responses. ✅ Developmental Editing — Structure, pacing, narrative arc, character consistency. If your story is a house, developmental editing checks whether the foundation is solid before we talk about the curtains. Most manuscripts need this more than they need anything else and most authors skip it entirely. Don't be most authors. ✅ Line Editing — This is where your prose stops surviving and starts singing. Sentence rhythm, word choice, dialogue that actually sounds human, flow that pulls readers forward without them noticing. Your voice stays completely intact. Everything fighting against it doesn't. ✅ Proofreading — The last thing standing between your manuscript and public embarrassment. Typos, punctuation, consistency errors, the word "definitely" spelled four different ways across 80,000 words. I find all of it. Every last one. You're exactly who I work with if: ✅ You've finished your manuscript and something still feels wrong but you can't name it ✅ Your beta readers liked it but couldn't tell you why the middle dragged ✅ You're self-publishing and your name is going on this thing permanently ✅ You want someone who will treat your story seriously enough to be completely honest about it What you actually get: ✅ Editorial letter with specific, prioritized revision guidance, not vague gestures at "clarity" ✅ Inline comments in Google Docs Suggesting Mode so you see every decision explained ✅ Multiple solutions per problem, because "fix this" without options isn't feedback, it's homework ✅ A reader's real reaction documented throughout, not manufactured after the fact ✅ Your voice protected at every single stage Genres: Science Fiction · Fantasy · Thriller · Mystery · Horror · Young Adult · Historical Fiction · Romance · Literary Fiction · Memoir Short stories to 120,000+ word novels. No cookie-cutter packages, scope and turnaround discussed per project so you're never paying for what you don't need. Most editors will tell you your manuscript has potential. I'll tell you whether it actually does, and if it does, I'll help you prove it on every page. If you're serious about publishing something worth reading, click Invite to Job or send a direct message. Tell me your genre, word count, and where the manuscript feels stuck. I'll take it from there.

You finished the book. Don't let a generic edit be what stops it from selling. I'm a developmental, line, and copy editor and proofreader for self-published authors and small publishing houses. I'm currently the trusted editor for a publishing services company handling 1000+ projects a year, where I've worked on everything from 1K-word self-help books to a 205K-word technical manuscript. One client put it simply: "She didn't just edit my manuscript. She elevated it." Want proof before you commit? Send me a sample chapter and I'll return a short edit, free, no obligation, so you can see exactly how I'd handle your manuscript. Here's what that looks like in practice: I provide developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading for nonfiction, fiction, self-help, memoir, and romance manuscripts, using publishing-house workflows: editorial letters, style sheets, Track Changes, and Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) standards. For self-published authors, I also prepare manuscripts for Amazon KDP, so your file is ready for Kindle and paperback publication once editing is complete. What sets the process apart: • Every project includes a tracked-changes copy and a clean final copy, so you always see exactly what changed • I flag structural and consistency issues other editors miss: pacing, repetition, plot or argument gaps • I'm comfortable handling technically dense manuscripts, including content with embedded data, formulas, or specialized terminology that requires careful editorial judgment to edit around without disrupting accuracy • I'm comfortable refining AI-assisted drafts so they read naturally and pass as fully human-written Genres I work in most: self-help, business/leadership, memoir, faith-based, and AI-assisted nonfiction. (For romance specifically, I work primarily on line and developmental edits rather than full publishing-house workflows.) Click Invite to Job or send a message. I respond promptly.

I’m a romance and romantasy writer, editor, and ghostwriter who helps authors bring emotional, immersive, market-ready stories to life. With over 15 years of creative writing experience and a BA in English, I specialize in crafting compelling character arcs, polished prose, and strong narrative flow across romance subgenres. Whether you need help shaping your story, strengthening your writing, or bringing an outline to life, I’m here to support your vision with reliable communication, fast turnaround times, and clean, human-sounding work. What I can help with: • Developmental Editing (pacing, character arcs, plot structure) • Line Editing & Proofreading • Ghostwriting (Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy) • Outlining, Beat Sheets, & Chapter-by-Chapter Structure • Story Coaching & Consultations Why clients like working with me: • Responsive, communicative, deadline-focused • Experience working from outlines, character sheets, and limited client info • 100% original writing, AI only used if client requests it • Emotion-rich prose + strong narrative voice • Completely adaptable to your style and tone If you’re looking for someone warm, collaborative, and professional, I’d love to work with you!

Hello! College admissions are more competitive than ever before---I know first hand, having applied (and gained admission to) several Ivy League institutions in the most competitive application cycle in history. As someone who loves creative writing, I believe my essays helped me stand out. Not every student wants to be a writer or poet, but I can help them craft a strong essay in their own voice that will set them apart in the eyes of admissions officers. I truly believe that every student, whether they are a budding artist or an engineer, has a story worthy of telling. Now is the time to tell it. A little bit about me: I know the college admissions game firsthand. As a high school student, I was accepted to Columbia, Brown, Penn, Cornell, Oxford (UK), Northwestern, Johns Hopkins University, Williams, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, UC Berkeley, UVA, and many more (including two full-ride merit scholarships to selective institutions). Ultimately, however, I chose to enroll at UNC Chapel Hill as the recipient of the 2025 Thomas Wolfe Scholarship---a full ride plus stipends for one talented creative writing student. Beyond my academic life, I am a published poet and short fiction writer, with work appearing in prestigious venues like The Missouri Review, The Cincinnati Review, Gulf Coast, and Swamp Pink, all with acceptance rates bordering on 1%. I worked for years as an editor of a literary magazine, giving detailed edits on accepted work. These two things---my intimate familiarity with the workings of college admissions today and my passion for the written word---mean I can help your student craft the essay that best tells THEIR story while preserving their authentic voice. Many essay editors are English teachers or admissions consultants decades removed from their own college application journey. I, on the other hand, know what it's like. I know how hard it is, but also how getting into a top college is within reach for your student. I hope you'll trust me with your student's words!