Hire the Best Developmental Editors in Washington, D.C.

Book Editor & Ghostwriter | Developmental | Line | Copy | KDP Formatting Most authors come to me after realizing the same thing: a talented writer and a publication-ready manuscript are not the same thing. I've worked with 25+ authors across fiction and nonfiction. The gap between the two is almost never about talent. It's structure. Voice. Consistency. The things a good editor catches before a publisher or reader does. My background is a little unusual. Before books, I was a field journalist and correspondent, an information assurance manager at Leidos, and an analyst with the FBI. That history shows up in how I read. I notice what's missing from a narrative. I flag accuracy and consistency problems that slip past readers who aren't trained to look. I think at the structural level, whether that's plot or argument, because that's how I was trained to work with documents. A Christian fiction novel gets the same attention I once gave federal-level work. What I do: Ghostwriting For authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who have the ideas and need someone to build the manuscript. I work from conversations, emails, or outlines and write in your voice. Fiction and nonfiction: novels, business books, memoirs, self-help, personal development. Developmental Editing Plot structure, character arcs, pacing, point of view, narrative logic, audience alignment. The big-picture pass everything else depends on. Line Editing Sentence and paragraph-level work. Your voice stays intact. The weak spots get fixed. Copy Editing Grammar, punctuation, timeline consistency, style guide adherence. Chicago Manual of Style, APA, MLA, or your publisher's house style. Proofreading The final pass before your manuscript goes to an agent, publisher, or self-publishing platform. KDP & Kindle Formatting Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing formatting for self-publishing authors, ebook and print-ready. Beta Reading & Manuscript Critique Detailed reader feedback with marketability evaluation. Full editorial letters for authors still working through early revision. Genres I work in: Christian and inspirational fiction. Romance (contemporary, historical, paranormal). Memoir and personal narrative. Business, self-help, and personal development. Health, wellness, and lifestyle. Literary and women's fiction. Creative nonfiction. Faith-based manuscripts are a particular strength. I understand both the spiritual content and the publishing landscape for Christian literature, and those aren't the same thing. What every project includes: Track Changes and detailed margin comments throughout. A custom style sheet built for your book: character names, preferred spellings, stylistic choices, timeline notes. Developmental and line edits include a full editorial letter. I'm available for follow-up questions once you're working through revisions. Before we start: I offer a sample edit on your first 1,000 to 1,500 words at no charge. You'll see how I work before committing to anything. Google Docs or Microsoft Word with Track Changes. Complete confidentiality. Delivery on the agreed timeline. Send me a message with your genre, word count, and timeline.

Top Rated | 7+ Years Experience | 70+ Five-Star Reviews | $20K+ Earned I edit manuscripts that help authors finally get the responses they’ve been waiting for. One of my recent clients went from hearing nothing after months of querying to receiving 2 full manuscript requests within 5 weeks after I helped strengthen the story structure and fix the pacing issues holding the book back. Send me your first 3 chapters, and I’ll identify the biggest issue weakening your manuscript for free, no strings attached. Most manuscripts don't fail because the writing is bad. They fail because the author is too close to see what's breaking it: pacing that stalls in the middle, voice inconsistencies that lose readers early, structural gaps that make agents pass without explanation. That is exactly what I diagnose and fix. With 7+ years of editing experience across fiction, nonfiction, memoir, self-help, and children's books, I have helped authors go from rejected drafts to 5-star published books and successful agent queries. Services: -Developmental Editing: story structure, pacing, character arcs, narrative cohesion -Line Editing: sentence rhythm, voice, clarity, emotional resonance -Proofreading: grammar, punctuation, spelling, final polish before publishing -Beta Reading: honest reader feedback before you query or go live I also do the following: - Ghostwriting: I can also ghostwrite your book for you if you have an outline or idea you want me to develop. - Book formatting: I can format your book into an ePub version with reflowable table of contents, paperback and hardback versions. - Book cover design: I can design attractive book covers and wraparound book coveres for your book that would help your book make sales once it is published. I work to Chicago Manual of Style or APA standards and tailor every edit to your genre, tone, and voice. You get a full editorial letter, tracked changes, and clear reasoning behind every recommendation. I only take on 6 new manuscript projects per month to protect quality. 70+ authors have already trusted me with their manuscripts and walked away with agent requests, 5-star reviews, and published books. If you are reading this, I likely still have a spot. Message me right now with your first 3 chapters and I will tell you exactly what is holding your manuscript back, at no cost, before you spend a single dollar.

Writer, developmental editor, and attorney with a passion for nurturing creative voices. I am an award-winning storyteller and avid reader, dedicated to guiding writers on their journeys to create polished prose. I have an MFA in Writing from Bennington College with a concentration in fiction. I received several awards, including DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Artist Fellowships in 2023 and 2025 and the Vincent Cooper Literary Prize from The Caribbean Writer Literary Journal. My work has been published in The Rumpus, Midnight Breakfast, The Caribbean Writer, and elsewhere. I am an editor-at-large for an independent publisher and have reviewed and critiqued over 300 essays as part of The Rumpus's essay feature reading team. I also served as a fiction editor for The End of the World, a literary journal at Bennington College. I have over 20 years of experience practicing law, but I love working with writers! As a narrator, my background as a writer and editor gives me a strong sense of pacing, tone, and character voice. I'm particularly interested in narrating diverse stories and literary works. I offer versatile vocal styles and accents, including Caribbean, American, and Canadian, and I can adapt my delivery to match your book’s unique voice and audience.