A wooden bookshelf filled with numerous hardcover books in a cozy, well-lit room with a window and a small potted plant.

Clarity, Not Chaos.

Editorial support for character-driven fiction, memoir, sci-fi / fantasy, and children’s literature.

Services

Full Developmental + Line Edits

$5,000

A comprehensive edit that strengthens structure and sharpens language.

This service focuses on:

  • Narrative structure and pacing

  • Character motivation and arc

  • Thematic cohesion

  • World-building consistency (for speculative fiction)

  • Sentence-level clarity and flow

You’ll receive:

  • A detailed editorial letter: multi-page assessment that explains what is working and where revisions will have the greatest impact.

  • Story arc and structural mapping: analysis of the overall arc of the manuscript, where tension rises and falls, and where the story may lose momentum. This will tell you whether the structure is supporting the story you are trying to tell.

  • Chapter-by-chapter developmental notes: Targeted feedback for each chapter and each act on what is working and what could be strengthened. This includes pacing, character development, clarity of stakes, and how each chapter contributes to the overall arc of the story.

  • Hot spot analysis: Specific sections of the manuscript where readers may lose clarity, emotional engagement, or narrative momentum. These often represent the places where focused revision can create the biggest improvement.

  • In-line manuscript comments: Thoughtful comments in the manuscript highlighting opportunities to clarify language, sharpen scenes, strengthen character motivation, and improve flow.

  • Clear, actionable revision guidance: Rather than overwhelming you with scattered feedback, I highlight specific changes that will have the greatest impact so you know where to focus your efforts.

  • One follow-up call or written Q&A

Best for: Writers preparing for serious revision, querying, or submission.

Samples available upon request.

(up to ~90,000 words; custom quote beyond)

Manuscript Evaluation

$2,500

A strategic manuscript assessment designed to clarify your next steps.

This service focuses on:

  • Structural strengths and gaps

  • Pacing and narrative momentum

  • Character development and consistency

  • Thematic alignment

  • Clear revision priorities

You’ll receive:

  • A comprehensive editorial letter: Detailed written assessment outlining what is working, where the story may be losing clarity or momentum, and the key areas that will benefit most from revision.

  • Big-picture structural analysis: Evaluation of the overall narrative structure, including pacing, escalation of tension, character development, and how effectively the story arc supports the themes of the work.

  • Prioritized revision recommendations: Clear, actionable guidance that highlights the changes most likely to strengthen the manuscript.

  • Optional follow-up Q&A

Best for: Writers who have revised and want objective feedback before querying, or those navigating agent feedback.

Samples available upon request.

First 5,000 Words Critique

$600

A focused critique designed to strengthen your opening pages.

This service focuses on:

  • Hook and early narrative momentum

  • Voice and clarity

  • Scene construction and pacing

  • Character introduction

  • Structural alignment in the opening

You’ll receive:

  • In-line comments on your first 5,000 words

  • A concise written summary of strengths and suggestions

  • Specific recommendations for improvement

  • Optional follow-up Q&A

Best for: Writers seeking early feedback or preparing to query.

About

I’m a researcher by training and an editor by instinct.

With a PhD in Human Factors Psychology and over a decade studying how people think, decide, and respond, I approach manuscripts with a structured, analytical lens. I look for patterns - where pacing falters, where motivation weakens, where structure can be clarified - and translate those observations into practical, actionable revision steps.

My goal isn’t to impose style or overwork language. It’s to help you see your manuscript clearly and understand what changes will meaningfully strengthen it.

Writers I work with often appreciate the balance of analysis and direction: specific insight, clear priorities, and feedback that makes revision feel purposeful rather than overwhelming.

Outside of editorial work, I teach yoga and am the mother of two daughters, the most important work I do. That grounding shapes how I show up: steady, thoughtful, and attentive to what truly matters.

A woman with curly brown hair and freckles smiling indoors near a window with natural light, wearing a light pink sweater and jewelry.

Literary Focus

I work primarily with character-driven fiction and emotionally layered narratives. Genres I’ve worked in include:

  • Gothic and psychological horror

  • Character-driven sci-fi / fantasy

  • Memoir and personal narrative

  • Children’s literature

Recent projects include full developmental and line edits on multiple book-length manuscripts (60,000–90,000 words), manuscript evaluations, and opening-page critiques. I’ve also worked with a published middle grade author on children’s fiction.

Several manuscripts are currently in active revision or submission stages.

A fantasy scene with a woman in a red cloak casting magical fire from her hand, surrounded by armored soldiers, in front of a burning ancient city with domed buildings and statues, under a sky filled with airships and lightning.
An illustration of a whimsical scene in an apple orchard with a mole in a red scarf inside an apple-shaped house, and a beet with a hat holding a notebook outside. The tree is full of large, ripe apples, and bees and ants are buzzing and climbing around. A wooden ladder leans against the tree, and a spider web is visible in the lower left corner.
A spooky, dark Gothic mansion with glowing windows, surrounded by leafless trees and fog, lit by old-fashioned lamps on stone posts along a winding stone path.

  • "I cannot overstate Ashley’s depth and intelligence as an editor. She has an attention to detail I haven’t found elsewhere, and a unique way of presenting her feedback that is accessible and comprehensive at the same time. Her work is thoughtful and actionable, which makes all the difference in knowing how to approach your edits. I have felt more empowered as an author after working with her edits than I ever have, and my plots and characters have reaped the rewards. I’ve hired and worked with at least five different editors besides Ashley, and she blows them all out of the water. I refuse to trust my manuscripts with anyone else now. "

    —Rania Hanna, Author of The Jinn Daughter

  • "Ashley has edited several stories for me and always provides clear feedback at multiple levels. Her eagle-eyed line-by-line edits are comprehensive and her analysis of overall structure and narrative arc helps clear stories stuck in development hell. She will always be the editor I trust most to review my manuscripts."

    —Michael Sewall, Writer & Game Designer

Let’s talk about your manuscript

If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to hear about your project. Use the form to get in touch.

I typically respond within 2–3 business days.

If you were referred by another writer, feel free to mention their name in your message.