Project Overview:
We are seeking an experienced story editor / developmental editor with industry insight to review a completed draft novel and provide high-level structural and narrative feedback. The novel is a dark psychological/literary thriller exploring trauma, morality, and ethical dissonance within modern farming culture.
Premise:
The protagonist, Charlie, grows up on a farm under a violent, emotionally abusive father. Surrounded by death, blood, secrecy and cruelty, Charlie becomes morally torn: unable to consume animals, yet forced to participate in slaughter to survive his childhood and be accepted. As an adult, after years of suppressing his empathy and identity, he snaps—envisioning a radical new system that flips the farm’s purpose. Eventually, his dream becomes horrifying reality: a human farm.
What we need:
We already know the draft is too long and want expert guidance on how to make the story sharper, more compelling, and more marketable, without losing its emotional or philosophical weight.
We’re specifically looking for someone who can provide:
Deliverables
• Developmental report (structure, pacing, character arc, theme, flow)
• Scene-level recommendations on cuts, rearrangements, tightening, and “making it pop”
• Advice on market positioning / genre alignment
• Notes on tone, tension buildup, and emotional impact
• Suggestions for commercial viability and unique selling angle
Ideal Candidate
• Professional editor, published author, or story consultant
• Experience with dark literary fiction, psychological thrillers, or speculative fiction
• Understands pacing in morally complex narratives
• Comfortable with ethically challenging material (graphic, emotional, psychological)
• Bonus: Has industry connections or can advise on approaching publishers/agents
Optional (Not required, but fantastic if offered)
• Ability to refer the book to publishers, literary agents, or competitions
• Coaching for a query letter or pitch package
Length
Full manuscript (exact word count will be provided privately). Feedback required — not a line-edit.
Budget
We are open to proposals based on your experience and deliverables. I’ve just put a placeholder price thee at the moment.
Please provide:
• Your quote
• Brief note on your experience with dark fiction
