Now taking bookings for Feb 2027 onwards!
Publish your story with confidence
Professional editing for authors of dark, magical and otherworldly stories
Hi, I'm Jacqui!
I’m a professional editor who works with indie authors. Whether you’re a new or seasoned author, I’m here to support you on your publishing journey and help bring your vision to life.With over five years of industry experience and a Masters in Publishing, I bring editorial expertise and a careful eye to every manuscript. I’ve worked closely with authors across the full publishing process, guiding manuscripts from first draft to publication.Every voice is unique, and every story is different. My approach to editing is thoughtful and collaborative, designed to work with your voice and ideas, not override them.I specialise in fantasy, romance, sci-fi, horror, paranormal, historical and dystopian fiction, and have a particular soft spot for young adult stories.
Editing services
Manuscript assessment
Developmental editing
Line & copy editing
Proofreading
Other services
Beta reading
Formatting
Editing packages
No genAI
Supporting human creativity is important to me, which is why I don't use any generative AI in my editing work, and only work with books that have been created by human minds.
Thoughtful & collaborative
My goal is to provide feedback that respects your vision, with actionable steps to help you take your manuscript to the next level.
Professional training & experience
I have over five years of industry experience, a Masters in Writing and Publishing, and continue to refine my skills through the EFA and IPEd.
"Jacqui's ideas elevated the manuscript, and her edits helped tighten the story without compromising its tone or meaning."
– Tahnee Arlt, dystopian fiction
Work with me
Fill out the form below for a free sample edit or to discuss your project. I aim to respond to enquiries within 1–2 days. If you haven't heard from me, please make sure to check your spam/junk folder.
Current availability:
2026: Fully booked
2027: Books are open from February onwards
Manuscript wishlist:
Fantasy
Romance
Paranormal
Sci-fi
Horror
Historical
Dystopian
Please note that I do not work with manuscripts that have been created using generative AI.
Please include the following information in your message:
Word count
Genre
Brief synopsis
Which services you're interested in
Work with me
Fill out the form below for a free sample edit or to discuss your project. I aim to respond to enquiries within 1–2 days. If you haven't heard from me, please make sure to check your spam/junk folder.
Current availability:
2026: Fully booked
2027: Books are open from February onwards
Manuscript wishlist:
Fantasy
Romance
Paranormal
Sci-fi
Horror
Historical
Dystopian
Please note that I do not work with manuscripts that have been created using generative AI.
Please include the following information in your message:
Word count
Genre
Brief synopsis
Which services you're interested in
Services
I offer a range of editing services, including individual and package deals.It’s important to find an editor who is the right fit for your story. If you’re unsure about my services, I offer a free sample edit of up to 1000 words, or the first chapter for developmental editing. This allows you to get a feel for my editing style before you make any commitments.
Editing services
Manuscript assessment
A manuscript assessment provides feedback on the key elements of your manuscript, examining the strengths of your story and providing ideas on what you could focus on during your next edit.The feedback may cover elements such as:
structure
character development
dialogue
pacing
point of view
writing craft in general
Similar to a developmental edit, the feedback mainly focuses on the big-picture elements of your story. However, it is less collaborative in nature, providing broader guidance to assist you with self-editing and help you improve your writing.This service is ideal if you’ve finished an early draft and you’d like insight into how your manuscript reads from an editorial perspective, or if you’re unsure which direction to take next during your next round of revisions.
Deliverables:
Editorial report (5–10 pages)
In-manuscript comments
Pricing: AUD$0.012 per word
Developmental editing
Developmental editing focuses on the big-picture elements of your manuscript. This is an in-depth read of your story and a more collaborative process, providing you with feedback and actionable suggestions to help you refine your manuscript at the story level.You’ll receive feedback on story elements such as:
plot
structure
pacing
point of view
dialogue
worldbuilding
character development
This service is ideal if you’re looking for in-depth feedback and solutions to help refine those big-picture story elements. It includes ongoing support after the initial editing phase, where you’ll have the opportunity to ask me questions or talk through ideas together.
Deliverables:
Editorial letter (15+ pages)
Manuscript mark-up & comments
Pricing: AUD$0.02 per word
Line & copy editing
This is a combined service to help refine your writing at the sentence level, and should be completed once the manuscript has gone through some form of developmental editing.Line editing focuses on the prose itself and can involve:
improving word choice and phrasing
reducing wordiness and repetition
strengthening overall clarity and flow
checking continuity and consistency issues
Copy editing is more technical and can involve:
correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation
ensuring consistency with the chosen style guide and dictionary
checking continuity and consistency issues
fact checking information
creating a style sheet to track spelling and punctuation preferences, character profiles, etc.
Line editing and copy editing often overlap, which is why I offer these as a combined service. Pricing for individual services can be provided upon request.
Deliverables:
Manuscript mark-up & comments
Style sheet
Pricing: AUD$0.015 per word
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final quality check once all other editing stages have been completed, ensuring that your manuscript is polished before you go to publish.Proofreading can involve:
catching any remaining errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation
checking consistency in terminology, capitalisation and hyphenation
ensuring spelling and punctuation preferences align with the style sheet, chosen style guide and dictionary
correcting basic grammatical issues
In the case where the manuscript has been formatted, this will also include checking layout and design elements such as fonts, spacing, headings, page and scene breaks, and running headers and footers.
Deliverables:
Manuscript mark-ups & comments
Pricing: AUD$0.01 per word
Other services
Beta reading
A read-through of an early draft of your manuscript, with feedback on how your story lands from a reader's perspective. The feedback will highlight the overall strengths of your story, identify opportunities for improvement, and address any specific questions you have.This service is ideal if your story is a first or early draft, or you've already completed developmental editing and want to see how your manuscript reads from a reader's perspective.
Note: This service focuses on reader feedback, and does not include editorial advice.
Pricing: From AUD$150 (for up to 80k words)
Deliverables:
Reader's report (3–5 pages)
In-manuscript comments
Formatting
Once all relevant editing stages have been completed, it's time for formatting!Formatting deals with the interior design of your book. This includes choosing the right fonts, page layout and trim size to ensure the design meets industry standards and aligns with your genre.Designs must be provided, including any additional graphics such as maps, ornamental breaks, chapter headers or artwork.Alternatively, you may provide inspiration for the overall design, and a selection of formatting styles will be created for you to choose from. However, this may incur an additional fee depending on the complexity of the design.Pricing: AUD$200 flat rate
Editing packages
If you're after more than one level of editing, I offer editing packages at a 25% discounted rate.Each service is completed separately, with time in-between each stage for you to review the feedback and make revisions before moving on to the next step.
| Package | Pricing (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Developmental editing, line/copy editing, proofreading | $0.034 per word |
| Manuscript assessment, line/copy editing, proofreading | $0.028 per word |
| Developmental editing, line/copy editing | $0.026 per word |
| Line/copy editing, proofreading | $0.019 per word |
Formatting can be added to any bundle for AUD$200.If you're interested in a package that isn't listed here, get in touch to receive a custom quote!
Meet the editor
Hi, I'm Jacqui! I'm a lifelong lover of all things related to books, particularly those that involve magic, mythology, the paranormal and dystopian realities.
My background
I'm based in Australia, and have been working in the publishing industry for over five years. I started out as an intern at RMIT's Bowen Street Press, editing a variety of works across fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Later, I worked as a Senior Content Developer at Neap Education, where I helped authors develop books and other resources for young adults.Over a year ago, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue a long-term goal of mine: freelance editing. Stepping out of my comfort zone and becoming my own boss has been challenging, but I’m so grateful for the opportunities this has brought me. Freelancing has allowed me to build more meaningful relationships with authors and given me the freedom to focus on the genres I love most!
My credentials
I have a Master of Writing and Publishing from RMIT University, where I completed training in the full editorial process, from developmental editing, line and copy editing, to typesetting and proofreading.I'm an Associate Member of the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd). I'm constantly building my professional development through IPEd's classes and workshops, as well as through courses by the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA).I also hold a Bachelor of Arts from Deakin University, majoring in Literary Studies, along with minors in Children's Literature and Creative Writing.
When I'm not editing...
I'm usually reading, studying tarot, drinking too much coffee, spending time in nature, going to concerts or dancing to Florence + The Machine.If you write dark, magical or otherworldly stories, I'd love to see if we'd be a good fit! Get in touch with me to chat about your manuscript or schedule a free sample edit.
Kind words from my indie clients
Title: The Painting (release date TBA)
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Service: Line and copy editing
"I was really impressed with Jacqui's service! I appreciated the thought put into her edits, and the time taken to explain why changes should be made, so it felt like I was still in control of my own work, and I could learn from mistakes. I will definitely reach out to Jacqui in future!"
– Amelia Burrell (author of The Soul Beneath the Skin)
Title: Book of Brujo
Genre: Young adult, fantasy
Service: Line and copy editing
"It was an absolute pleasure working with Jacqui. She was consistently kind, professional, and provided insightful feedback that helped elevate my work. I definitely look forward to collaborating with her again on future book projects."
– Mark Shaw
Title: To Catch a House (release date TBA)
Genre: Middle grade, dystopian
Service: Developmental editing
"I was genuinely impressed by Jacqui’s thoroughness and attention to detail. ... She picked up on so much that I had overlooked, and I really appreciated her insight and suggestions. Jacqui's ideas elevated the manuscript, and her edits helped tighten the story without compromising its tone or meaning."
– Tahnee Arlt
Title: Fiona's Tale: The Ghost Witch
Genre: Historical fiction
Service: Beta reading
"Jacqui was amazing to work with! Her feedback was thorough, thoughtful, insightful, kind, constructive, and wonderfully helpful. Thank you Jacqui!"
– Kellsie Moore
Title: Tolerance
Genre: Romance
Service: Proofreading
"Jacqui is awesome to work with and very patient. She knows her stuff!"
– Mark Shaw
