Crime Fiction Developmental Editor

Help Shape the Next Bestselling Crime Fiction Novel: Seeking Developmental Editor for Long-Term Position

Mary Stone Publishing is seeking an experienced Developmental Editor to provide in-depth critiques and substantive editing for crime fiction, thriller, mystery and suspense outlines and manuscripts on a monthly, long-term basis. This is a remote position offering schedule flexibility for professionals who are comfortable managing deadlines independently and communicating consistently within a collaborative editorial team.

Position Overview

In this role, you will evaluate story structure, plot progression, pacing, character development, and investigative tension, delivering clear, actionable feedback that strengthens narrative cohesion and suspense. You will also conduct substantive edits of completed manuscripts, focusing on pacing, coherence, procedural accuracy, continuity, and overall narrative flow while suggesting author revisions to strengthen the story’s impact and momentum.

A strong command of crime fiction conventions—including effective twists, escalating tension, credible investigative procedures, and sustained narrative momentum—is essential. Your editorial insight will directly support the development of polished, engaging novels that meet and exceed professional publishing standards and maintain reader engagement through the final page.

Scope of work:

Utilizing our online platform, you will collaborate closely with authors and editorial team members, following assigned series from inception to completion. You will participate in a comprehensive training process designed to familiarize you with our editorial standards, workflows, and distinctive style.

As a Developmental Editor, you are responsible for analyzing, critiquing, and refining crime fiction outlines and manuscripts, guiding authors in crafting tightly structured, immersive, and emotionally resonant stories. Once a manuscript is complete, you will conduct a substantive edit, providing detailed revision notes and actionable feedback to strengthen the story’s overall execution.

Responsibilities include:

• Outline Collaboration: Work with the outline team to develop and refine series-level and individual book outlines, providing feedback on character arcs, pacing, investigative layering, motive and criminal complexity. Ensure twists are effective, tension escalates organically, and character motivations remain credible.
• Research & Procedural Accuracy: Review and fact-check law enforcement procedures, investigative methods, and related details (including police departments, FBI, and other agencies) to ensure accuracy and credibility.
• Author Collaboration & Vision Alignment: Partner with authors to strengthen storytelling while preserving voice. Provide insight that deepens psychological complexity and emotional realism while maintaining alignment with project goals, series continuity, and deadlines.
• Developmental Critiques: Review novels submitted in four sections, totaling approximately 70,000 words per book. Provide early-stage on structure, investigative tension, emotional depth, pacing, and narrative cohesion. Identify inconsistencies in plot, backstory, point of view, timeline, procedural details, and character motivation.
• Chapter-by-Chapter Coaching:Deliver detailed, chapter-level feedback as manuscripts progress, ensuring each chapter contributes meaningfully to the escalating suspense, investigative momentum, and rising stakes that define a gripping crime novel. Support authors in maintaining thematic consistency, sharpening twists, and strengthening procedural realism.
• Substantive Edit: Conduct a deep, comprehensive edit of the manuscript, refining narrative flow, pacing, and structural integrity. Address inconsistencies in plot, timeline, and character motivation, providing actionable feedback to strengthen tension, emotional resonance, and reader engagement.
• Character Continuity Management:Maintain and reference the Shared Series Outline for each series, ensuring consistency in character motivations, backgrounds, professional roles, physical attributes, and behavioral patterns to ensure a believable arc throughout a series.
• Professional Communication:Provide constructive, respectful critiques and revision notes. Respond promptly to questions from authors and outline writers, and guide revisions in a collaborative, solution-oriented manner.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Word’s Track Changes and commenting tools, and adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style, Mary Stone Publishing Style (to be provided), and standard U.S. English conventions.

Note: Editors are compensated separately for each process they are responsible for, including manuscript developmental critiquing/coaching, substantive editing, and outline critiquing. 

Requirements:

To succeed in this role, candidates must have substantial experience crafting, analyzing, and editing crime fiction, thriller, mystery, and suspense novels. A strong understanding of genre conventions, investigative structure, and suspense-driven storytelling is essential.

Expertise in Critiquing Crime Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, and Suspense Outlines and Manuscripts:

• Deep understanding of the differences between critiquing an outline and a completed manuscript, with the ability to strengthen structure, pacing, and character arcs at the outline stage and evaluate narrative flow, tension, character consistency, and emotional impact at the manuscript stage while preserving author voice.
• Extensive experience with character development, emotional depth, and realistic motivations, ensuring complex, believable protagonists and antagonists.
• Strong knowledge of suspense-building techniques, including foreshadowing, red herrings, pacing, and slow-burn tension that keeps readers engaged.
• Ability to critique and enhance plot twists, ensuring they are well-executed, surprising, and logically plausible within the crime and motive structure.
• Comfortable working in both third-person and first-person points of view, across past and present tense, while handling alternating character POVs.
• Experience analyzing law-enforcement perspectives, motive and alibi constructions, criminal behavior patterns, and layered character dynamics to elevate crime driven suspense.
• Able to identify discrepancies in plot, backstory, and character behavior and traits within and across books, using our Shared Series Outline for reference.

Expertise in Crime Fiction, Thrillers, Mystery, and Suspense. Substantive Editing:

• Ability to refine narrative flow, pacing, and structural integrity while strengthening character depth and thematic cohesion, providing clear, actionable feedback that enhances tension, emotional impact, and character consistency.
• Skilled at identifying inconsistencies in plot, timeline, and character motivation, ensuring believable and engaging arcs across individual books and series by referencing and updating the Share Series Outline to maintain continuity.
• Proficiency in analyzing character motives, criminal behavior patterns, and intricate character dynamics, with the ability to heighten suspense, execute twists effectively, and maintain reader immersion.
• Strong ability to refine dialogue, internal monologue, and narrative voice to enhance authenticity and character realism while ensuring alignment with genre tone and complexity.
• Professional, collaborative communication skills with authors, providing clear, constructive, and respectful feedback through multiple revision rounds while preserving author voice.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word’s Track Changes and commenting tools, with knowledge and adherence to the Chicago Manual of Style, Mary Stone Publishing Style (to be provided), and standard U.S. English conventions.

Research and Accuracy:

• Strong research skills and fact-checking skills, including verifying investigative procedures, law enforcement protocols, forensic details, and real world influences.
• Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring consistency in character development, motivations, behavioral patterns, and narrative logic throughout individual books and series.
• Ability to identify subtle discrepancies in plot, timeline, backstory, and worldbuilding to prevent continuity errors and ensuring a seamless reading experience.
• Proficiency in tracking and maintaining series-wide details using the Shared Series Outline, ensuring accuracy in character development, physical attributes, past events, and evolving relationships.

Collaborative & Professional Approach:

• High levels of discretion, diplomacy, and tact in working with authors and the editorial team.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, online shared team environment and be open to constructive criticism.
• Willingness to fill in for another editor and finish a series if necessary, ensuring character and tone consistency.

Responsiveness and Commitment:

• Deadline-driven, with the ability to respond to communication within 24 business hours—very important.
• Excellent communication skills to deliver clear, actionable critiques and discuss deadlines, plot development, and revisions with authors.
• Sufficient availability to consistently meet deadlines for critiquing and substantively editing full-length novels and outlines on an ongoing basis.
• Must use an up-to-date version of Microsoft Word and be proficient in its Track Changes and commenting tools.

Ownership and Legal:

• Understand that this is a work-for-hire independent contractor position—editors hold no rights to the work and must adhere to all legal and ownership agreements set by Mary Stone Publishing.
• Willing to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for each assigned book and outline.
• All work must be 100% original. AI-generated or AI-assisted content, pre-written templates, or PLR (Private Label Rights) content will not be accepted. Submissions that rely primarily on such materials will be rejected and are not eligible for payment.

**This position is compensated on a per-word or flat-fee basis, depending on the assigned process. Any hourly rate displayed in job postings is for advertising purposes only and does not reflect actual compensation.

Additional Notes

Mary Stone Publishing crafts high-volume, reader-driven crime fiction with a broad audience base. While the majority of our readership is female, our stories are written to meet genre expectations and appeal to a wide range of readers. Editors work closely with the Editing Director and publishing team, who will provide guidance, feedback, and collaborative insights as needed. Our shared goal is to craft engaging, high-quality stories that captivate readers and keep them coming back for more. 

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