James Powell – Editor

Your beta readers said "I liked it!" but you know that's not the same as "I couldn't stop reading." Something's off in your draft, but beta readers can't tell you what.

It's not easy to spot the gap between what's in your head and what's on the page. That's where I come in. I help novelists and comic writers recognize the difference and provide solutions that add real tension, clear stakes, characters who jump off the page, and pacing that pulls readers to the next page.

I write, too. Dark Horse published my series House of Fear, so I know what it's like to hand your work to someone else and wait for feedback. I don't take that lightly.

With 12 years of editing experience, I do more than mark up a file. We'll hop on a Zoom call to walk through what's working, what isn't, and why, so you can spot these gaps yourself, in this manuscript and the next.

I don't use AI. Every note is mine, because your story deserves a human reader who's actually paying attention.

I specialize in horror, fantasy, and thrillers (novels and comics).

RATES

Editing is priced per word. For an 80,000-word novel: developmental editing ~$2,900, editorial assessment ~$2000, copyediting ~$1,900.

Coaching: $75/hour.

Ready to see what your story needs? Send me your first chapter and let's talk.