Lillian Boyd

Lillian Boyd – Editor

10+ years' editing experience, specializing in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and romance. Let's take your book to the next level together!

Overview

I’m a full-service editor with over a decade of experience in genre fiction ⁠⁠— everything from domestic vampire fluff to sprawling, post-apocalyptic retellings of When Harry Met Sally. I worked as a content manager for four years while editing manuscripts as a side-hustle before realizing that all I wanted to do was work with authors, and I’ve been freelancing ever since, doing everything from proofreads to line edits and full structural overhauls.

Give me space truckers and haunted houses. Give me gothic romances and werewolf heists and slapstick splatterpunk. I love dialogue that my brain won’t stop chewing on hours after I should have already fallen asleep. I love enormous emotions and characters that are extremely bad at talking about them. I’m a sucker for found family, technology doing things that technology has no business doing, monsters doing their best, and enemies-to-lovers romances.

I want to help your story find the piece it’s missing and shape it into the thing that got you excited about writing it in the first place. Whether you need someone to get down in the trenches with you and figure out the brass tacks of your story beats, or just need proofreading before you send it out, I would love to collaborate and make something beautiful together. Let’s go to work!

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Here's what some of my clients have said!

"Lillian Boyd's editorial feedback is consistently kind, thoughtful, and creatively nourishing. She's also one of the fastest editors I've ever met. I've worked with her for several years, and have always been amazed at the level of improvement I see in my work after implementing their feedback. Lillian is not only brilliantly insightful; she is quite simply a pleasure to work with." - Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars, The Echo Wife

"Lillian offered insightful suggestions about both big-picture structural edits and fine-grained prose edits, all of which improved my final draft. She is also funny and kind and great to work with, which are essential qualities in an editor." -Felicia Davin, author of the Gardener's Hand trilogy

"Lillian has been a strong editor since the day we first met. She most recently edited a short story of mine ("Gender Reveal Box, 16.95") in the Spring issue of Fireside Magazine, 2021), and her turnaround of edits was quick and they got right to the heart of the story. It's a weird story, but Lillian got the whole scope and got a better ending out of me. Definitely recommended." -John Wiswell, author of "Open House On Haunted Hill"

"On any topic and at any length, Lillian has consistently brought out the best in my work, with a compassionate hand and an eye so sharp the sentences bisect themselves. It's an absolute joy to work with her and I can't wait for our next project." -Julian Stuart, "Papa's Gonna Buy You a Mockingbird," "Hex Code"

"Lillian provided a stellar sensitivity read, with insightful and incisive comments about a central nonbinary character. Working with her was easy and an absolute pleasure." -Nino Cipri, author of Defekt, Finna
Services
Fiction
Horror LGBTQ Fiction Romance Science Fiction
Non-Fiction
Travel
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • EFA Member

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2019 — Present

I've edited, critiqued, and developed over four dozen manuscripts as a freelance editor since 2019 across a wide variety of genres, primarily science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I've done line and copy edits, full developmental fixes from start to finish, and sensitivity reads.

Internet Brands

May, 2015 — Jan, 2019 (over 3 years)

As a content manager, I edited, wrote, and produced daily content for websites under the Internet Brands umbrella, including Fodor's Travel, FlyerTalk, and WebMD. I also managed freelance writers who wrote for Internet Brands and maintained quick turnaround times for publication.

Portfolio

Written by locals, Fodor’s Colorado is the perfect guidebook for those looking for insider tips to make the most out their visit to Denver, Boulder, Vail, Aspen and beyond. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this Colorado travel guide will h... read more
Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and professionally vetted recommendations for all tastes and budgets for 80 years.New Orleans is a vibrant, bursting-at-the-seams melting pot of a city that famously inspires indulgence.... read more
Ready to experience San Diego? The experts at Fodor’s are here to help. Fodor’s San Diego travel guide is packed with customizable itineraries with top recommendations, detailed maps of San Diego, and exclusive tips from locals. Whether you want to find the pe... read more
Ready to experience Los Angeles? The experts at Fodor’s are here to help. Fodor’s Los Angeles travel guide is packed with customizable itineraries with top recommendations, detailed maps of Los Angeles, and exclusive tips from locals. Whether you want to loung... read more
Written by locals, Fodor’s Chicago is the perfect guidebook for those looking for insider tips to make the most out their visit. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this Chicago travel guide will help you plan your trip with ease.Fodor's Chic... read more
Book One in the Fractured Galaxy trilogy, Random Walk is the story of three U.S. Air Force Space Command astronauts: Colonel Derek Williams, a mild-mannered, experienced space traveler; Captain Jacob Mendez, the ship's playful navigator; and civilian Vicky Abr... read more
Aidan Blackwood barely survived an unethical experiment by Quint Services. Researchers there robbed him of his ability to access the Nowhere, a void between worlds that allows him to teleport. Aidan plans to destroy the company and the man behind it, trilliona... read more
In Upright Women Wanted, award-winning author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity.“That girl’s got more wrong notions than a barn owl’s got mean looks.”Esther is a stowaway. She’s hidden h... read more
There were two secrets in Varenx House, and Alizhan was one of them.Alizhan can’t see faces, but she can read minds. Her mysterious ability leaves her unable to touch or be touched without excruciating pain. Rescued from abandonment and raised by the wealthy a... read more
Scrubby, hidden weeds snatched at their clothes like hands. No further, they whispered, go back. Ornithologists Danielle Wright and Luca Navarro are trying to save the Caddo Lake wetlands from an oil pipeline. Local boat tour guide Harper Benoit is trying to s... read more

Lillian has 35 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jacob H.

Jacob H.

May, 2023

Lillian is a great person, and not just in a personal sense that she is kind and cheerful. She worked through a manuscript of 136.000 words in a little more than a month, and has been nothing but helpful in the subsequent followup of the copyediting and proofreading. I've got nothing but praise for her!
britany S.

britany S.

May, 2023

Lillian gave my story life! i’m even more obsessed with my book than I was before. Everything was done perfectly in a timely manner. Every question I had was answered. Their time and quality of work will always be appreciated. Thank you, Lillian! I look forward to working with you again in the future.
Zelia P.

Zelia P.

Apr, 2023

I came to Lillian with many anxieties about my writing and the execution of my premise. She has provided me with a great blend of encouragement and concrete and actionable guidance. I look forward to working with her on future projects!
Kenny P.

Kenny P.

Apr, 2023

Lillian is an amazing editor. She was able to get through my novel in a decent amount of time, while providing excellent and thorough feedback concerning all aspects of my novel. I will definitely be reaching out to her for future projects
Stephen R.

Stephen R.

Mar, 2023

It was a pleasure as usual to work with Lillian on book three of my series. I am looking forward to working with Lillian again for book four!