Rachel Rayner – Editor

I'm a developmental editor and writing coach specialising in commercial fiction - especially crime, thrillers, suspense, espionage, psychological thrillers and character-driven women's fiction. I spent over a decade in UK book publishing at Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, where I worked with bestselling and award-winning authors and helped them shape their manuscripts from early concept to publication.

Based in Zürich, Switzerland, I now work independently with writers, literary agents and publishers worldwide, I offer structural insight, narrative craft and practical revision guidance that strengthens your novel at every level.

My approach is collaborative and strategic. I help you:

- sharpen structure, pacing and tension

- deepen character development and emotional resonance

- refine voice and themes

- identify opportunities for greater commercial impact

- find solutions that feel true to your story and authentic to your voice

Whether you're writing your first draft or polishing your manuscript for agents, my goal is to give you clear, actionable next steps and the confidence to move forward.

I offer:

- Developmental edits - comprehensive structural and narrative assessments with margin notes and a detailed editorial report

- Editorial assessments - big-picture diagnostic reports highlighting strengths, opportunities and a focused path forward

- Query letter and submission package reviews - professional feedback on your query, synopsis and opening pages, drawing on 10+ years of experience assessing submissions and commissioning books for Big 5 publishers

- Coaching - idea development, revision planning, accountability and confidence-building support for writers at every stage

My background:

Before going freelance, I was Commissioning Editor for Crime & Thrillers at Transworld Publishers (Penguin Random House). Notably, I commissioned Ghostman by Roger Hobbs - winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller - and managed a list of bestselling and internationally published authors.

I also spent several years in strategic communication at Deloitte Consulting, Switzerland, specialising in narrative design and employee engagement. That work sharpened my understanding of how stories move people - and deepened my experience in coaching, mentoring and supporting creative confidence.

If you're looking for thoughtful, experienced guidance and a clear path forward for your novel, I'd love to hear from you.