Shannon Roberts

Shannon Roberts – Editor

Developmental editor with sixteen years of experience in fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction.

Overview

Writing a novel is not an event, but a process — a pretty challenging process at times!


As an editor, I'm committed to providing authors the support they need throughout that process. Whether you need help fleshing out an unfinished manuscript, revising an early draft, or fine-tuning an almost finished product, my goal is to ensure that when you eventually approach an agent (or prepare to self publish), you do so with the best possible story in hand.


I've worked with nearly every genre at some point, but my focus has always been speculative fiction, specifically surreal fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. These genres often present their own unique challenges, all of which an experienced editor can help you surmount.


In addition to developmental editing, I also have extensive experience with line editing, which is exactly what it sounds like: a line-by-line close edit of a manuscript, intended to polish an author's voice and maximize the impact of every paragraph. And, if you've got an out-of-control word count, this is just the thing to bring your manuscript back into manageable territory (and make it more attractive to a prospective agent).

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Dystopian Epic Fantasy Magical Realism Urban Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2008 — Present

I have over fifteen years of experience in editing fiction, including:

-Reading, evaluating, and providing feedback on manuscripts across multiple genres
-Working with authors to develop outlines that will guide their writing and self-editing process
-Coaching edits (editing with margin notes and instructive commentary)
-Line editing manuscripts to polish an author's voice and writing style

several companies

Jul, 2017 — Jan, 2022 (over 4 years)

- Reviewed and edited back cover copy / taglines for multiple genres
- Provided support and outreach for authors soliciting professional reviews
- Wrote and edited promotional material for indie title releases

Portfolio

What would you do if you accidentally brought a monster to life and set him loose on your town? Adventurous and charming, this middle grade twist on Frankenstein features a precocious main cha... read more
Developmental Editing
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit

Dunsmore, Valerie

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Midnight Beach

Heinan, Tom

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Twelve Feet Up

John Penteros

High school freshman Joe McKinnon loves pizza, hates public speaking, and has fallen hard for a girl. Pretty typical. Not so typical is Joe’s prosthetic leg, which he’s had since the car crash... read more
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation

Richards, Omari

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Singularity Heights

Solomon, Jay

Editorial Assessment
The Coney Island Book of the Dead, An Illustrated Novel throbs with the kinetic energy anddark undercurrents of the Coney Island of 1957. It’s imbued with mythical stories from Yiddish and Del... read more
Developmental Editing
It’s 1569. Elizabeth I sits on the English throne, the Reformation inflames the Continent, and whispers of war abound.But in Troixden, just north of France, the Lady Annelore isn’t interested ... read more
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
TAPPED

Dicke, K.

Developmental Editing
Twelve Feet Down

John Penteros

Whoever said life would be easy…was a liar.A car wreck took away his father and his leg. But a year later, thirteen-year-old Joseph McKinnon has a mission and it begins with an underground con... read more
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Alban Fire

Evan Brown

Britain, 500 A.D. The Roman Empire has fallen, and invading Anglo-Saxons have pushed the natives to the brink. As tribes vie for petty kingdoms and civilizations battle to control Britain’s de... read more
Developmental Editing
Hired by billionaire Lou Atlas to search for answers about his dead nephew on St. Barths, the swankiest island in the Caribbean, Buck Reilly's dream trip goes sideways when his former business... read more
Developmental Editing
Travel back to 2006 and the penultimate moment of Buck Reilly's former success when he discovers the crypt of the Mayan Serpent King and royal treasury in Guatemala, then marries top super mod... read more
Developmental Editing
Dead Girls Don't

Mags Storey

Liv might be in love with a serial killer. You'd think the fact she can talk to the dead would make it easier to figure out who's slicing up the creeps at Rosewood Academy. But it turns out so... read more
Developmental Editing
Angel

Mary E. Kingsley

Thirteen year old Angel Bishop is fed up with all the unanswered questions about her life, like why did her daddy run off when she was just a baby? And why has her Aunt Patsy, the only family ... read more
Developmental Editing
Peacekeeper

Christopher Bryan

In a cave somewhere in the English countryside, the Chairman opens a mysterious jar, performs an ancient ritual, and creates new servants for a dark cause.In an underground bunker not far away... read more
Developmental Editing
Singularity

Christopher Bryan

Christopher Bryan's third fantasy-mystery novel continues the investigations of Detective Inspector Cecilia Cavaliere. Now married, Cecilia and Anglican priest Michael Aarons are living in a V... read more
Developmental Editing
Siding Star

Christopher Bryan

When an intruder dies mysteriously in Exeter Cathedral, Detective Inspector Cecilia Cavaliere's investigation becomes anything but routine. Thwarted by her superiors, she finds an unlikely sou... read more
Developmental Editing
It's 1570, and the Reformation burns through Europe and into the kingdom of Troixden. The new Queen Annelore, full of love and hope for her unexpected role, finds that even the heir growing in... read more
Developmental Editing
In Crown & Thorns, the final book in The Realm series, King William has more to worry about than the religious tension in his own lands. His country has unwittingly been made a pawn in the vas... read more
Developmental Editing
Blue skies. Bad vibes. Rip tides. Devon is dead, but no one is celebrating. Crushed by grief over Em’s passing, Kris and her household struggle to move forward. A series of strange events—unna... read more
Developmental Editing
Dark days. Long nights. Dead eyes.Ever since Kris’s battle with Devon, a victory that should have brought her and the Chosen peace, she’s been on the run. Kris has left the beach, and all the ... read more
Developmental Editing
Junya and Shoko pick up where they left off in Book 1! It's been months since sixteen-year-old Junya survived his savage battle with the Evil Ones, but now that he's back in San Francisco he's... read more
Developmental Editing
Junya’s grandfather is a billionaire who keeps the secret to his success hidden in a heavily guarded safe. His mother is a martial artist who wields a razor-sharp katana—and seems to read his ... read more
Developmental Editing
That Night: A Novel

Chevy Stevens

As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn't relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and c... read more
Developmental Editing
“If you are looking for a riveting mix of survival, redemption and sheer terror, Those Girls is not to be missed.” –Bookreporter Life has never been easy for the three Campbell sisters. Jess, ... read more
Developmental Editing
"Pulsates with suspense . . . jaw dropping . . . enthralling." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old realtor, had three goals―... read more
Developmental Editing

Shannon has 37 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jeff C.

Jeff C.

Mar, 2024

Shannon's work is outstanding and excellent. I was very happy that she understood intuitively where I wanted to go with my story and that she could see the way forward when I could not see the forest for the trees. Her depth of insight allowed her to offer very constructive recommendations about how to build and strengthen plot, character, and theme and how to create a coherent, believable ...
Read more
Murrell S.

Murrell S.

Mar, 2024

Shannon did a developmental edit of the first draft of my novel. I was extremely pleased with the results! She identified the "big picture" things I need to address in the next draft: structure (e.g., moving some things earlier in the story, adding several chapters, deleting three of the chapters), character arc (adding more development for the two main characters), pacing (several of my chapte...
Read more
Brian T.

Brian T.

Nov, 2023

Shannon is an amazing editor with great insights about how to improve novels. I would never work with anyone else. In my experience, she's several levels above other editors. You can't go wrong in hiring her!
Matthew C.

Matthew C.

Jul, 2023

Working with Shannon has been excellent. After she assisted me with my developmental edit, she is working with me again to help progress the story and cut it down for publishing. Her flexible assistance has been very helpful.
Chris S.

Chris S.

Jun, 2023

Apparently violating Brandon Sanderson's "Laws of Magic" for fantasy story-telling is an absolute cardinal sin with this editor. I had communicated with them during the project timeline about any issues and feedback before completion date. But I received a stone-walled response, followed with complete radio silence up to the project deadline. What was delivered was a document that spent most of...
Read more
Shannon R.
Hey Chris, I'm sorry you didn't find the feedback helpful, nor the suggestions useful. As I did tell you at both the outset and conclusion of the project, an hour of follow-up time is included alo...
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