Shelley Routledge – Editor

Hi, I’m Shelley, a full-time British developmental editor living in Normandy. I’ve been editing professionally for more than fifteen years, and I still feel privileged whenever a writer trusts me with a novel that has taken months, or often years, to create.

My role is to help you understand what is already working, what may be holding the story back and how you can approach the next draft without losing the voice and heart that made you write it in the first place.

I work with complete manuscripts, looking closely at the architecture of the whole novel as well as the experience of reading individual scenes. Structure, pacing, character development, relationships, point of view and emotional logic all matter, but so do the quieter questions. Where does the story come alive? Where might the reader lose confidence or curiosity? Is information arriving at the right moment? Do the characters’ choices genuinely shape what happens next?

You will receive a closely annotated Word manuscript and a substantial editorial overview. The manuscript comments sit beside the passages that prompted them, while the report steps back to show you the larger patterns connecting structure, character and reader experience. Together, they provide detailed guidance and a clear route through revision.

Where it would be helpful, I also create bespoke graphs, charts and tables. These might map chapter length, story phases, character presence, pacing or the placement of important revelations. The information comes from my own close reading and is used to make meaningful patterns easier to see, never to reduce a novel to a set of mechanical scores.

My feedback is honest, detailed and practical, but it is also encouraging. I explain why something may not be working and offer ways to think about it rather than simply pointing out a problem. Authors often tell me that they feel supported and understood, particularly when the material is personal or the revision ahead initially feels overwhelming.

I specialise in psychological suspense, thrillers, crime and mystery, horror, women’s psychological and commercial fiction, and selected young adult novels. I do not take on fantasy or science fiction.

I have worked with established authors including Sarah Naughton, June Taylor and Ruth Warburton, as well as debut writers preparing their first submission. I have received more than eighty excellent reviews on Reedsy. A recent highlight was working with Alison Watterson on Dating App Revenge, which was acquired by Sandycove in a five-way auction, as reported in The Bookseller in July 2025.

For authors whose revised manuscripts are ready to approach agents, I also offer a separate submission service covering query letters, synopses, pitches and submission strategy.

I hold a BA in Classics, an MA in Children’s Literature and a Diploma in Journalism.

If you’d like thoughtful, rigorous feedback from an editor who will take both you and your novel seriously, I’d love to hear about your project.