Shelly Stinchcomb

Shelly Stinchcomb – Editor

Dedicated, compassionate developmental editor who has polished manuscripts for emerging and best-selling authors. I make your work shine!

Overview

I am a passionate fan of the written word!


As a Developmental Editor with over a decade of experience, my expertise, strength, and value are in working closely with you to fully develop your plot and characters. We’ll work on areas such as language, story flow, narrative tension, plot and character development, consistency, and pace. I understand how intrusive editing can feel and take great pride in providing an honest review and thoughtful suggestions to help you polish your manuscripts and make them shine.


I foster an environment of open communication where projects are discussed freely and without judgment. My end goal is to work collaboratively to build a trusting, long-term relationship with each of my clients.

Authors I’ve worked with include multiple award-winners such as Marci Bolden, Holly Kammier, Jessica Therrien, and New York Times best-seller Caroline Mitchell. Other clients include Ramcy Diek and USA Today bestsellers, K.A Fox and Debra Kristi. Several of my clients are published in more than one country.

I am accepting manuscripts for general fiction, women’s fiction, and those with main characters over 40.


I would love to discuss your project to see if my style is right for you!

~Shelly

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Holiday LGBTQ Fiction Women's Fiction
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2009 — Present

Portfolio

Delaney Murphy has always known she’s the Devil’s daughter. And although the title itself is a burden, she never expects to inherit all her father’s infernal abilities. When her newfound magic begins to poison the people closest to her, Laney must make a choic... read more
Oh my goodness. This book had me sucked in from the beginning. A well written, heartbreaking book about forgiveness, and finding peace amidst a tragedy that no parent should face. Get the tissues ready!!! This was a great book. I need a day to recover. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐St... read more
You don’t know him. But he knows you.Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him.As D.C. Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked at what ... read more
The terrifying true story of a family in fearAn innocent family finds itself completely helpless against the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home. A knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-c... read more
While college graduate Forrest tries to find a job, quick witted Annet works at the Keizer Manor, the museum where the oils from 19th century master painter Alexander Keizer are exhibited.After a fight, the couple strolls through the dunes to talk. When dark c... read more
What happens when you take middle-aged, stay-at-home moms, and throw them back into the workforce and dating? A modern twist between Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives, Kingston Court follows the love, lies, and friendships of two wealthy Southern Calif... read more
"Your blood, my dear. It sang to me. Led me straight to you." As a child, Ana played pretend in her made-up world of Hiddenkel. But the innocence of youth is shattered when Ana's boyfriend is killed in a car accident - one she is certain she somehow caused. Th... read more
An intense Fantasy Adventure Series!Wouldn't it be cool to suddenly have the battle skills of a seasoned warrior? What if the battles felt real, but there was no physical risk to you? That would be perfect, except for one thing. The hypnotist in charge of your... read more

Shelly has 18 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Marian V.

Marian V.

Apr, 2022

Deciding to work with Shelly was easily the best decision I've made as a writer. I learned so much from her about writing, character development, emotional impact, and so much more. She helped me identify my strengths and particular areas where I could improve and grow. The tailored feedback was incredibly useful. She has a particular talent for understanding characters and helping flesh them o...
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Shelly S.
Thank you for your review! I knew when I read your sample that you are someone who'd researched writing, and had spent a good amount of time analyzing your manuscript before reaching out to develop...
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Monica B.

Monica B.

Apr, 2019

Shelly is the first person I have worked with in the book writing process and I couldnt have asked for a better person. Writing my first book of a series, I was extremely nervous. But Shelly being the extraordinary person she is, made all of that go away. She is professional and personal at the same time. She understood what I was going for and was there whenever I had questions. Shelly is my n...
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Shelly S.
Thank you for your kind words. You have put a great deal of work into your edits and polishing your manuscript. I am thrilled with your end result!!
Marci B.

Marci B.

Oct, 2018

Shelly provided timely and invaluable edits for my manuscript. She wasn't afraid to tackle the emotional ups and downs of the characters and push me to dig deeper to fine tune their development.
Shelly S.
Thank you for your review, Marci. I have thoroughly enjoyed the manuscript and look forward to seeing it published!
Beata M.

Beata M.

Oct, 2018

I asked for a fairytale and Shelly was the one I was looking for. It was my very first book that I decided to challenge myself and write it. Of course along the way I went through a certain emotional rollercoaster but Shelly's guidance and support was everything. Her comments, ideas and recommendations were on point throughout our collaboration. I don't know what I would've done without her sug...
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Shelly S.
You are so welcome, Beata. Thank you for your kind words. It was a pleasure working with you and watching you grow and your book shine!!
Monica B.

Monica B.

Sep, 2018

This being my first time as a writer, Shelly was so easy to talk to and extremely helpful. She guided me in the path I need to take in order to finish my ms the right way. She was far more than I had ever expected from an editor and made the experience so pleasant. Shelly is definitely top notch and I will be working with her for my future books.

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