Qualifications

⟡ About Me ⟡

Hi there, thanks so much for stopping by!

I’m Raquel, and I’m a full-time freelance editor. Words have been a lifelong love of mine, and it still feels like a dream come true that I get to help storytellers bring their books and games into the world.

I grew up filling desks to the brim with notebooks, stray papers, and hand-drawn maps. (Sound familiar, anyone?) After years of working with words in science-related fields, I dove headfirst into the realm of fiction editing and never looked back.

I started my editing business to help authors bring the worlds living in their heads and hearts to the page. You know the power a story holds. I want to help you unlock your magic and enchant your readers.

⟡ What kind of stories do you edit? ⟡

I work with authors and publishers of novels, RPGs, and web series. I primarily edit Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Romance stories in the age ranges of Adult to Middle Grade, but I’m also open to editing a variety of other genres. Aside from traditional text-based novels, I’d also love to work on graphic novels (like manga/manhwa) and interactive fiction (including video games, board/card games, or visual novels). For more information about my Manuscript Wish List, click HERE!

My clients are passionate about their writing, value the craft of storytelling, and above all, want to present their readers with an amazing experience. If that sounds like you, we’ll be a great team!

Past clients have included Big 5 publishers, international publishers, and indie authors from all different places around the world. Aside from my experiences in fiction, I also have a background in technical writing/editing for government agencies and nonprofits, including legal, medical, and educational materials.

Even though Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, and Horror stories have a special place in my heart, I can easily dive into editing any book, TTRPG, or video game that offers interesting characters — whether they’re on Earth, Mars, or any lands between! I’m also a big fan of unconventional storytelling (like choose-your-own-path novels, ergodic fiction, or epistolary literature).

⟡ What should I expect when we’re working together? ⟡

Short answer — When we work together, you’ll get…

• Open communication and trust that goes both ways.

• Deadline-conscious project management so you can stick to your schedule.

• Accurate, actionable comments that identify where you can improve and help you see how to move forward.

• Goal-oriented feedback that grows with your journey, whether you need a cheerleader, a strategic coach, an accountability buddy, or a creative sounding board.

• Professional dedication to helping you build your publishing career — I’m here to help today, as well as with future projects two months or two years from now.

Longer answer — I always start a project off by making sure I have a strong understanding of what you need and how I can best help you. Professional editing is an investment, so I want you to feel excited and reassured about every step of the process! If you’re working with a tight deadline, we’ll get that squared away first so you can rest assured that you’ll have your edits on time. I always want to make sure I’m able to deliver high-quality services, so I especially encourage my indie author clients to allow plenty of time for comprehensive edits.

As a writer myself, I completely understand how nerve-racking (and flat-out terrifying) it can be to hand over your project to someone else. When we work together, you can trust that you’re working with someone who respects YOUR vision for the story. I’m here to support your voice, not change it.

And if this is your first time ever working with an editor, or if it’s the first time someone’s even read your story, that’s no problem at all! I can help you figure out exactly what works best for your project, timeframe, and budget.

My editing philosophy is to treat each project with the same level of care and attention that I would want someone to show my own writing. This means I don’t make suggestions or changes lightly — I know even tiny commas and small spelling choices are important! So when I make edits, it’s always with the intention of helping you achieve your goals for the story.

I really enjoy supporting writing from uncommon or marginalized perspectives, especially stories that haven’t always been widely available in US publishing, and work by BIPOC and multicultural authors. This is a big part of what drives my editorial practice. So if you’ve been worried about working with an editor because someone said your story is unrelatable, or weird, or what genre even is this? — fear not! You’ve come to the right place.

After we chat, if it turns out I’m not the best editor for your project, no worries at all! If you need help finding someone else, I have lots of edibuddies I’d be happy to recommend — and I’d love to see your book once it’s released to the world.

⟡ What else should I know? ⟡

Besides running my business, I’m also part of some other writing-related adventures.

• I’m a RevPit Editor!

• I’m part of the copyediting team for Strange Horizons, an award-winning speculative fiction magazine. We publish new stories every week!

• I serve on the board of directors for the San Diego Professional Editors Network (which you should totally join if you’re an editor reading this).

• I also work as a Pro-Critiquer with CritiqueMatch.com, where I provide editing services and act as a judge in our FictionFive writing contests.

I’m a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, the Horror Writers Association, and several editing organizations, including the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing.

I love going to conferences (in-person and virtual!), and because I want to stuff everything in the book world into my brain, I also sign up for way too many webinars. Poetry, classical music, horror movies, and wildlife greatly influence my work. I have a background in environmental and animal sciences, so I’m a huge fan of critters (whether they’re fuzzy, cold-blooded, feathered, antennaed, or eight-legged). When I’m not in the middle of a book, you can find me cooking, playing video games, or hiking.