Book coaching & developmental editingYour book deserves a blueprint.
You’ve completed your manuscript but can’t figure out what isn’t working.
My Blueprint Approach takes the guesswork out of novel writing by helping you
decode the secrets of structure, world building, and characterization
to unlock your best story yet.
About me
Hi, I’m Siobhán.
I'm a publishing professional with ten years of experience across editorial, marketing, and book publicity. As the former Editorial Director of Book of the Month, I selected literary fiction, romance, mystery, memoirs, and fantasy books for an audience of millions. My writing on books has been published in the New York Times Book Review and I've provided editorial support to everyone from self-published authors to Penguin Random House.
An omnivorous reader, ghostwriter, and editor, I specialize in helping writers learn and deploy the fundamentals of storytelling to strengthen their novels. I’ve helped dozens of authors with all aspects of the process, from concept to querying. Together, we’ll put together an editorial blueprint that will help you make steady progress towards your goals and make every word count.
TestimonialsKind words
“Siobhán is a terrific developmental editor. She takes the time to understand your audience, your vision, and your goals. She has a unique ability to identify the critical levers to pull to lift your book from good to great. I recommend her to both experienced and aspiring authors.”
— Daniel
“I can’t say enough amazing things about Siobhán! She really looks into plot, character development, sentence structure, etc. She is AMAZING at communicating! Not only did she tell me how certain things could help my book, but she also gave many examples of what she loved and how to make it better. I am so glad to have found her! Her passion to help is clearly there.”
— Nicole
“Siobhán exceeded my expectations with the edit of my first novel. I was a bit nervous about letting it go but Siobhán was reassuring and her comments were thoughtful and constructive. She understood what I was trying to get out of it and had so many brilliant ideas of how to improve the story. Would definitely work with Siobhán again.”
— Ben
“Siobhán went above and beyond in her work with my manuscript. I was blown away by her detailed attention to my story and her thoughtful suggestions. She really dug into the structure and themes and helped me see areas I can improve to make the story stronger, and all in such a professional and positive way. Thank you, Siobhán!!”
— Delaney
ServicesWhat I offer
Whether you've got a full manuscript ready to go or haven't yet put pen to page, I can advise you on your story concept, market positioning, getting out of a plotting rut, and more.
01
The concept.
Finding the central hook, defining the genre, length, and setting, and establishing main characters.
02
The outline.
Discovering and sequencing key story beats, clarifying the protagonist's journey, and mapping your story's thematic arc.
03
The first draft.
Establishing a cadence for scene-writing, finding your voice, and achieving your target word count.
04
The revision.
Assessing plot or character weaknesses, proofreading, and transforming your first draft into a polished manuscript.
My clients have diverse objectives, and we achieve them by fulfill them by developing a custom plan that meets them where they are in the process. Not sure where to start? Book a consultation today.
Selected titlesBooks I've worked on
Stories I’m proud to have championed, shaped, and helped find their readers.
Blue Willow by Ki Stephens
The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller
A gift for youGet my free outline guide
A short, practical PDF on shaping your story before you draft. Pop in your email and I'll send it over.