The Personalized Editing Process You Didn’t Know You Needed: How I Tailor My Editing Style for Each Client

You have written a story that is layered, emotional, and uniquely yours. ✨

You know I’m right.

So, it makes sense that you’d want an editing experience that is personalized and deeply collaborative. You want your editor to fit your writing style and see your vision — not box you into a copy-paste editing system. 📦🚫

So, when you hear that I created my own editing system to help my clients, you might be thinking it’s exactly that. The thing you definitely don’t want. But the Stories in Layers editing system is a bit more flexible than that. 😉

I’ve crafted a system that allows me to mold it to every client’s manuscript so that I can best help them with the revision struggles they’re facing.

In this blog post, I’ll be covering exactly how I do that. So, let’s dive in!

What we’re covering today:

Every Author Brings Something Unique and Fresh to the Table

I’ve critiqued several hundred manuscripts through the years, and I’ve learned through that experience that every author has different goals, genres, experience levels, and revision strengths.

Some authors are masters at worldbuilding 🌍 but struggle with pacing. Others have super clear and sharp dialogue 💬, but character arcs that need more emotional depth.

A good editor notices your unique pain points — and meets you exactly where you are.
That’s exactly what I designed my Stories in Layers system to do.

Why My Stories in Layers Editing Method Supports Customization

My editing method was never meant to be a rigid framework. You can read more about how it came to be in this post. I created it during a time when I was headed toward burnout and needed a system that would help me pinpoint your revision struggles faster and give you the best results without compromising quality.

However, from the start, I built it with the idea that every manuscript — and every writer — is different. 🌟

Here’s how it works:

The Different Layers:
The “layers” in my method refer to the different structural and storytelling elements of a novel. For example:

• Plot layer: How well the overall story structure holds up.
• Character development layer: The growth arcs and emotional resonance of your characters.
• Scene-level layer: The flow, tension, and mini-arcs within individual scenes.
• Pacing and tension layer: How tightly the story moves and keeps readers hooked.
• Worldbuilding and atmosphere layer: The richness and believability of your setting.
• Line-level craft layer: The clarity, strength, and beauty of your prose.

By diagnosing your story across these layers, I can figure out exactly where you’re excelling and where the story might need more attention.

👉 Focused Feedback:
Because my system breaks revision issues down by layer, I can deliver feedback that’s clear, organized, and tailored to your manuscript’s specific needs. Rather than overwhelming you with a flood of disconnected comments, you’ll see a focused game plan that supports your creative vision — not one that tries to shove it into a box. 📚

Real Examples of How I Tailor Feedback

Here’s how this looks in action:

Helping an Author with Minute Details 🧐

A few months ago, I worked with an author who wrote an absolutely incredible sci-fi story. Seriously — amazing worldbuilding, character arcs to die for, and fantastic pacing. I was honestly worried I wouldn’t be able to offer much help.

But when I applied my Stories in Layers system, I discovered their weak spot: tiny, real-world details.
Because the story was set in a place they weren’t deeply familiar with, there were several small inaccuracies that could easily yank a reader out of the world.

For instance, they had a scene where a character bought a car from a dealership in just a few minutes — even with a cash transaction, that’s pretty unrealistic (even though that’s kinda how it works where they’re from!) But without my layered system, I might not have noticed this (even as a detail-oriented editor!).

It’s often not the big stuff that trips a story up — it’s the small cracks that can break a reader’s immersion.

Supporting a New, Overwhelmed Author

I often work with newer authors who are taking on their first major round of edits — and I know how overwhelming that can feel. 😵‍💫

My Stories in Layers system allows me to break feedback down into manageable, actionable categories. Instead of just telling an author, “your pacing is off,” I can show them scene-by-scene where the tension dips or the emotional momentum fades.

This layered clarity helps new authors feel empowered, not defeated.
Editing is overwhelming enough — my job is to make it feel possible.

Tackling Pacing Problems ⏳

Pacing is one of the issues I see in probably 60-70% of the manuscripts I work on. It’s not always a massive issue, but it is common enough that I made it a core part of my system.

When an author recently came to me with a heavily overwritten manuscript, the pacing issues were instantly clear — but instead of simply saying, “this is too slow,” my system broke it down into:

• Plot pacing issues (big-picture structure)
• Scene-level pacing issues (moment-to-moment tension)
• Conflict and stakes issues (what’s keeping readers invested)

With this roadmap, we were able to tighten the manuscript beautifully: cutting scenes, streamlining dialogue, and raising stakes. 🎯
The result? Not only did the story move faster, but the character arcs grew stronger too.

Customization Creates Confidence (and Better Stories)

Thoughtful editing isn’t about changing your voice or hijacking your vision.
It’s about elevating your story — and bringing it closer to what you dreamed it could be.

My Stories in Layers method creates space for both structure and freedom. It’s designed to help you understand where to push harder, where to pull back, and how to make intentional choices that strengthen your novel — all without losing the magic that makes it yours. ✨

Because at the end of the day, editing should build your confidence, not shatter it. 💖
It should leave you feeling ready to tackle your next round of revisions — and excited for the incredible work you’re creating.

That’s exactly why I tailor my editing system for each and every author I work with.

Ready for an Editor Who Sees the Full Picture?

If you’re looking for a collaborative editor who sees the full picture of your story and meets you exactly where you are, I’d love to work with you. 💬✨

Learn more about my editing services here.