You know the story.
Now let’s work on the telling.
Some stories simmer for years before they find their way to the page. Maybe yours started as a feeling you couldn’t shake, or a character who showed up uninvited and refused to leave. Maybe it’s been tucked away in notebooks, in voice memos, in the quiet hours after everyone else has gone to sleep.
Now it’s here. Or nearly here. And you know in your bones that this story matters. You also know it’s not quite ready. That’s not a failing. That’s where the adventure begins.
Developmental editing where writing craft meets stories that matter.
Meet Sorcha
I’m Sorcha Gunne. I’m a developmental editor with a PhD in English and Comparative Literary Studies and 20 years of experience teaching fiction at universities across the UK, Ireland, and Norway.
I work with writers who care deeply about their craft. People who want more than surface-level notes on their manuscript. People who want to understand why a character arc isn’t landing, or what makes a scene come alive, or how to write across difference with honesty and care.
Think of me as your personal writing professor. I bring the depth of a university-level education in fiction, delivered with warmth, honesty, and a genuine belief in the power of your story.
Craft and Conscience, in every edit.
What makes my approach different is what I call the dual lens. I work with every manuscript through the combined focus of writing craft and inclusive storytelling.
Writing craft means the practical foundations of storytelling: structure, character development, voice, pacing, dialogue, scene and summary, and genre conventions. These are the tools that make a story work. I’ve spent 20 years teaching them, and I know how to make them click.
Inclusive storytelling means helping you recognise unconscious bias, move beyond tired tropes, and create authentic, diverse characters and worlds. It means asking whether your characters have real depth and agency, not just a role in someone else’s arc. Whether the power dynamics in your story are intentional choices or inherited assumptions. Not as a separate checklist. As an integrated part of making your story as rich, truthful, and compelling as it can be.
Better representation makes for better storytelling. That’s not a slogan. It’s what I’ve seen, over and over, as a reader, researcher, and teacher.
Sound familiar?
You have a story burning inside you. You know it could be something special. But writing fiction is a craft you’ve never had the chance to study. You know what you want to say, but you’re still figuring out how to say it with the skill and precision your story deserves.
Maybe you’ve shown your work to friends or family. They said it was great. And you knew, even as you thanked them, that “great” wasn’t going to help you make it better.
You want honest, expert feedback from someone who understands both the craft of storytelling and the complexity of the themes you’re exploring. You want to learn, not just be told what to fix.
You want someone who’ll be honest with you, and respectful about it.
The difference craft makes.
That’s what you experience with me. Writers come to me because they have a manuscript they believe in with their heart and soul, but aren’t sure how to strengthen. They leave with a deeper understanding of their craft, and the courage to use it.
I don’t just edit your manuscript. I teach you why certain things work and why others don’t, so you carry those skills into everything you write next. The editorial letter you receive isn’t a report card. It’s a deep, personalised education in the craft of your story.
How We Work Together
Manuscript Critique
A big-picture editorial report that shows you what’s working, what needs rethinking, and exactly where to go next.
What’s included:
✔ A detailed editorial letter (typically 5 to 8 pages) covering structure, character, pacing, voice, themes, and representation
✔ Strengths and opportunities: what’s working and where to push further
✔ Clear, practical revision suggestions and next steps
✔ Market positioning insights
Pricing: Up to 60,000 words: €1,000 to €1,200 | Above 60,000 words: Custom quote
Final pricing depends on manuscript length and complexity. I’m always transparent about costs before any work begins.
Full Developmental Edit
A deep, comprehensive edit combining a big-picture editorial report with detailed in-line feedback throughout your manuscript. For writers ready to revise deeply.
What’s included:
✔ In-line comments throughout your manuscript on structure, pacing, character, voice, and craft
✔ A comprehensive editorial letter (typically 8 to 12 pages)
✔ Guidance on your prose: how to make your writing clearer, more vivid, and more powerful at the sentence level
✔ Clear revision suggestions and next steps
✔ Optional follow-up consultation to talk through your revision plan
Pricing: Up to 60,000 words: €1,800 to €2,200 | Above 60,000 words: Custom quote
Final pricing depends on manuscript length and complexity. I’m always transparent about costs before any work begins.
Consultations
Need focused support on something specific? Whether it’s a tricky plot problem, a synopsis that won’t behave, or a coaching conversation about your writing, I offer hourly consultations tailored to what you need.
Pricing: €70 per hour (1-hour minimum)
Your Journey, Step by Step
1. You get in touch. Tell me about your story. What it’s about, what genre it is, where you are in the process, and what kind of support you’re looking for.
2. You fill in a short project questionnaire. This helps me understand your goals, your publishing ambitions, and what matters most to you, so I can tailor my feedback to your individual needs.
3. I read a sample. Usually around 500 words. This helps me check that we’re a good fit — your story, your goals, and my expertise.
4. I send you a clear proposal. Pricing, timeline, and what to expect. No surprises.
5. I get to work. I read your manuscript with care and attention, then craft your editorial letter and (for full developmental edits) in-line comments throughout.
6. We talk it through. After delivery, you’ll have time to absorb the feedback. For full developmental edits, you can book a follow-up consultation to discuss your revision plan.
In their own words
“Sorcha is undoubtedly one of the best and most qualified you’ll find. My first manuscript had already been reviewed by several beta readers, but I knew it still wasn’t quite where it needed to be. Sorcha provided me with one of the most insightful and comprehensive analyses I’ve ever received. Her feedback was incredibly thorough, addressing both the broader scope and finer details of my work, and offering an abundance of material to study and grow as a writer. Working with her felt akin to submitting my manuscript to an attentive and dedicated literature professor, someone who genuinely wants you to succeed and bring out the best in your craft. I’m really excited because I’m more confident that my novel will perhaps be published some day. I’m truly looking forward to collaborating with Sorcha again.”
Update: Since working together, this client has won a literary contest and secured a publishing deal
“Working with Sorcha was a dream. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would find the kind of help I was looking for, but I took a chance and contacted her. Though it was slightly out of her described services, Sorcha turned out to be open-minded and eager to help with what I needed. What was even better? She had the knowledge and means to deliver that knowledge in a way I could understand. I can’t even tell you how many people I approached for guidance before this, never getting exactly what I needed. Sorcha asked questions, pinpointed my needs, and nailed it! I will definitely be seeking out her services again when I’m ready!”
The expertise behind the edit
✔ PhD in English and Comparative Literary Studies (University of Warwick, UK)
✔ 20 years teaching fiction and literary theory at universities in the UK, Ireland, and Norway
✔ Specialist training in gender and postcolonial studies
✔ Pro and Industry Judge, Writing Battle
✔ Member, Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
✔ Formal developmental editing training (Liminal Pages + EFA)
✔ Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts
✔ Based in Oslo, Norway. Working globally.
You don’t have to be ready. You just have to begin.
I work with a small number of clients at a time to give every manuscript the attention it deserves. If you’ve got a story you care about, I’d love to hear about it.