Developmental Editor
Specializing in MM Romance, Fantasy, and Dark Fiction
Professional companion guiding you through the dark night of the soul …
Midnight Devotion Editing’s goal is to help LGBTQIA+ authors improve their dark fantasy romances to get one step closer to line editing.
Leila specializes in dark fantasy romance and MM romance.
✔ You’ll receive in-depth analysis on what's hindering the romantic buildup between your main characters. Do you know how compatible your romantic interests are?
✔ You’ll learn how you create more realistic characters. Do you know if all your characters have distinctive dialogue?
✔ You’ll find out why the pacing of the middle of your manuscript is too slow or why Act 3 ends too quickly. Do you know which scenes have weak external and internal intensities?
✔ You’ll invest in a book scene map that will analyze the cause-and-effect chain strength. Do you know which scenes create repetitive plot or have zero conflict?
One thing to keep in mind is always figuring out what resonates with your vision of your story when you’re ready for revisions.
Acknowledgements
“Thanks to Leila Sanders for her fantastic work as Developmental Editor on the book. You helped me to see clearly when things were hellish and discover translation errors. Thank her, too, readers: If it weren’t for her, Chapter 37, ‘Danse Macabre’ would not exist.”
—Lance W. Bones
“Thank you Leila from Midnight Devotion Editing, without your feedback this story wouldn’t be what it is today. You helped me to see just how strong both Adelia and Eleanor could be and pointed out those pesky plot holes that slipped through.”
— TT Hanna, romantasy author
What service is right for you?
Are you interested in personalized feedback?
A sample edit might be right for you.
Benefits of receiving a sample edit:
Receive personalized feedback that you can implement in future revisions.
Determine if my editorial style resonates with you.
See how I would approach editing your precious story by receiving in-line comments and a memo (like a mini editorial letter).
Get customized quotes that keeps your budget in mind.
Sunbeams create breathtaking moments where magic and happy endings feel possible.
But no matter how gorgeous the sunset is detailed, world-building info-dumps in an epic dark fantasy romance can become overwhelming and risk DNF (do not finish).
No writer wants that!
Consider hiring a developmental editor or book coach who can illuminate what world-building parts are essential and what can be trimmed back.
Schedule a brainstorming session or sample edit with me today!
Testimonials
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Sloan Cooper, MM Romance Author
“I can’t thank Leila enough for her incredible guidance. As a debut author, I was incredibly nervous going into the editing process and had no idea what to expect. Leila was not only understanding of that, but she walked me through everything step by step with such grace and clarity—it made all the difference. She was reassuring, professional, and kind, with clear communication and feedback that was both insightful and easy to understand. Her feedback has truly elevated my manuscript, giving me the confidence I needed to move forward in my publishing journey. What once felt overwhelming suddenly felt achievable. I would absolutely work with her again—and recommend her without hesitation.”
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A. Ang, Dark Fantasy Romance Author
"Working with Leila Sanders has been an absolute pleasure. Her insightful feedback helped me strengthen both the storyline and the characters in The King of Ironwall, guiding me to see angles and possibilities I might have otherwise missed. Thanks to her thoughtful edits, the narrative feels tighter and the characters more fully realized. Throughout the process, Leila was always prompt, friendly, and reliable, delivering her work on time and communicating with warmth and clarity. I’m truly grateful for her expertise and would happily recommend her to any author looking to elevate their manuscript."
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E.L.
“Leila offers amazing value as a developmental editor. She has great insight and understanding of how to shape a story, and she is flexible, communicative, and very easy to work with.”
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Maia Kinley, Romance Author
"Leila provided developmental edits on my debut novel and I was so much more confident with my novel after working with her. She's professional, responsive, and organized. Her help was invaluable and I highly recommend her."
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Monica Cooke, Fathom
“I'm completely blown away. Your comments / feedback are SO helpful...I also really appreciate the guidance on how to move forward. This is my first time working with an editor and I can absolutely see how it can be overwhelming to figure out where to go from here… I think you did an AMAZING job and would highly recommend you to anyone who'll listen!”
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Linda G. Hill, author at Cardinal Rose Publications and copyeditor at Penlight Editing
"Leila's feedback on my novel was amazing! Her eye for detail is sharp and straight to the point, and encouraging as well."