Literary Novel Needs Structural Editor

Project Title: Structural Editor Needed for a Literary Novel

I am seeking an experienced structural or developmental editor to review my novel, The Memoir of a Village Boy, and recommend the best chapter sequence and overall narrative structure.

The manuscript is substantially complete, but I would like a fresh, professional perspective on how the chapters fit together and how the narrative can be strengthened before publication.

The novel is set in rural Nigeria and explores poverty, survival, ambition, and the struggle to escape one’s circumstances of birth. Told through notebooks and surviving documents, the story employs an unconventional narrative structure and deliberately leaves the protagonist’s ultimate fate uncertain.

Scope of Work:

● Review the entire manuscript and assess its overall structure and narrative flow.
● Recommend the most effective chapter sequence.
● Identify chapters or passages that should be moved, merged, divided, shortened, or expanded.
● Highlight structural weaknesses, repetition, pacing issues, and gaps in the narrative.
● Provide a written editorial assessment and a proposed table of contents.

I welcome candid criticism and constructive recommendations. However, preserving the author’s voice, Nigerian cultural expressions, humour, and the story’s intentional ambiguity is essential.

Ideal Candidate: Someone with proven experience in developmental editing, preferably literary fiction or memoir-style narratives.

Please include your relevant experience, examples of similar projects, estimated fee, and turnaround time in your proposal.

Thank you.