Unlocking the Keystone: Developmental Editing for Fantasy & Speculative Fiction Writers
Learn the framework professional writers use to transform raw drafts into powerful, unforgettable tales.
Stop Endless Rewrites And Learn How To Edit With Purpose
You finished your manuscript. Now comes the hard part: revision.
Maybe you're staring at your draft thinking:
- 'Something isn't working, but I can't tell what ...'
- 'I know it needs editing, but where do I even start ...?'
- 'I keep rewriting scenes without actually fixing the story ...'
Most writers are never taught how to revise a novel structurally.
That's where developmental editing comes in.
Unlocking the Keystone teaches you the same developmental editing approach professional writers use to diagnose story problems and transform rough drafts into powerful, compelling novels.
If you're writing fantasy or speculative fiction and want a clear roadmap for revision, this course will guide you through the process step by step.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for writers who:
- Have completed (or nearly completed) a manuscript
- Feel overwhelmed by the revision process
- Want to strengthen plot, characters arcs, and worldbuilding
While it works best once you have a draft, the techniques can also help during outlining or early revisions.
What you'll learn ...
By the end of this course, you'll know how to:
- Identify structural weaknesses in your story
- Strengthen character arcs and emotional stakes
- Refine your plot so tension builds naturally
- Ensure your worldbuilding supports the narrative
- Revise your manuscript with clarity and confidence
Inside the course:
Module 1: What developmental editing actually is and how it differs from line editing or proofreading
Module 2: Celebrating your success at finshing your draft and how to prepare for editing
Module 3: How to identify structural weakness in plot and pacing
Module 4: Ensuring characters evolve in ways that drive the story forward
Module 5: Nurturing worldbuilding that serves the story's narrative
Module 6: Making sure your setting enhances the story rather than slowing it down
Module 7: How to know when you've done enough and where to go from there
What you'll receive ...
Alongside the full course lessons, you'll receive practical tools you can use during revision:
- Consistency Checker - track details across plot, characters, and worldbuilding
- Story Editing Made Simple: 30 Prompt Card Deck - targeted prompts to help you uncover deeper story issues
- Fiction Writer’s Self-Editing Checklist - a bite size guide to reviewing your manuscript
- Smooth Storytelling: Pacing and Flow Tracker - identify sections where tension slows or stalls
These resources are designed to help you apply the course concepts directly to your own manuscript.
About your instructor ...
I'm a writer and professional editor specialising in fantasy, speculative, and historical fiction, with a BA and MA in Creative Writing.
Through years of developmental editing and study, I've helped writers strengthen their stories by identifying structural weaknesses and guiding them through the revision process.
This course brings the editing principles professional writers use into a clear framework you can apply to your own work.
The Result ...
By the end of this course, you'll no longer feel lost during revision.
Instead, you'll have:
- A clear editing roadmap
- Tools to diagnose story problems
- Confidence in your revision process
Your manuscript won't be just revised - it will be shaped into the strongest version of your story.
If you're ready to move beyond guesswork and learn how to edit your story like a professional, this course will show you how.
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Please note: due to the digital nature of these products, we are unable to issue refunds.
Sneak peek at what's inside:
FAQs
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This course is designed for writers of Fantasy and Speculative fiction who want to step back and look at the big picture of their novel - the characters, the world, the settings, the plot - all the pieces that need to work together for your story to truly shine.
If you’ve drafted a novel and you’re not sure if it all holds together - or if revision feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to start - this course is for you.
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Once you sign up, you'll have access forever. This includes any future updates to this course!
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This course is self-paced. This means you can watch the lessons whenever you want. You can start when you want, pause, and come back at your leisure.
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By the end of the course, you’ll have practical tools, guiding questions, and a clearer vision of your novel’s structure. Most importantly, you’ll have the confidence to move forward with your story.
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This course is best used when you have a completed draft. I would not recommend editing while you are writing your story.
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This course is designed to be used with novels, but the tools provided can support your novella and short story edits too on a reduced scale. The shorter the form, the less character development and worldbuilding are required compared to a novel.
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This course was designed with Fantasy and Speculative Fiction writers in mind, but it can be used for all fiction writers.
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This course, the lessons, and provided resources are all digital. You will receive immediate access. Resources are provided in downloadable PDF format. Print them out or use them on your device. Everything in this course is designed to work for you.
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Yes - if you have any questions or need further guidance, you can reach out via email at: wildblackberryediting@gmail.com - I'm happy to help!
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While this course offers a structured approach, you can complete the lessons in a way that makes the most sense to you based you and your story's needs.
What people are saying about this course:
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As a fantasy and speculative fiction author and editor with a Masters degree in Creative Writing, I’ve spent years turning messy drafts into powerful stories. This course brings together everything I’ve learned about story-level editing - to help you see your work’s potential and shape it into something extraordinary.
— From the Creator ✨
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What clients say about working with me:
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and encouraging feedback on my manuscript [...] your care and insight it's made a big difference [...] I recommend anyone who is looking to get honest and valuable feedback to contact Amy. She's amazing.
— Oliver Lendon
I might be biased but Amy is literally the best [...] I was so stressed out with my book before you worked on it. When you gave it back to me, your notes helped me figure out exactly what to do to get it ready for publishing next year! I'm so excited to keep working with you!!
— Rachel Giffin
I was stuck rewriting the same act over and over, unsure how to move forward. Working with Amy at Wild Blackberry Editing gave me a fresh perspective and the confidence I needed to take my book to the next level. Her insight was exactly what I needed to break through and keep going.
— Breaunna Duwadi-Smith
I definitely made the right decision picking you 😭🙌 you’ve found a bunch of areas in my story I never considered but will be incredibly helpful to build out more. Also, I really appreciate you calling out the lines and paragraphs you like instead of it being all things to fix. It means a lot and has made me feel WAY better about the book overall! 🙂 [...] Amy did a fantastic job with my developmental edit, offering a lot of thoughtful, helpful comments that gave me so much to consider and improve my book. She worked quickly and laid out clear expecations about the process which was also very helpful. Additionally, she was great about calling out lines and sections she really liked which gave me a lot more confidence in my book. I highly recommend her and will be using her services again!"
— Steve Retka
I've very much appreciated Amy's editing service [...] What I was really grateful for was Amy's approach to editing, her feedback was clear and constructive, detailing what was already working well, where my strengths were and where I should focus my efforts to bring the rest of the story up to standard. Not just pointing out what was wrong and needed work, but taking the time to highlight what was good as well which for someone like me at the start of their writing career is wonderful for my confidence yet also gives me clear direction on where to focus my efforts next.
— MG
I really appreciate your feedback. You've been super encouraging through this whole process. It felt more like sending to a trusted friend than an intimidating stanger. I like that you told me both what's going well and what could be improved or needs touch ups. Your feedback was actionable, relevant, and very helpful. Your process was transparent and I felt like I always knew what to expect. Thank you so much for working with me.
— KP
Customer Reviews
About Me
Fantasy and speculative fiction editor who's been writing since I could hold a pencil. I offer thoughtful, honest feedback tailored to your goals helping you elevate your story without losing your voice. With a BA and MA in Creative Writing and years of experiencing writing, critiquing, and editing, I'm all about helping your story shine.