Romance
Editing

I work with independent authors in romance fiction, completing manuscript assessments, and full developmental (structural) edits. I also beta read as needed.

Working with writers to build their skills takes many forms – sometimes it's as simple as chatting about genre expectations. The most rewarding thing is to encourage an emerging author to believe in themselves and keep writing.

My clients feel confident, knowing that I have made sure their content is as good as it can be and that it meets the expectations of romance readers.

I offer informal manuscript appraisal services for writers who have completed a novel, novella or a short prose piece and wish to discuss it in a frank and supportive way. Fees reflect the recommended pay rates for a professional and established editor, as recommended by the Institute of Professional Editors (Australia). A cost indication is below, or I can complete a sample edit and we can discuss your project and make a plan. 

My work is guided by the Australian Standards for Editing Practice which means my clients are confident that my work is professional, helpful and confidential. I'm also a member of the Romance Writers of Australia.

Authors I have worked with in 2024/2025 include Alexa Padgett (Another Goal, Another Face-Off), Alaina Rose (Next Chapter of Us, Happy Accidents, Wildest Winter), Meghan Schiereck (Please Don’t Die, Love and Related Disorders), Raina Ash (Beautiful Damage, Ugly Beautiful Scars), Hannah Milner (A Garden of Tulips), Olivia Elliot (A Songbird for the Soldier, Something Extra), Constance Remillard (The Bastard in her Boudoir) and Heather Reyburn.

  • I just finished going through your notes and they were extremely helpful! I appreciate how closely you read this story and your kind, thoughtful notes. I finished my editing pass (not finalized), but you still caught some things that I missed and I appreciate that. I added in a few short bits and changed some things around based on your notes too. The little write up doc that you did was very helpful and a nice touch.Thank you so much! You are very appreciated and will definitely be in touch with future projects.

    Alaina Rose
    2024

  • I finished my edits to ANOTHER GOAL based on your editorial letter today. Thank you, THANK YOU for writing it!!!! The story is now infinitely better thanks to you! I cannot thank you enough for your time and thoughtful critique.

    Alexa Padgett, 2023
    Another Goal

  • Thank you so, so much for all of the work you've put into beta reading for me. Your notes were extremely thoughtful and useful. They did what they needed to — brought my attention to things I hadn't noticed myself and highlighted some points that I think I can expand upon to make the story more rounded.

    MK Kennedy
    2024

  • I'm so happy you enjoyed it, and your suggestions and feedback are very helpful :) I always get developmental edits and beta reads for my novels, so I welcome comments that can help make my books stronger. And I appreciate your thoughtfulness and care with my story. Your report and comments hit all of the main things and provided some great suggestions for editing.

    Raina Ash
    2024

  • Your notes have been absolutely incredible and so helpful in allowing me to develop certain elements of my story!  

    Hannah Milner, 2025
    A Garden of Tulips

  • Your feedback has been absolutely amazing. Your notes really helped me to shape the the book and make it so much better and more cohesive.

    Danyelle Briggs
    2025

  • Laura’s beta feedback was fantastic: honest, insightful, and delivered with care. She eloquently gives constructive criticism while still celebrating all the good parts in a novel, which makes the process feel like more of a conversation and less of a service or critique. She went above and beyond usual beta feedback, noting anachronisms, unnecessary dialogue tags, and overuse of specific words usually all found in later review passes – her keen editing eye at work! Best of all, she offered solid ideas for fixes, rather than just note a plot or character sticking point. She understands the elements of good storytelling and has a real love of the romance genre, which shines through. My only criticism of Laura is that she was too nice to work with! I take that back. She was the right kind of nice—the perfect balance of helpful and honest a writer wants in a beta reader.

    Constance Remillard, 2025
    The Bastard in her Boudoir

  • Thank you so much! You're now a household name here. I've been working in the living room, occasionally glancing up to say "Laura Black says . . . " and then everyone (including my kids and my husband) piles in with their own significantly less helpful suggestions:) My husband suggested replacing "you little pervert" with "you saucy mare"--see what I mean?:)

    Olivia Elliot, 2025
    A Songbird for the Soldier

  • Thanks for talking through the book with me. I love my story and the village and the people and it was really nice to talk with someone who took it as seriously and treated it as real as I do. Thanks Laura.

    Lisa V
    2026

  • I can provide an obligation free quote, based on reading one or two chapters of your manuscript and having a conversation around your needs and expectations.

    The Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) has developed pay rates to provide guidance to clients looking for editing work. The hourly pay rates represent what a professional self-employed editor in Australia charges to ensure a sustainable, long-term business.

    Editors may have different ways of presenting prices, such as a price per word or 1,000 words, per page or per job.

    According to IPEd, ‘some clients may offer a total price for an editing job. Editors may consider, based on the work required, whether the client’s budget is appropriate, and accept it, or negotiate the scope of work and/or budget’. A professional editor may charge between A$60 and A$110 an hour..

    As a guide, a manuscript assessment will cost .01 to .015 cents per word, a full developmental edit is individually priced. Other services include copy and line editing, or a beta read. It does depend on the individual manuscript and your expectations so contact me via email for more information.

For more information or to enquire about a project, contact me via email.