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You’ve written (or have just begun writing) that story that’s been eating away at you, keeping you up at night, drawing you away from loved ones. Whether you’re in the beginning stages of this incredible journey or if you’re about to put the last period at the end of your first draft, the one thing you need is an experienced editor to come alongside you and help you through the next few stages of novel publication.

For some, writing is a hobby, but not for you. You want to make a career putting your stories out there, so you’re going to want to make sure they are polished and perfected as much as possible before seeing the light of day. With the influx of self-publishing over the years, you need to make sure your work is the best it can be in order to make a splash in the ocean of newly-minted authors.

My goal as your editor is to help turn your manuscript into an amazing story. I can help you not only clean up grammar and typos, but I’ll work with you in digging into the deeper elements of your story, characters, and themes. My edits always offer detailed notes, and I’m always available to answer any questions and will work with you through the entire process, from beginning to end.

Born in Mountain View, California, in ‘79, I started writing stories at the age of eleven at the behest of my 6th grade writing teacher. Since then, I have accrued decades of writing, editing, and self-publishing experience. I finished writing my first full-length novel at the age of 16, and officially self-published my first book in 2004, when self-publishing was still in its infant stages (commercially speaking). Since then, I have self-published eight novels, a handful of novellas, and a plethora of short stories, blog articles, and flash fiction pieces.

From 2015-2021 and 2023-2025 I ran The Crossover Alliance, a small press specializing in Christian Fiction with real-world content. The press published over a dozen novels, bringing together authors of the science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, horror, and thriller genres. This experimental fiction hybrid still thrives today, and I’m proud to say most of my own writing emulates it.

I have been freelance editing for a number of years now, mostly novels, but I have also dived into the editing of murder mystery puzzle boxes. I worked as an in-house editor and writer for Deadbolt Mystery Society—crafting stories and editing puzzle boxes—before moving full-time into the freelance arena. Now I write, edit, and self-publish for a living.

TESTIMONIALS

  • "David edited my cryptid short story and did amazing work on it! I'm so pleased. His edits were thorough and his delivery was super quick. I was also impressed with his communication. He kept me updated when he was working on the story and when to expect it finished, and that part is a huge deal for me when I'm working with editors."

    Tori V. Rainn - Author of dark fantasy “Curse of the Blacknoc Witch”

  • "David was super easy to work with. He provided a professional and affordable service for the interior design of my novel. He was quick to make requested fixes and had a quick turnaround. I would use David again for my book service needs."

    J.J. Johnson - Author of the Kingdoms of Islandia series

  • "David Alderman is the best kind of editor. He takes a story and improves it in the author's voice. David made my book sound more like me."

    Nathan James Norman - Creator of the award-winning ‘Untold Podcast’

  • "I've gone to David for multiple projects, and with each one, he's been fair and very thorough. He's very professional, and was able to get my edits to me in a timely manner, continually communicating his progress and any issues that occurred with my manuscript. Definitely recommend David for any project."

    Jelani-Akin Parham - author of “The Experimental Bug: Brilliant”

  • This being my first novel and my first hiring of an editor, I thought David did quality work at editing. He was upfront about price and I felt he was reasonable. He was honest about any suggestions and corrections but desired most to help me find my voice. He was willing to discuss questions and disagreements. He completed a manuscript evaluation, proofreading, copy editing, and developmental edits all in a timely manner. I hope to use David for book 2 in the series when it is ready. David is professional and encouraging.

    Raymond Keith - Author of the Ranger’s Calling series

PROJECTS I’VE WORKED ON