Developmental Editing for Speculative Fiction Authors

Hi, I'm Dr Andrew Hodges, founder of Second World Editorial.

I'm a fiction developmental editor who specializes in speculative fiction with horror, thriller, or weird elements. I work across YA, adult, and literary fiction, with a focus on ambitious, character-driven speculative work. I have deep expertise in queer narratives, worldbuilding, and cultural depth.

Projects I’ve worked on include books by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, Hugo Award finalists, and a collection of fairy tales by a Nobel Prize for Literature nominee.

Book an editorial assessment

"Andy was a pleasure to work with, responsive, quick, and thorough in his feedback. His critique and suggestions have definitely helped me improve my novel and to deepen the story I wanted to tell."

Robert Winter, Fantasy and Romance Author

Full Developmental Edit of Falconsaga.

My developmental editing practice is grounded in the following principles:

Human creativity rules—no generative AI in my writing and editing workflows
Being honest about the publishing industry and not overpromising is key: Publishing can be liberating and exciting, but it is often elitist and capitalist, too, and this situation sucks for many authors—let's change it!
Anyone can learn to write well—writing is not a “natural gift”
Stories, like people, are social and live in ecosystems
Words and tropes can cause harm, and so we should choose them carefully