Available for work

Sarah Calfee | Romance Editor

Based in London but has clients in UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and beyond

Email: [email protected]
Website: threelittlewordsediting.com
Organisation: Three Little Words Romance Editing
Job title: Romance Editor
Membership Grade: Professional Member

About Sarah

Romance editor

You've written a romance novel and I'm a romance editor who specializes in ... you guessed it, romance!

That means I can help you to:

reach the emotional peaks of your romance plot,
assist you in creating chemistry, sexual tension and banter between your main character and love interest,
navigate the logistics of open-door sex scenes—i.e, too many hands and repetitive lips.

Check out my website

Editing services I offer

Full review - Choose the best service for you! For a redeemable fee (if you book a project) I read your whole manuscript and provide one-hour of verbal feedback through video chat.
Elite developmental edit - Learn how to apply the romance plot beats successfully with an outline inspired by your plotlines and your characters.
Standard developmental edit - Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your romance plot and receive detailed recommendations for revising on your own.
Level-Up line edit - Give your romance plot a boost and identify your problem writing patterns.
Classic line/copy edit - Give your novel a professional polish while retaining your distinctive narrative voice.

Learn more about my services and rates

Subgenres I work in

Find out more about me

Satisfied clients

Sarah’s strength includes her ability to get what makes the air between two characters sizzle. After making some big structural edits that Sarah suggested, I landed an agent and then a two-book deal with Harlequin. Thanks, Sarah!
~Jenny Williamson

Sarah’s genuine feedback and guidance help me to create a polished, professional, yet still-true-to-the-tale-I-want-to-tell book. Her remarkable skill with all things romance makes me feel like I’m working as part of a team to craft the best manuscript possible.
~HM Hodgson (Second-place winner of the Ruby Award Speculative Fiction 2024 for the RWA - Romance Writers of Australia)

Sarah has made me into a (much!) better writer and I am so proud of the end result. She was incredibly thorough and knowledgeable - not just pointing out things that could be changed, but suggesting ways for making it happen.
~Jacqueline Hayley (Finalist for the 2022 ARRA Favourite Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance - Australian Romance Readers Association)

Sarah exceeded my expectations. With subtle changes, she made my writing stronger without altering my voice and style. She reconstructed key sentences to sharpen and focus my characters’ goals and motivations, often indicating further opportunities where the romance storyline could be heightened.
~Giulia Skye (Finalist for 2021 Best First Published Book at the RWA - Romance Writers of America)

Sarah took the time to learn my writing style and my characters' voices and all of her comments and suggestions were aligned with the goal of making my writing stronger while not changing my original vision for the story.
~Kit Oliver

Sarah! This [elite dev edit) outline is amazing! It’s thorough, incredibly helpful and sometimes blindingly obvious. I already feel like I am starting to see the forest. You’re a rockstar. This is SO HELPFUL.
~Patty Reagin

Get in touch with me

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does the fact that Sarah Iives in London, UK automatically make her a good editor?

A: NO! But—you can always talk about your “London editor” at dinner parties.

Q: Does the fact she lives in the same country as Jane Austen and is separated from her by a mere 220 years make her a better romance specialist?

A: Maybe!

Q: Does the fact Sarah has an MFA in creative writing, that she’s been editing romance since 2019, and that she freaking loves reading romance novels make her a good choice for your manuscript?

A: Absolutely!

Find more Sarah fun at Instagram @Saraheditsromance

Service(s)

Editor

Specialisms

Erotica
LGBTQIA+
Romance

Client types

Associated skills

Self-publishing
Book coaching

Download Professional Portfolio

Disclaimer note

The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.

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