Carmen DaVinleam
Author & Editor
Hi, I’m Carmen
I’m a professional author and editor with experience in thrillers, dark fiction, mystery, fantasy, historical, sci-fi, and YA genres. I provide feedback that’s tailored to your manuscript and your goals.
Thoughtful Editing for Authors Who Want Their Stories to Shine
I help authors bring their manuscripts to life through developmental editing, line edits, copyediting, and proofreading. My neurodivergent perspective allows me to notice details others might miss, giving you feedback that’s both thorough and insightful. Every story is unique — my goal is to help yours reach its full potential.I’ll help you:Refine your plot and pacingStrengthen characters and dialoguePolish prose for clarity and impactEnsure your manuscript reads smoothly and professionallyWhether you want big-picture guidance or detailed line edits, I adapt to what your story needs.
Services
Developmental Editing 📚
Big-picture feedback: structure, pacing, plot, character arcsEnsures your story flows and resonates emotionally
Line Editing ✍️
Sentence flow, clarity, tone, voiceNotes on anything that enhances or distracts from your story
Copyediting & Proofreading 🖋️
Grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, styleFinal polish before publication or submission
Extras
First-page critique / sample editQuery letter and synopsis review ($45 add-on)
Pricing
• Query package critique: $45
• Full manuscript up to 90K words: $700
• Full manuscript up to 120K words: $1000
• Full manuscript over 200K words: $1500
Note: manuscripts over 200K are a hard sell for most editors except in sci-fi and epic fantasy.
All payments via PayPal, payable once the project is scheduled.I also offer pricing by exact word counts at $0.0085 per word
How It Works ⚡
1. Fill out the intake form below or schedule a Discord call
2. Provide your manuscript or first five pages for critique
3. Receive detailed, tailored feedback
4. Optional follow-up call to discuss edits
💬 Discord calls can be voice or video — before, during, or after the edit, whichever works best for you.
📜 Official Rules – Horror Short Story Collection Contest
These rules govern the Horror Short Story Collection Contest (“Contest”), organized by 24/7 Stories / Carmen DaVinleam (“Organizer”). By entering, participants agree to the following terms:
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1. Eligibility
• Open to individuals 18 years or older.
• Open worldwide unless prohibited by law.
• Void where restricted or prohibited.
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2. Submission Guidelines
• Stories must be original, unpublished works by the submitting author.
• Word count: 200–5,000 words.
• All stories must contain elements of horror (cross-genre permitted).
• Explicit stories are allowed, as long as content warnings are given.
• Stories must be submitted via the official Google Form link by
December 31, 2025 (11:59 PM EST).
• Submissions not meeting these requirements may be disqualified.
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3. Entry Tracks
Participants may choose one of two entry tracks:
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• Free Submission Track ($0): Story is considered for anthology publication but is not eligible for cash prizes.
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• Paid Contest Track ($25 entry fee):
Story is considered for anthology publication
and eligible for the cash prize.
Entry fees must be paid via Ko-fi at the time of submission.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
The above link will take you to Ko-fi where you can pay the entry fee and download further instructions on how to enter. It will have a link to the Contest track's Google Form.
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4. Judging Criteria
This is a contest of skill, not chance. Winners will be determined based on the following criteria:
• Originality (25%)
• Quality of writing (25%)
• Effective use of horror elements (25%)
• Overall impact (25%)
Judging will be conducted by a panel of readers and authors.
All decisions are final.
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5. Prize (for contest entries only)
• One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a cash prize (amount to be announced at a future date, based on number of Paid Track entries but not less than $100).
• Prize will be paid via PayPal to the address provided by the winner.
• Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible Paid Track entries.
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6. Publication
• Regardless of track, selected stories may be included in the final anthology, to be published on September 1, 2026.
• Contributors will retain all rights to their stories.
• Contributors included in the anthology will receive contributor credit and a share of anthology proceeds (details provided upon acceptance).
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7. Timeline
• Submissions open: Now through December 31, 2025
• Acceptance notifications: by February 14, 2026
• Editing period: February 15 – April 15, 2026
• Final revised stories due: June 1, 2026
• Publication date: September 1, 2026
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8. Legal Notice
• This contest is organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA.
• This is a literary contest of skill; no purchase is necessary for free entry into the anthology consideration track.
• The Paid Contest Track is optional and solely for prize eligibility.
• By entering, participants release the Organizer from liability related to their entry, prize receipt, or participation in the contest.Please email questions to
[email protected]
Contact
Have questions about my editing services or want to discuss your manuscript before getting started? I’m happy to connect!Schedule a Discord call (voice or video) to talk through your project by using the Schedule a Call link below.Fill out the intake form to provide key details about your manuscript and goals.For questions about pricing, services, or timelines, feel free to reach out — I’ll respond as quickly as possible.Your story matters, and I’m here to make the editing process clear, supportive, and tailored to your needs.