Novel Editor

Novel Editor — The Gate of Clouds Universe

About Blue Byron Books

Blue Byron Books is a technology-forward publishing collective redefining American culture and ideas by amplifying innovative, bold, and imaginative voices.

We’re a collective of writers, designers, editors, thinkers, and creatives working together to publish thoughtful and original work. We’re built by Gen Z and Millennial digital natives, operate remotely, and structure our projects around collaboration, shared ownership, and long-term creative partnerships rather than traditional publishing hierarchies.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Novel Editor to join the Gate of Clouds Universe—our flagship philosophical fiction project.

This is not simply an opportunity to edit manuscripts.

We’re looking for someone who wants to become part of the universe.

Gate of Clouds began as an 82,000-word philosophical novel exploring technology, meaning, creativity, and the fragility of life. It has since evolved into a multi-world narrative universe where music artists, cities, philosophy, and human stories intersect.

The novels center on young people navigating love, ambition, loss, identity, meaning, and purpose in a hyper-stimulated, technology-driven world.

The universe currently spans four worlds:

Benella — Paris, French Riviera, Milan, New York
Elegant, chic, magnetic; beauty, confidence, becoming

Raymond — Rural America, the Midwest, the American West
Blue-collar, spiritual, rugged; truth, reflection, freedom

León — Mexico City, Los Angeles, Texas, Madrid
Dark, intense; suffering, redemption, depth

Lucía — Miami, Colombia, the Caribbean, New York
Latin rhythm, sensuality, movement; joy, connection, vitality

Where We Are Now

The universe is moving from concept into something much larger.

Our original three novelist collaborators have each reached approximately 15,000 words of their novels. At this stage, we want an editor to enter the process, read what they've created, provide thoughtful developmental feedback, and help strengthen the novels as they continue toward approximately 60,000 words.

At the same time, 10+ additional writers are beginning stories within the universe.

We're therefore looking for someone interested not merely in editing one novel, but in helping us develop a growing body of interconnected fiction.

What You'll Do

• Read novels at key stages of development and provide substantive editorial feedback
• Work directly with novelists as their stories develop rather than only editing completed manuscripts
• Evaluate character development, pacing, structure, emotional impact, clarity, continuity, and thematic depth
• Help writers strengthen their individual voices without making every novel sound the same
• Understand the larger Gate of Clouds vision and help individual stories feel connected to that universe
• Identify inconsistencies, opportunities, recurring themes, and connections across novels
• Participate in collaborative sessions with writers and the larger Gate of Clouds team
• Take initiative when you see something that could make a story—or the universe itself—better
• Help establish editorial practices as the universe grows

Who We're Looking For

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Love novels and take fiction seriously
• Have experience editing fiction, workshopping fiction, or providing substantive feedback to writers
• Are especially interested in philosophical, literary, cerebral, or emotionally resonant fiction
• Think deeply about character, meaning, culture, technology, identity, and contemporary life
• Can identify what isn't working in a manuscript—and articulate why
• Know when to challenge a writer and when to protect what makes their voice distinctive
• Are excited by interconnected stories, worlds, recurring ideas, and long-term narrative development
• Are curious, open-minded, dependable, and willing to learn
• Take initiative without needing constant direction
• Enjoy collaboration rather than hierarchy
• Can take an idea from discussion to execution
• Want to help build something that is still evolving

Talent matters—but so do mindset, initiative, thoughtfulness, and follow-through. That's central to how Blue Byron Books works.

How We Work

We give green lights, not micromanagement.

The Gate of Clouds team meets regularly to discuss writing, ideas, characters, culture, philosophy, problems, and possibilities. These aren't simply status meetings—they're creative sessions and part of the process of building the universe together.

We move quickly, but thoughtfully. There's clear creative direction, but considerable room to experiment, question ideas, and contribute your own perspective.

We're looking for an editor who participates in that culture—not someone who simply receives a Word document, marks it up, and sends it back.

Compensation

This is a royalty-based collaborator opportunity, not a salaried or traditional freelance editing position.

Editor compensation begins at 5% of the royalties from the book, increasing in 5% increments according to our word-count scale as the editor's involvement with the manuscript grows.

The model is designed so that deeper contribution to a project corresponds with greater participation in its success.

Why Gate of Clouds

Our ambition is larger than publishing a collection of unrelated novels.

We're building an interconnected philosophical-fiction universe designed around different worlds, characters, cities, music, cultures, and human experiences—with the long-term potential for stories to expand across books and other media.

At its center, Gate of Clouds is about young people living now—searching for meaning, originality, connection, and purpose in an overstimulated world.

We want the work to reflect life as it's actually lived today, ask timeless questions in modern forms, and create culture—not just content.

To Apply

Please submit a résumé and a cover letter.

We're putting considerable weight on the cover letter for this opportunity. Rather than sending us a generic editing cover letter, please tell us:

Why does the Gate of Clouds Universe specifically interest you?

Also tell us about your experience with fiction, the novels/writers that have most influenced you, what you believe makes an editor genuinely valuable to a novelist, and what excites you about joining a collaborative project while it's still being built.

We'd rather understand how you think and why you want to be here than receive a perfectly polished corporate letter.