From idea…
… to outline…
… to refinement…
… to perfection…
… to submission
Publishing is a busy place. Agents and publishers can receive thousands of submissions in a single month so it’s important to stand out. A killer hook, engaging storyline, memorable characters, strong narrative voice and a polished, professional finish - it’s a lot to think about and can sometimes feel overwhelming. When writing so often feels like a solitary pursuit,
reaching out to a professional editor can make all the difference.
so…
What can I do for you?
From idea to outline…
Book development
The early stages of book creation are the hardest for some writers. You’ve mined the depths of your mind to find that prize diamond, but that diamond still needs work to make it shine.
I can help you establish your hook, develop characters, and build a three-dimensional world and transfer it all to a comprehensive outline that suits your writing style. Or I can help you to put together a page plan for a piece of creative non-fiction.
I draw from a variety of proven techniques used by published authors and tailored to suit you.
Ghostwriting services also available, please enquire for more details.
… to refinement
Copy Editing
Copy editing takes different forms depending on the needs of the book at different stages of its development.
After a first draft is completed, it is good to check that the text is working as intended. In fiction, is the story well paced? Do any scenes feel superfluous, do all subplots lead somewhere. Does the protagonist have a compelling arc and is the antagonistic force doing its job standing in their way? In non-fiction, are you giving all the right facts in the best reading order? Are you using words your reader will understand>
Later in development, assessment can be made to better tailor the writing for the intended audience and maintain consistency of voice and tone throughout the text.
I am available to craft a copy edit that suits your needs, from a full structural edit with suggestions on story beats, character arcs, worldbuilding and scene-to-scene pacing, to a simpler consistency edit
… to perfection
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final stage of editorial work. As a writer, it can be difficult to spot the tiny details in the world with which we’ve become so familiar, so spelling, punctuation and grammar errors can slip through the cracks. This is where having a new, fresh perspective on the text makes all the difference.
… to submission
Submission package crafting and assessment
Your manuscript is ready to send, so it’s time to craft a stunning cover letter, complete with a blurb that will make an agent fall in love, and to tackle that dreaded synopsis. And what about the all-important elevator pitch?
I have written A. I. (Advanced Information) sheets for sales catalogues used across the UK and USA and presented at London, Bologna and Frankfurt Book Fairs. I will help you to craft part or all of your submission package from scratch, or assess an already created package to help you push it to industry marketing standards - up to and including the manuscript portion of the submission.
Please note, only pitch and blurb writing and/or review is available for non-fiction texts.
Complete submission crafting and assessment package is reserved for fiction texts only.
If you are thinking of requesting a copy edit or proofread for the manuscript portion of
a submission, please consider having the rest of your submission package assessed, too,
for a discounted cost!
Testimonials to follow
Testimonials to follow
Kind words to come
Kind words to come
“It all begins with an idea.” - Source
“It all begins with an idea.” - Source
I will work on most genres of children’s fiction for all age groups and most topics of non-fiction, but my expertise lies in:
High and low fantasy (including romantasy)
Adventure
Mystery
Dystopia
Horror fiction
Funny fiction (chapter books)
History non-fiction
STEM non-fiction
I particularly love :
Complex worldbuilding
Intricately crafted magic systems
Witches, vampires, werewolves and dragons (oh my!)
Myths, legends and fairy tales
Classical adaptations
Talking animals
Quests
LGBTQ+ characters
Your intellectual property remains entirely your own. I will never claim or demand credit for editorial services unless work is undertaken for a publishing company with credit line agreed in writing by both parties.
I do not use Artificial Intelligence programmes or assistants in my work and I stand against the ever-increasing use of Artificial Intelligence in artistic spaces.
The publishing market is ever-changing and always moving. A submitting author will never know exactly what other submissions an agent or publisher has received, nor what they have been working on with existing clients. Editorial review and submission crafting and assessment from myself or any other freelance editor does not guarantee representation or publication.