‘I was fairly optimistic about my chances of getting published; I knew that I had some game …’ – Stephen King.
As a writer myself, I know I have ‘some game’ too, and the fact you are reading this tells me so do you.
I know it takes hard work and shear dedication to complete a manuscript, but, as writers, we know that is only the beginning. Both mainstream publishing houses and the independent publishing world expect your manuscript to shine. To be the best it can be. Having been where you are now, and trodden the publishing path you are on, I know the pains you will encounter. So, whether this is your first novel or tenth, I will use my experience as a writer and skills as a trained editor to bring your story to life.
As Dr Suess says, ‘So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.’
Do you have a problem with wordiness? Is a consistent plot line or style your weakness? Or are industry-standard grammar, punctuation and spelling your stumbling blocks. Maybe you need to smooth the edges of your writing to ensure it engages your readers.
Whatever it is, you’re not alone. No writer is perfect at all aspects of our craft, and every successful writer employs an editor like me to help sharpen their prose. We all have weaknesses, and whatever yours are, I’ll work with you to ensure your narrative and dialogue flows with clarity and consistency, allowing you to do what you do best – tell stories. Together we’ll make your work the best it can be.
Who I am and what I do
I’m a full-time, professionally trained editor, and a writer of two novels with a third on the way. I specialise in providing editorial services to fiction authors, with a preference for crime, thriller, and horror, but also work within academia and corporate documentation.
I’m fully insured and hold memberships with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, and the Alliance of Independent Authors among others.
The editorial services I provide help independent and established authors alike achieve the goal of making their manuscript the best it can be.
To find out more about me, and why I do what I do, follow the link below.
Not sure which editorial services you need?
CRITIQUE
A manuscript critique, or appraisal, should be the starting point of the editing process. It is a general assessment of your manuscript from a “big picture” perspective and focuses on three core areas; plot, character, and pace.
A critique provides a snapshot of where the writing succeeds and offers guidance to the writer on areas where it could be improved.
LINE EDITING
As the title suggests, a line edit looks at the structure of your sentences and paragraphs. When I review your manuscript, I will look at the creative content, consistency of style, and the way you use language to communicate your story to the reader.
I will review your use of words and phrases line-by-line to make sure they are clear, concise, fluid, and pleasurable to read.
COPY-EDITING
A copy-edit makes sure your writing meets industry standards by analysing your manuscript against an agreed style format for mistakes, inconsistencies, redundancies, and repetition.
This includes consistent spelling, grammar, punctuation, hyphenation, fonts, numerals, and capitalisation. I will also scrutinise syntax and internal inconsistencies in the plot, settings, and character traits.
Need copywriting services, or a critique first?
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