FAQS

Absolutely. Editing falls into three rough stages: structural, line and copy-editing, and proofreading. Structural editing is the big-picture view that is usually the first stage of the editing process. It looks at narrative arc, characterisation and character arcs, point of view, pace, genre and more. After a structural edit, you should expect to do some rewriting in response to the feedback. When the story is solid, we then look at the micro details of sentence structure, style and flow, as well as grammar – this is known as line and copy-editing. The final stage is proofreading, which is the last look at your work before it goes to print to pick up any typos and formatting errors. If you haven’t had any editing or feedback on your work, a structural edit is likely to be your best bet. But if you’re not sure what you need, send me an email and we can set up a chat to work out what service best fits your needs right now.

That’s a great question! Writing a book is a slow process – at the very least, you’ll need to have completed more than one draft before you book in for a structural edit, and there should be no missing scenes, dialogue or chapters. It doesn’t have to be perfectly polished prose, but the more work you can do before you hand it over to me, the better.

It depends on the service and the length of your manuscript. My structural edits take six weeks. Copy-edits generally take four to six weeks. The Show and Shine package takes up to four weeks. All bookings must be made at least a month in advance and I can advise you on my availability when you enquire about my services. A small deposit is required to secure your booking.

A sample edit allows you to get a sense of my editing style and helps me get an idea of how long it will take me to edit your work, so it’s a great way to approach working with an editor. After an initial chat via email or Zoom, you’ll send me a 1000-word sample from the middle of your manuscript in a Word document. I’ll return the marked-up version via email with a quote proposal.

If I’ve worked with you on a copy-edit, no – it’s best that you use a different editor to ensure you have fresh eyes on your work. If not, then, maybe! I offer proofreading on request for publishing companies and some clients. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss a proofread.

I mostly edit romance, women’s contemporary fiction,  crime/thriller and literary fiction, but I’m open to working across a range of genres. I also edit memoir and self-help on request.

I am also an experienced magazine subeditor and editor – please get in touch if you need a sharp editor to work on your digital or print magazine.

I’m available for proofreading and copy-editing for trade publishers. 

Mostly, I work directly with authors to help them strengthen their submission to publishers and agents.

Editing is painstaking, detailed work and requires an editor’s full concentration for long periods of time. It’s also highly skilled work that requires specialised training and a commitment to ongoing learning. In saying that, every editor prices their services differently and you’ll likely find a great editor at a price you can afford if you take the time to look around. There are also many fantastic blogs and writing courses available that can help you self-edit your manuscript.