My Specialisms
Non-fiction: General and popular non-fiction. Areas of particular interest include memoir, biography, careers, and self-help.
Fiction: Commercial fiction in all adult categories. I particularly enjoy mysteries, thrillers, comic fantasy and ‘women’s’ fiction including romance and cosy mystery. No poetry or children’s books.
Some of the highlights of my freelance career so far include editing TV presenter Mr Motivator’s memoir The Warm Up and negotiating a paperback rights deal on behalf of the bestselling author Nicola May, who wrote The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay.
I offer proofreading, line editing, copy-editing, and structural editing. In addition, I can deliver a general consultation service, flexible enough to provide bespoke help for my clients, and I also provide an independent contract negotiation service for authors who don’t have or don’t want an agent.
I’ve been working in publishing in London since 2006, for literary agents, independent publishers, and Big 5 publishers. I also have additional training in editing from the Publishing Training Centre and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.
Editing
Proofreading:
A final check of the manuscript before publishing: from £10 per 1000 words
Copyediting and line editing:
More extensive than proofreading, this stage smooths out the text: from £12 per 1000 words
Mini structural edit:
A budget option for dealing with big issues such as plot, pace, voice, and intended audience, by working on the first 10,000 words: £150
Please provide a sample of at least the first 1000 words of your manuscript with your enquiry.
Contracts
I charge a flat fee of £150 to finalise a ‘standard’ publisher’s contract. This includes analysing the contract, discussing with you what changes to request, and negotiating those changes, usually with me acting as your representative. More complicated contracts will attract higher fees.
Other contracts work can be arranged on a per project or per hour basis, and I can also help with clearing permissions.
For clarity, I am not a lawyer.
Consultation
Mini consultation: Get an hour of my time, to talk over a project or ask some questions, for £50
My full consultation services have a flat rate of £200, and include but are not limited to:
- An independent opinion on a pitch and sample chapters
- Researching the market for a proposed book
- Polishing a non-fiction proposal
- Self or Traditional publishing? Helping you decide what route to market will be the best fit for you and your book
Praise
Valerie Brandes, Founder & Publisher, Jacaranda Books
Jen Christie, Literary Agent, Graham Maw Christie
Mandy Little, Chairman, Watson Little Ltd
Jane Graham Maw, Literary Agent, Graham Maw Christie
Hugh Roberts, author of Journeys With Open Eyes
Nicola May, author of The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay
Frances Burton, PhD
Michael Jago, author of The Man Who Was George Smiley
Malcolm Knott, author of Sherlock Holmes: The Soldier’s Daughter
Derrick Evans, aka Mr Motivator, author of The Warm Up
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Contact me
FREE introductory phone/Skype call.
If you’d like a quick chat on the phone to tell me about your goals and discuss the work I can do for you, please outline what you’d like to discuss in the contact form, and we can set an appointment for a 15-minute call.