In addition to being an author, I am also an editor, proofreader, and formatter. My experience includes a variety of skills:

• I currently work as an editor, copy editor, and proofreader for SFF/H publishing houses and private clients writing SFF/H and academic dissertations; I also do layout/typesetting for private clients and publishing houses. During my freelance years, I've worked with various corporate and private clients in industries as varied as advertising, medicine, and education.
• As a senior lecturer in Creative Writing and Publishing and as the course leader on the Creative Writing MA and co-course leader on the Publishing MA at a UK university, I worked closely with undergrad, MA, and PhD students as a supervisor for their major projects and dissertations, providing support, feedback, advice, and encouragement on their fiction and non-fiction work.
• As an educational-materials developer, I wrote and edited textbooks, assessments, and ancillary materials.
• As a technical writer, I built online help files for a government contractor.
• As a newspaper copy editor, I wrote various elements for and copy edited and proofread the features page of a city newspaper.

​If you are interested in having a book typeset for hardback, paperback, or eBook, take a look at my company, Book Polishers, where you can also find links to an experienced cover designer.

NOTE: I have an anti-AI policy! I do not use AI for any of my writing or editing work and won't edit anything generated via AI. The cover designer I work with via Book Polishers, Creative Covers, has the same policy. AI is having a very negative effect on the creative industries, and it is important that individuals in the industry fight back against it. ​​

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​​​To query about the services listed, please fill out the 'Contact me' form ​at the bottom of the page. You can also find me listed on Reedsy.com as an editor. 
Thank you!
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EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT
WHAT IT IS:
An editorial assessment is the first step in getting feedback on a novel draft, often after a first full (not necessarily rough) draft, and can be more in-depth than an alpha read because of the level of feedback. An assessment looks at the “big picture” items such as plot, characters, and overall structure to evaluate what is working--and what isn’t--in the story. 

WHAT YOU'LL GET:
You’ll receive written feedback (a 3-10 page report, depending on the length of the draft sent) assessing the work, but not in-text comments. I will also offer advice on possible changes to improve the piece. This level of editing doesn’t include copyediting or proofreading but will usually include some notes on certain mistakes I find repeated throughout the draft.

WANT A SAMPLE?
If your budget doesn’t allow assessment of a full draft, I can also look at excerpts of one or more chapters after an initial email detailing the elements you want feedback on or specific questions you have; however, keep in mind that assessment of an excerpt will be limited in scope, so elements such as plot, story structure, and character arc will be difficult without seeing a full draft. The rate is the same, but if you then hire me to do an editorial assessment on the whole manuscript I will deduct the cost of the sample edit from the overall bill.

SCHEDULING:
Depending on the length of the draft, an editorial assessment can take two to three weeks. My current schedule of work will determine when I can start and deliver the edit.

COST:
Editorial Assessment is £0.025/word, which aligns with industry standards. For this service, please contact me via the form at the bottom of this page. I might ask to see an excerpt to ascertain whether your work is at this stage, and we can discuss details and scheduling.

SUPPORT
WHAT IT IS:
Beginner and advanced writers often find themselves stuck, and I'm here to help! You can book a one-time support session or schedule a series of coaching sessions. I have extensive experienced in supporting writers through their writing process. See the list below for some topics I help with. I am here to support and advise, not to try to strong-arm you to do anything "my way".

WHAT YOU GET:
These sessions are live one-on-one via a video platform. However, they do not include reading drafts of your work (see Editorial Assessment and Developmental Editing for that; though you can add in support/coaching if you decide to go with the editing choices here). If you would like a book coach to help you through the drafting and revising of a whole book, please contact me and we can talk through the cost and scheduling of that specific service.

WHAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH:

• Dealing with how to start or finish a writing project 
• Overcoming writer's block
• Considering where you are in your writing career and what your next moves could be
• Examining what might be the best path forward, such as traditional publishing, small-press publishing, or self-publishing

COST:
​Support/Coaching sessions are held online and £50/hour. Ask about discounts for multiple bookings! For this service, please contact me via the form below.

WHAT IT IS:
Developmental editing is a more in-depth analysis of your manuscript than an editorial assessment. Writing a novel is a challenge, and sometimes we find ourselves with hundreds of pages and no objectivity anymore. A developmental editor will read your draft with an eye towards the market (what readers and the publishing industry expect), but does not guarantee a publishing deal. However, getting a developmental edit can get you closer to a publication-ready manuscript. 

WHAT YOU'LL GET:
A developmental edit includes written feedback of a novel draft: some of it will comprise comments written on the draft itself (via comments on Track Changes), as well as a report (usually around 20+ pages, depending on the length of the manuscript) breaking down the draft chapter by chapter and describing how the draft is working with attention to various “big picture” writing elements such as characterization, story structure, plot, pacing, description, dialogue, etc. I can also offer advice on possible changes to improve the piece. This level of editing doesn’t include any sort of copy editing or proofreading, though I will usually note certain repeated mistakes so that you know what to look out for. You will also get a one-hour video meeting after I return your file to you so you can ask questions and for clarification of any notes; we can also discuss tackling revisions.

WANT A SAMPLE?
Because this can be a big-ticket item for a writer, I do offer a sample edit of one or more chapters so that you can assess whether or not a full developmental edit will help you. The rate is the same, but if you then hire me to edit the whole manuscript I will deduct the cost of the sample edit from the overall bill.

SCHEDULING:
Depending on the length of the draft and its current state, a developmental edit takes two to three weeks. My current schedule of work will determine when I can start and deliver the edit.  

COST:
Developmental Editing is £0.0325/word, which aligns with industry standards. For this service, please contact me via the form at the bottom of this page. I might ask to see an excerpt to ascertain whether your work is at this stage, and we can discuss details and scheduling.

COPY/LINE EDITING
WHAT IT IS:
Copy/Line Editing is a close edit for consistency, clarity, and correctness (different editors use different terms, which is why I have combined them here). During this step, I read your work to be sure that it says what you intended; sentence structure, tone, transitions, wordiness, and other similar elements are checked. It is also a first pass for grammar, punctuation, and spelling, though it doesn't replace a true proofread, which is the last step before publication to make sure no mistakes have slipped through and the formatting is all correct.

​COST:
Copy/Line Editing is £0.0175/word for fiction and £.0225/word for academic/non-fiction manuscripts, which aligns with industry standards. Depending on the length of the draft and its current state, a copy edit takes around two weeks. My current schedule of work will determine when I can start and deliver the edit. For this service, please contact me via the form at the bottom of this page. I might ask to see an excerpt to ascertain whether your work is at this stage, and we can discuss details and scheduling.

[Note: As a former academic and student supervisor, I mostly copy/line edit dissertations in creative writing or literature. Query about other disciplines.]

PROOFREADING
WHAT IT IS:
Proofreading is the final step before publishing to clean up SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar). I have proofread manuscripts in US, UK, and even Canadian English. Proofreading does not include editing for plot, character development, etc. 

COST:
Proofreading is £0.0125/word, which aligns with industry standards. Depending on the length of the draft and its current state, a proofread takes around two weeks. My current schedule of work will determine when I can start and deliver the edit. For this service, please contact me via the form at the bottom of this page. I might ask to see an excerpt to ascertain whether your work is at this stage, and we can discuss details and scheduling.

[Note: As a former academic and student supervisor, I mostly proofread dissertations in creative writing or literature. Query about other disciplines.]