Professional Support For Authors and Publishers
Professional editing and support for writers and publishers across fiction and non-fiction, educational and reference works and scholarly publishing.
I have helped produce over 100 books, short stories and book chapters, working with over 30 publishers in Australia and internationally as well as self-publishing authors. Whether you’re a first-time or experienced writer, or a publisher or designer looking to outsource editing, proofreading or indexing services for drafts and proofs, I can help you produce publication-ready works across a broad range of fiction and nonfiction genres, educational and reference works and scholarly publishing.
Authors
Publishing is highly competitive, and your chances of getting your book published – or getting positive reviews and sales if you’re self-publishing – depend on the quality of your manuscript. I work with both aspiring and established fiction and non-fiction authors, providing expert editing and support at all stages of the writing and publishing process, from first draft through to submitting your book proposal. I offer:
Research Appraisal
For would-be writers seeking to turn their research – whether a doctoral thesis or a personal research project such as a local history or biography – into a publishable book, I provide professional advice on translating data into narrative, including developing a suitable structure, identifying information gaps and advising on non-narrative elements such as graphics.
Manuscript assessment
A manuscript assessment is a critical review of your draft to evaluate its suitability for purpose and to identify changes necessary to improve readability. A manuscript assessment considers your text at the highest narrative level: overall structure and length, internal structure, development and pace, point of view and voice, characterisation, dialogue, use of non-textual elements and overall suitability for the intended readership. It covers many of the same issues as developmental editing (see below) but instead of the editor making changes in your manuscript you will receive a detail written analysis of those issues and suggestions to guide rewriting and improving the narrative.
Developmental editing
Developmental or substantive editing ensures that the structure, content, language and style of the document are optimal for its intended purpose and readership. This includes assessing the overall structure and organization of the content, identifying gaps, inconsistencies and redundancy in the narrative, and improving the style of the text at the chapter, section and paragraph levels. A substantive editor may suggest that chapters be rearranged, that a different voice or POV be employed, that sections be added or deleted, that non-textual elements (graphs, tables etc.) be used, that an index or glossary be included, and, for creative writing, that weaknesses in plot/subplot, characterisation, pacing and dialogue be addressed. Often a substantive edit will overlap to some extent with manuscript assessment, involving advice as much as changes, and it is often a preliminary to additional writing/rewriting of the draft.
Copyediting
Copyediting (sometimes called line editing) is primarily concerned with grammar, spelling, punctuation and style. Copy editors ensure proper usage, fix language and phrasing, identify inconsistencies in style or content, ensure meaning is clear and consistent on a sentence-by-sentence and paragraph-by-paragraph basis, and improve style on a more localised basis than the substantive edit (e.g., ensuring the same person is used throughout, adding missing transitions between sentences and paragraphs etc.). In addition to polishing the prose, refining the tone and voice and addressing issues such as dialogue tags, copyediting also identifies narrative issues such as inconsistencies or continuity issues and factual errors. In short, copyediting guarantees a professionally written story.
Proofreading
Proofreading involves checking the typeset proof of your manuscript, or of your copy for self-publishing, for any remaining or new typographic errors, spelling and minor grammatical errors, layout and formatting, and referencing for nonfiction works. This is typically the final stage of the editing process; for authors working with traditional publishers, they will usually arrange the proofreading.
Indexing
For nonfiction authors, a properly structured index can add to the accessibility, useability and appeal of your book. An index is not a mere list of names or keywords (that’s a concordance); it provides a conceptual map that flags and cross-references key concepts so that readers can not just find the name or topic they’re looking for but also understand how it relates to other elements of the narrative. Indexes can be drafted in the later stages of the editing process but cannot be finalised until the manuscript is typeset and the pagination is finalised.
Developing your book proposal
Once your story is structurally sound and the narrative has been polished, I can help research suitable publishers and develop your cover letter(s), synopsis, author bio etc. Once again – publishing is highly competitive, and attracting a publisher’s interest requires a compelling proposal that addresses all the criteria.
Publishers
For publishers and designers looking for back-end or white-labelled editing support, I provide all the same services as for authors – from manuscript assessment through to proofreading and indexing. I have experience working both as a single external consultant and as part of publication-specific in-house teams, from early in the development process – providing advice on structure and (for reference works) pedagogical elements – through to permissions management, ghostwriting sections or chapters, and liaising with subject matter experts to develop (and chase up on) their contributions.
