Book developer
I offer a range of services to help authors develop their books, from the concept stage right through to handing the finished manuscript to a proofreader for a last check-through.
Book planning
Planning your book carefully before you write it can save a lot of hard work and heartbreak later on. It's much easier to remedy problems with plot, structure or characterisation before you sit down and commit 80,000 words to paper. Too often I have to advise authors to rewrite large chunks of text, or even the entire book itself, which is a daunting and demoralising task.
To prevent such difficulties further down the road, I work with authors in the planning and first draft stages of their books. My book planning service acts as an advance book critique (see below), ensuring that you're on the right track with your book before you get too stuck into the writing. I can help:
Map out a clear and logical structure: I create specific plans to guide your writing – planning the overall shape (and length) of the book, the division into chapters, and then the content within each chapter.
Plan the plot: I help you look at the journey of your plot, and iron out any problems such as inconsistent, inappropriate or unrealistic elements.
Create character sketches: To ensure your characters are well-developed, I'll help you work out who your characters are – their backgrounds, their appearance, their mannerisms, their style of movement, their speech and their personalities. This can inform your writing and carry forward into engaging, realistic characters.
My book planning service involves working closely with you, the author, in a consultative capacity. You retain complete control over your book, but can use my suggestions, ideas and opinions to help shape a clear plan. With this book planning complete, you then have a framework in place to guide writing – leaving you free to get creative and enjoy the writing process.
Book critique
When you've finished writing your book, you need a second opinion – ideally from a book specialist who has plenty of experience in the publishing industry. As an experienced book writer and book editor, I'm well equipped to assess books. I offer a comprehensive book critique service that helps authors develop their writing and gain realistic feedback on their manuscript.
Critique may sound like criticism, but that’s not what my service is about. I see it as my role to encourage and inspire writers, so I keep my book critiques constructive and sensitive. I’m honest about the areas I feel need work, but also tell authors what’s good in their writing.
A book critique (also known as a manuscript critique or manuscript assessment) reviews your overall book, looking at elements such as structure, writing style and content. As an author, you're too close to your book to spot most problems, weaknesses and inconsistencies, but a professional book critique will help you address issues, further develop your book and get a better idea of its suitability for publication.
While accepting constructive feedback is difficult, it really does help you grow as a writer. A book critique is therefore an essential element of the book-writing process.
By its nature, a book critique stands back and looks at the bigger picture of the book: how it works in its entirety. It is, therefore, beyond the scope of my book critiquing service to get stuck into the minutiae of the book and flag up smaller issues such as a tiny inconsistency or a weak plot element. If I feel your book requires this intensive level of editing, in my book critique I will recommend you consider my development editing service.
Please visit my dedicated book critique website for more information.
Rewriting/developing
This service helps authors improve their finished books. It's a hands-on, top level service that aims to get the very best from your book.
My rewriting/developing service usually involves looking at the plot, characterisation, content, structure and overall writing style, and working to make large-scale changes to really make the best of the book.
The usual starting point for development editing is a book critique (or critique of any other written material). In a critique, I can identify which areas of the book require development.