Affirmative editing

That brings out the best in your story

By the time you’ve finished your manuscript, you’re starting to go a little cross eyed. You’re so immersed in the story that you can’t get far enough away to be objective. 

Does the world building make sense? Is the pacing page-turningly good, or muddled? Would that character really say that? And while we’re at it, why won’t your characters behave?

You need someone to take an eagle-eyed view from the outside, and then help polish your manuscript into the best version of itself.

Don’t change your story to fit the industry. change it to fit you.

Let’s be real. Working with an editor can be terrifying, even if you’re a seasoned pro. Because no matter how professional you are,  your book is still a piece of your heart that you’re handing over.

I’ve been editing both fiction and non fiction for all my career. I promise to be gentle with your heart.

Does that mean you’ll get a wishy washy edit? Heck no. I’ll be honest and truthful, and I’ll bring my word weaving skills to polish and clarify until your work shines.

But my editing process is a little different than traditional editing services, and my clients love it.

We’re polishing. Not pulverizing.

Traditional editing

  • Hard focus on what the industry wants and what will sell

  • Stuck on traditional story structures and conflicts

  • Often invalidates the parts of the story that matter most to you if they don’t fit the mold

  • Focus on what needs fixing without taking your needs and passions into account

The Author Voice Alchemy process

  • Focuses on understanding you and your story. 

  • Connects who you are and what matters to you with the way you tell the story

  • Is loving, honest, gentle, and truly collaborative

  • Encourages you to plumb the depths and bring your true voice through in everything you write

Introducing hybrid editing

Some manuscripts need a developmental edit - structure, worldbuilding, story flow, characters.

Some need a line edit - word choice, syntax, language flow, and help on the sentence level.

But often they need both, and along the way I realised that was problematic for indie authors. Finding the time and budget for two consecutive edits is challenging.

That’s why I collaborated with some of my favourite clients to create and test hybrid editing. This is a deep dive into your manuscript at both the structural and sentence level. I pore over each page like an alchemist studying a formula, and then I transmute it into shining gold.

Now, no matter what your manuscript needs, you’ll find its perfect soulmate editing process. Don’t worry if you’re not sure whether you need developmental, line, or hybrid editing. That’s what I’m here for. Get in touch and we’ll figure it out.

Editing with structure AND soul

My editing motto is simple: Your characters know what they’re doing, so let them do it!

I know your characters have minds of their own. And I know that not everyone understands that. Some people think it’s as simple as “write a plot and slot your characters into it.”

You and I know differently.

That’s why my editing process keeps your characters front and centre.

Writing and editing are like diving. You’ve got to plumb the depths to find the treasure. So let’s dive deep together.

Every book has its own soul

Writing is an act of magic, and editing is its complement. Together, we’ll bring your book into the world as its most magnificent, soulful self.

My editing process is perfect for dreamers and adventurers. People with mystery in their hearts and a love of words that seems older than they are. If you cry at books (and movies), love your fave characters as much as you love real people, and know your own characters have minds of their own, I could be the editor for you.

I’m here for the weirdos and quirky hearts, the ones who write because they can’t bear to not write. The ones who are open to being surprised by their own work, and brave enough to follow the plot and characters where they want to go. Even if that’s not at all what you expected.

If you want to grow deep, abiding confidence in your work and your voice, laugh and sometimes cry together along the way, and have chatty meetings where we bring our favourite beverages and wrangle your characters, welcome home.

I’m not the right editor for you if you’re a meticulous plotter who doesn’t like to budge from the plan. Also if the idea of a book having its own soul and shape makes you roll your eyes, we’ll go together about as well as a snowblower in the desert.