Overview
As an editor for top publishers, including Penguin Random House and NB Publishers, I have edited and proofread award-winning, bestselling novels and narrative non-fiction texts. I am proud to have had a number of edited novels on bestseller lists, and long- and shortlisted for literary awards, including the Sunday Times Literary Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. I work closely with top authors including Mark Winkler, Imraan Coovadia, Rahla Xenopoulos, Carol Campbell, Qarnita Loxton, Fred Khumalo, and Niq Mhlongo, among many others. I also co-founded a highly successful online creative writing course with bestselling author, Mike Nicol, which ran for eight years. I thrive when collaborating with authors, assisting them to reach their writing potential and to create the strongest narrative possible. My specialist genres include literary fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, crime, and memoirs, although I really love reading and editing any story that grabs my attention. My clients will attest to the fact that I am a supportive editor, who only ever gives constructive criticism. I focus on what you're doing right, so that you can do more of that. If you work with me, you will become a better, more confident writer, skilled in all the technical stuff and the things that readers want. My industry experience means I am perfectly placed to know what publishers want, and to shape your manuscripts and cover letters accordingly. Please contact me for any editorial services, including developmental and copy editing, editorial assessments, and editing of cover letters.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Certifications
- First-class Master's Degree in English Literature
- First-class Honour's Degree in English Literature
Work experience
Self-employed
• Copy-editor and proofreader
• Point of contact between commissioning editors, managing editors, and authors
• Write reader reports for potential publication and jacket copy
• Familiar with all stages of publication process
• Several works longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Awards in 2019 and 2021
• Fred Khumalo’s Talk of the Town won 2020 SALA Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award
The Writers' Masterclass
• Independently run supervisory online, multimedia course, founded and supervised by internationally best-selling writer and journalist Mike Nicol and me
• Project-managed course for 25–30 students each year
• Created content on social media platforms to advertise course
• Supervised writing of 60,000-word novels/ non-fiction works
• Each completed year of the class produced at least one traditionally published writer
GetSmarter (2U)
• Taught online, multimedia creative-writing course alongside Ron Irwin (until end of 2011) and then Mike Nicol (until 2015)
• Liaison between clients and GetSmarter
Self-employed
• Copy-editor and proofreader
• Point of contact between commissioning editors, managing editors, and authors
• Write reader reports for potential publication and jacket copy
• Familiar with all stages of publication process
• Several works longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Awards in 2019 and 2021
• Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu’s short story, “The Blessing of Kali”, shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2019
• Imran Garda’s The Thunder That Roars won the 2016 Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose; longlisted for the 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature
Portfolio
Claire has 68 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
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Dec, 2024
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Aug, 2024
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