Clem Flanagan

Clem Flanagan – Editor

Eagle-eyed copy-editor and proofreader specialising in YA and epic fantasy, science-fiction, commercial and crime fic. She/her

Overview

Editor with 7+ years of experience working across fiction and non-fiction, with particular interests in YA, fantasy, sci-fi and commercial fiction.

I completed a BA in Creative Writing and English Lit and an MLitt in Publishing Studies, and have spent my life writing creatively and analysing what makes a good story GREAT. I'm a stickler for consistency and hate typos, so I'm a terrific proofreader – but I'm also available for copy-editing jobs if they fit in the genres mentioned above.

I have worked – and am interested in working – on all sorts of projects, from short stories to novellas and novels. I'm also a native French and Dutch speaker, and speak some German, which comes in handy when editing texts that mention any foreign words. I particularly want to work on titles that present a diverse cast of characters and have LGBTQ+ representation.

Some of my favourite books – if you were wondering! – include The Wheel of Time series, The Red Queen series, Circe, The Lord of the Rings, The Signature of All Things, One Day, the Skyward trilogy, Gone Girl, the Red Rising series, The Folk of Air series, the Inkheart trilogy, The Priory of the Orange Tree, Realm Breaker, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And Harry Potter, obvs.

If I sound like the right editor for you, here are a few things to bear in mind when sending a request:
- Tell me a bit about yourself and your intentions towards your project. Are you aiming for traditional publication or will you be self-publishing?
- What stage do you think your manuscript is at? This helps me determine which service is right for you (and it might not be the one you think you want).
- Why are you looking for an editor now? Do you struggle with structural elements of your manuscript or do you need help with your line craft?

I am usually booked up at least 3 months in advance. Please bear this in mind when setting a deadline for your project. I hate turning down fun work because it has to be done within the month and I'm just not available right now.

PLEASE NOTE I'M CURRENTLY BOOKED UP TILL FEBRUARY. Please make your requests for March 2022 onwards.
Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Dystopian Epic Fantasy Middle Grade Fantasy Mystery & Crime Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK)
Awards
  • Longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition 2019
Certifications
  • MLitt Publishing Studies
  • BA Creative Writing & English Literature

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 2020 — Present

After working for six years in publishing, I've taken the plunge and gone freelance to continue vanquishing typos and grammar baddies. I offer core editorial services such as developmental editing, copy-editing and proofreading, as well as author mentoring and editorial reports through a literary consultancy.

My specialties include YA, fantasy, commercial fiction and science-fiction, although I also work on other genres when they need my help.

Taking a story from good to great is what I love most – and I’d love to work on your book next. Please get in touch through Reedsy, Twitter or my website.

London Metropolitan University

Mar, 2020 — May, 2020 (2 months)

I returned to my first university as a visiting lecturer to teach on the very course that inspired me to become an editor. On this course, I lectured on topics including plotting, characterization, style, line editing and proofreading, and conducted workshops with small groups of students to help them improve their craft as writers and sharpen their skills as editors.

Hay House UK

Jan, 2018 — May, 2020 (over 2 years)

My role as editor is really varied, taking me from writing book blurbs (my favourite part!) to adapting healthy cookery books to British English and preparing book files for print. I have the privilege of working on lots of different titles ranging from self-help to health, from the esoteric to the latest science. I also read submissions and assess them for publication. When we have author events on, I love to work in our pop-up bookshop.

Thomson Reuters

Oct, 2016 — Oct, 2017 (about 1 year)

As the publisher at Thomson Reuters' legal publishing arm in Scotland, I commissioned all new frontlist titles, acting as the first point of contact between our authors and TR. Titles spanned a wide spectrum of markets, from university study-guides to reference titles and annotated acts.

Self-employed

May, 2014 — Dec, 2015 (over 1 year)

I freelanced as a proofreader and editor (and sometimes content writer) for several independent presses and websites, including Lumphanan Press, Freight Books, Cargo Publishing, Endeavour Press and TripAdvisor. I worked on a wide variety of material, including a manual on Qigong, an award-winning contemporary novel, historical novels and, you guessed it, some travel pieces!

Portfolio

Shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Award<>A gripping and ultimately deeply effecting literary debut, First Time Solo is more than a war story, it is a beautifully rendered portrait of men preparing for conflict and a society on the brink of seismic ... read more
Other Ida
A new translation of a forgotten masterpiece of German World War I literature, based on the author's own first-hand experiences of combatThe war, an operation instigated by men, still felt to him like a storm decreed by fate, an unleashing of powerful elements... read more

Clem has 36 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Coriana F.

Coriana F.

Feb, 2022

Clem was great to work with. She was courteous and professional, responding to my queries in a reasonable amount of time (a few hours to a business day). She also kept me updated as her schedule for review changed – at first, she thought she was going to finish the project early, but then she later let me know that she’d been delayed and would finish right on time. She delivered as promised. I...
Read more
Clem F.
Thanks so much for your kind words, and for trusting me with your work. I had such fun reading this manuscript. Sorry I missed a few details or queried things that seemed obvious - it's entirely po...
Read more
Roger M.

Roger M.

Jan, 2022

Clem was brilliant. Her assessment left me with a very clear idea of the further work required, with practical, achievable suggestions that I have little doubt will improve my manuscript, and also my future work.
Zach L.

Zach L.

Dec, 2021

Clem was excellent to work with. Professional and thorough. I would recommend her work to anyone and hope she's ready to do more work for my series in the future!
Jessica W.

Jessica W.

Nov, 2021

It's always a pleasure working with Clem, as she is highly professional, punctual, and friendly. She completed this edit faster than advertised, which gave me longer to prepare the manuscript for publication. Her edits are always high quality and help me become a better writer. I'll always come to her again if I need professional editing.
Aleisha S.

Aleisha S.

Nov, 2021

Clem was amazing to work with. I am a new author, and she was very understanding of my inexperience. Her feedback was comprehensive, and her suggestions easy to follow. Her work was punctual, and not only met my needs, but went above and beyond. I highly recommend her as a part of any writing process.