Emily Arbis

Emily Arbis – Editor

Collaborative development editor specialising in all things non-fiction. Worked with bestselling authors at Little, Brown and HarperCollins.

Overview

I’m an experienced development editor specialising in commercial non-fiction, including memoirs, health, business, MBS, self-help and parenting. I have worked in-house on the commissioning editorial team at Little, Brown (Piatkus) and HarperCollins with bestselling and award-winning authors. I love helping to hone the big picture but I am also a stickler for detail -- I am a trained copy-editor and proofreader and I pay close attention to the manuscript line by line.

As a non-fiction editor, my aim is to help experts in their field reach a wide audience with a book that is accessible, clear and informative -- whether you're a nutritionist, a heart surgeon, a hypnobirthing coach or a psychiatrist, I can help you turn your expertise into a book that will jump off the shelves and into the hands of readers. I am passionate about books that help people to improve their lives and inspire them to reach their goals. I also always have a finger on the pulse of pop culture, and I enjoy working on entertainment, trend and humour titles too.

I've worked with many first-time authors to shape their ideas into easily digestible content for a mass market. The key to an excellent non-fiction book is a rock solid structure, helpful signposting and an engaging voice that readers can relate to. If you have a brilliant idea and a wealth of knowledge, but you're not sure how to get it down on paper, I'm here to help. My style is to provide constructive criticism along with positive feedback on what is working in order tease out the best bits and expand on them. Editing is a collaborative process and I like to work together with authors to ensure their book is the very best it can be. They will still be your words, but better.

Expect honest feedback, thorough editing and excessively polite emails.

I look forward to working with you.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Entertainment Health & Wellbeing Parenting & Families Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (NZ) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Progress in Editorial Skills: Copy-editing and Proofreading, Publishing Training Centre
  • MA in History of Art, University of Oxford
  • MA in Hons English Literature (1st class), St Andrews

Work experience

Self-employed

Jul, 2018 — Present

Available for structural editing, as well as copy-editing and proofreading.

Little, Brown

Dec, 2017 — Nov, 2018 (11 months)

Worked closely with authors to structurally edit their manuscript to tailor it to the target market.
Acquired 7 titles on a broad range of topics including memoir, nutrition, parenting and lifestyle.
Project managed 12 titles per year from first manuscript to finished copies.
Developed new ideas with existing authors and discussed new projects with literary agents.
Briefed designers for book jacket design, and helped develop cover with design team and the author.
Co-ordinated copyedits, proofreads and legal reads.
Drafted copy for information sheets and book jackets.
Worked closely with the sales, marketing, publicity, production and design teams internally to ensure each book reached its full potential.

HarperCollins

Oct, 2015 — Dec, 2017 (about 2 years)

Worked closely with esteemed heart surgeon Professor Stephen Westaby on the complex structural edit of his first book, Fragile Lives, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Prize, won the BMA President's Award and was a no.2 Sunday Times bestseller.

Acquired Eat What You Watch by Andrew Rea which reached no.15 on the Sunday Times bestseller.

Portfolio

Please Read Notes: Brand New, International Softcover Edition, Printed in black and white pages, minor self wear on the cover or pages, Sale restriction may be printed on the book, but Book name, contents, and author are exactly same as Hardcover Edition. Fast... read more
LIFE! What does it all mean?Chaz Hutton, the world’s first sticky note lifestyle guru, has taken it upon himself to figure it all out so we don’t have to. He covers all the important things: dating, working, eating, fighting gorillas, the impossible physics of... read more
'All the practical, wise nuggets of advice you need to get started and dig in deep are in the pages of #StandOutOnline' - Emma Gannon, award-winning blogger and author of Ctrl Alt Delete and The Multi-Hyphen MethodThe inspirational new book from the author of ... read more
**THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER**'A brilliant book' - DagbladetWhy does the brain work the way it does? Can eating certain foods improve your memory? Can you activate the parts of the brain you don't use? Can you smile yourself to happiness? What is free will, ... read more
Brand New!! Re-check ISBN before Purchase

Emily has 6 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Alisa W.

Alisa W.

Jul, 2020

Emily was encouraging, thoughtful, and precise. In our collaboration which spanned over a year, her directions were clear and her responses were prompt. I appreciated how she kept the reader in mind at all times. There were instances when she knew what I was trying to say before I did -- and her help, overall, was incredible.
Ben T.

Ben T.

Feb, 2020

Emily was my first-ever editor and it was a great experience, she was definitely worth investing in to bring my book up to publishing standards.
Charmaine P.

Charmaine P.

Feb, 2020

Emily is prompt, professional and thorough. I need a pair of expert eyes to give me crucial feedback, and Emily goes BEYOND that. Without rewriting the text, she does the research on concepts on which I need to expound, and suggests how I can make the text clearer! She sees themes and makes suggestions as to the most effective way to structure the book. Her comments are detailed, and her respon...
Read more
Randy B.

Randy B.

Feb, 2020

I am completely satisfied with my collaboration with Emily. She was fantastic to work with from the very first communication. Subsequent contact and communications were clear, prompt, and professional. She edited within my "voice" and made my manuscript better. I will be seeking out Emily again for my next work, she's a pro.
Giacomo F.

Giacomo F.

Mar, 2019

Outstanding work, great comunication skills & useful tips.

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Emily and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Emily

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

NATALIA PRICE-CABRERA

NATALIA P.

Friendly book editor with over 25 years' worth of experience in the illustrated non-fiction book publishing industry: Trade and Academic.

Ilfracombe, UK

100% reply rate

View profile
Meredith Bailey

Meredith B.

Writer, collaborative editor, and writing coach specializing in helping clients tell their best stories.

Bothell, WA, United States

100% reply rate

View profile
Edmund Pickett

Edmund P.

I'm from the Rocky Mountain west. I've edited ten best selling thrillers, all for the same author. Now I'd like to help you.

100% reply rate

View profile