Lauren Finger

Lauren Finger – Editor

Commercial fiction editor & coach. In-house & freelance for many publishers in Australia, US, UK & with lots of indie authors for 20+ years.

Overview

PLEASE NOTE: AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER 2025.

I'm a very experienced editor with an excellent reputation in trade publishing, including digital publishing. I have worked in-house for Bookouture, a digital publisher of commercial fiction, and before that the more traditional and literary houses, Atlantic Books and Allen & Unwin. I have worked with first-time authors through to high-profile and professional writers.

EDITING

As an editor, I am available for assessments, developmental editing and copyediting of commercial fiction.

So if you have written an entertaining and gripping novel, whether it be historical fiction, women's fiction, crime, thriller or romance, get in touch to see how I can help.

My job is to make your manuscript the best manuscript it can be. I love what I do, and I'm good at it! I have empathy and imagination, a dry sense of humour, I'm kind and communicative, give honest and constructive advice, and will work with you to help you take your manuscript where you want it to go; whether that is to a small group of people, or the world.

COACHING

As a fiction coach, I can help you achieve your writing goals with bespoke individual, intensive help. This might involve editing as well and then working on re-writes together, or it might be that you have other goals you want to attain, or someone to be accountable to. Get in touch to discuss how I can help.

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Cozy Mysteries Historical Fiction Psychological Thriller Romance Women's Fiction
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Sep, 2018 — Present
Copyediting, structural/developmental editing, proofreading and manuscript assessments for independent writers and book publishers. Coaching services for independent writers. Clients include: Aspiring authors, established indie (self-published) authors, Bookouture, Penguin Random House Australia, Harpeth Road Press, HQ Australia, Echo, Kill Your Darlings, Allen & Unwin, Brio Books, Canelo, Hera Books, Hardie Grant, Simon & Schuster Australia.

Bookouture

Oct, 2016 — Aug, 2018 (almost 2 years)
Bookouture is a very successful digital publisher of commercial fiction. • Project managing all titles from manuscript to finished product (and across very short schedules) • Liaising with freelance contributors, allocating jobs and fees, checking their work etc. • Briefing copyeditors, proofreaders, typesetters • Editing, proofreading, proof checking • Overseeing and maintaining schedules for all titles in production • Overseeing corrections and distribution processes • Liaising with authors • Mentoring and supervising editorial staff and checking their work

Atlantic Books

Jan, 2012 — Sep, 2016 (over 4 years)
Atlantic Books and its imprints publish literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction • Editing, proofreading, proof checking • Reading and reporting on submissions • Liaising with authors • Project managing all titles and other special projects in-house from manuscript to finished product • Liaising with all freelance contributors, allocating jobs and fees, checking their work etc. • Briefing designers, copyeditors, proofreaders, illustrators, typesetters • Overseeing and maintaining budgets and schedules for all titles in production • Mentoring and supervising editorial staff and checking their work

London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Aug, 2011 — Dec, 2011 (4 months)

Allen & Unwin

Sep, 2005 — Apr, 2011 (over 5 years)
Subjects worked on include: fiction (commercial and literary), memoir, biography, history, politics, current affairs, travel writing, psychology, education, cultural studies, humour, anthologies, military history, self-help, sport, true crime. Roles and Responsibilities: • Project managing several titles at once—overseeing production from manuscript to book • Copyediting and proofreading manuscripts, checking proofs • Collaborating and working with authors • Briefing covers, illustrations and internal designs • Commissioning, working with, and checking work from freelancers, typesetters, printers and pre-press houses • Managing schedules and budgets • Training and mentoring new staff

Portfolio

Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
An Ambush of Widows

R. W.R. McDonald

Isis Publishing Ltd

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Night on the Darling River

Fraser, Darry

HQ Fiction

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Curlew's Scream

Leigh, Annette

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Half Truth

Nadia Mahjouri

Penguin

Proofreading
Break the Rules

Lauren Jackson

Proofreading
The Bunny Club

d'Alpuget, Blanche

Pepper Press

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Limestone Road

Nicole Alexander

Penguin Random House AU

Copy Editing
The Beacon

Thomas, P.A.

Echo

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Black Sheep

Nunn, Judy

Copy Editing
Normal Functioning Adult: second edition

Valentine, Samantha L.

Sapphic Stories Publishing

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
A Christmas Wish

Leigh, Annette

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Ghost Mothers

Jackie McCarthy

Yasmin has just landed her dream job, the one she’s yearned for since childhood. But it’s all a sham, just like her resume. Will her ghost-mothers reveal her biggest lie of all?When Yasmin Tay... read more
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
You Are Invited: A Ghost Story

Denzil, Sarah A.

Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Once Upon a Camino

Wilson, Matthew S.

Copy Editing

Lauren has 11 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mathew F.

Mathew F.

Feb, 2025

Lauren provided a professional line edit to my manuscript and provided several pages of developmental notes. Her line edits improved the prose of my novel and her developmental insights have given me things to consider. She has offered to be of continued support, which is certainly above and beyo...
Read more
Lauren F.
Thank you so much for your review, Mathew. I'm glad my suggestions have been helpful and I wish you all the best with Ocean Child and your future writing projects.
Leigh R.

Leigh R.

Dec, 2024

Lauren did an excellent job copy/line editing my novel. She made herself available for follow-up discussions if I needed it but her comments and corrections made perfect sense so I didn't need to. However, it was reassuring to know I could contact her if needed. The project was finished on time.
Lauren F.
Thank you so much for your review, Leigh! It was lovely working with you.
Kim B.

Kim B.

Dec, 2024

It was a pleasure working with Lauren. Right from the get-go I felt a connection with her. As an Australian it felt good working with a fellow Antipodean. Her assessment was spot-on with extremely useful feedback on my first draft, and first attempt, at writing a crime fiction novel. Lauren provi...
Read more
Lauren F.
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Kim.
Cheryl E.

Cheryl E.

Dec, 2023

Lauren was fantastic. Her feedback was tactful and supportive while still being honest and effective. She picked up on several key points that were very helpful. She was also very generous with her time and assistance. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for an excellent editor.
Lauren F.
Thank you for such a lovely review, Cheryl. It was great fun working on your novel and I wish you all the best of luck with the series.
Leigh R.

Leigh R.

Sep, 2023

I really appreciated Lauren's professionalism - project was delivered on time as arranged. Her help in identifying plot problems I hadn't realised was extraordinary. She also went above and beyond by providing a couple of suggestions to assist me to improve my plot. A great experience.
Lauren F.
Thank you so much, Leigh, for this generous review. I so enjoyed your story and I'm thrilled that you found the edit helpful. Best of luck with the next stages!

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Most recent contributions

How do you keep track of your income and expenses as a freelancer?

I use an excellent system for Australian freelancers called Rounded to track all my business-related finances. I also use it to keep track of my work hours. I used to use spreadsheets to track everything and was quite good at doing this but Rounded has made that part of my work so much easier and...
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How did you build an editing client base when going freelance?

I started with getting in touch with all and any contacts I had at previous employers or with previous publishing colleagues who had moved on to new companies. At the start I took on whatever work was available and then started focusing on a niche once I had enough work coming in. I also joined m...
Read more

How did you determine your niche or specialization in editing to attract the right clients?

It was a combination of choosing the areas I most enjoy working in (what feels the least like work!), along with what I had experience in and where I thought I could best use my skills.

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