Francesca Brown – Editor

Freelance editor for Orion, Headline and more; books editor at Stylist with 20-year experience specialising in women's fiction.

Overview

I’m a freelance editor with 20 years’ experience. Over the past decade, I’ve worked as books editor and author interviewer for Stylist magazine which has led to high-profile developmental and copy editing projects for Orion and Headline. I’ve also been a judge for both the Costa Book Awards and The Bookseller’s Nibbies developing an expertise in contemporary women’s fiction.

I've worked on projects for bestselling commercial authors including Cathy Bramley, Helen Russell, Lorraine Kelly, Emma Cook, Julian Clary, Anton Du Beke and more. My superpower is instantly elevating an author's work in a kind and constructive way – I'll help you solve plot, pacing and character issues while ensuring your copy is clean, accurate and instantly compelling.

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Proofreading

Fiction

Contemporary Fiction Romantic Comedy Women's Fiction

Languages

English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Freelance books editor

Self-employed

Jan, 2020 — Present

Building on my extensive editing and subbing experience alongside my book industry knowledge, I started undertaking freelance editing projects in 2020. I helped Dame Elizabeth Anionwu write, fact check and edit her memoir, Dreams From My Mother, and have since undertaken line and developmental edits for some of Orion's biggest women's fiction authors including Cathy Bramley, Anton Du Beke, Lorraine Kelly and Julian Clary alongside other commercial fiction titles. In 2025, I've supplied freelance developmental and copy editing for Headline working on releases by amazing authors including Kate Weston and Helen Russell (yet to be published). I've also undertaken sensitivity reads for a high-profile author's back catalogue of books for Penguin, producing reports on each of the titles.

Stylist freelance books editor

Self-employed

May, 2010 — Present

I've been Stylist's books editor for the past 15 years overseeing their fiction and non-fiction coverage across print and online – gaining unrivalled insight into the books which connect with a female audience and how they become hits; what works in terms of plot and how to make characters and action stand out from the crowd. I've interviewed everyone from Marian Keyes to Marlon James about their work and appeared on podcasts and live events too. Being Stylist magazine's books editor has also given me the chance to champion debut authors (such as Candice Carty-Williams and Kaliane Bradley) who I know will connect with young, female book-buying audiences. It's this deep knowledge which I bring to my freelance editing.

Sub and production editor

Self-employed

Jan, 2006 — Dec, 2013 (almost 8 years)

I've worked as a sub-editor and production editor for some of the biggest UK magazines including Stylist, Elle and Elle Deco. This required the ability to edit quickly and thoughtfully ensuring the author's voice remained intact while ensuring all content and grammar were error-free.