Overview
I have been a book editor and proof reader since 1989; working in-house at Secker & Warburg and Gollancz, and freelance. I've worked on books by authors from Louis de Bernières to Bill Bryson, who described me as 'a brilliant editor and an extremely nice person to boot'. My work is all about attention to detail, of course, but also sensitivity to the material: this is enhanced by a wealth of life experience; a vast breadth of reading; and knowledge of French, Spanish and Latin, plus a smattering of Greek. Facts are checked, of course, even for fiction (if something looks wrong or unlikely, it can make your plot unconvincing, or just snag the reader's concentration), and I will send you a detailed list of queries and comments. You are more than welcome to question anything I've said or suggested, and no change will be pushed on you; if it's easier, we can also talk via phone or video chat. Flawless spelling, punctuation and grammar guaranteed (but idiosyncrasies respected!).
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Health & Wellbeing
Nature
Travel
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Literary Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (UK)
Certifications
- Pitman Advanced Typing; Book House copy-editing 3-day course
Work experience
Self-employed
Jun, 1996 —
Present
I have been self-employed since becoming a parent 26 years ago. I currently work mostly for Transworld and Granta, but have freelanced for many different companies including Little, Brown and Pan Macmillan.
Victor Gollancz
Feb, 1994 —
Nov, 1995
(over 1 year)
Commissioning and editing non-fiction titles; also editing for the Publisher.
Secker & Warburg
Jan, 1988 —
Dec, 1993
(almost 6 years)
Duties included copy-editing and admin.
Portfolio
Proofreading
Copy Editing
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
'BRITAIN'S FINEST LIVING NATURE WRITER' - THE TIMESA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' from 'indisputably, one of the best nature-writers of his generation' (Country L... read more
Proofreading
25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR'A true diamond of a novel, glinting with comedy and tragedy' Daily MailIt is 1941 and Captain Antonio Corelli, a young Italian ... read more
Proofreading
THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLER'Warmly funny, dry and mischievous . . . Genuine and brilliant.' Daily MailPaul O'Grady is one of Britain's very best loved entertainers. He is known and adored by m... read more
Proofreading
The Irish Times Top 10 Bestseller!From war to revolution, famine to emigration, The Darkness Echoing travels around Ireland bringing its dark past to lifeIreland is a nation obsessed with deat... read more
Proofreading
THE EXTRAORDINARY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER.Take control of your life, build resilience and learn to thrive in any situation with the powerful and inspiring new book from the number one bestsell... read more
Proofreading
Will you brave The Retreat this summer? The new bestselling thriller from the author of The Sanatorium. They couldn't wait to stay here. An idyllic wellness retreat has opened on an island off... read more
Proofreading
‘I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to’And, as soon as Bill Bryson was old enough, he left. Des Moines couldn’t hold him, but it did lure him back. After ten years in England, he returned to... read more
Copy Editing
"MY NAME IS YIP TOLROY & I am a mute. I have made not a sound since the day of my birth, October 2nd, 1815. I will say that my life has been something of a trial but such is God's wish & so I ... read more
Proofreading
'A powerful, poignant tale of dieting and despair.' The Times'A moving, brutally honest memoir about what it feels like to be fat-shamed.' Mail on Sunday_______________At sixty-four, Jenni Mur... read more
Proofreading
Bestselling and prize winning author Mo Hayder has expertly crafted an authentically disturbing, gripping, unsettling and engrossing thriller in Wolf. Perfect for fans of Stephen King, Stuart ... read more
Proofreading
The bestselling memoir of a Jewish pianist who survived the war in Warsaw against all odds.'We are drawn in to share his surprise and then disbelief at the horrifying progress of events, all c... read more
Copy Editing
Lynne Truss's first novel, in which she shows herself to be one of the very best comic writers. 'It was nobody's fault, this widely held assumption that “Come Into the Garden” had long since s... read more
Proofreading
Bill Bryson’s first travel book, The Lost Continent, was unanimously acclaimed as one of the funniest books in years. In Neither Here nor There he brings his unique brand of humour to bear on ... read more
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Vicki has 8 reviews
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Most recent contributions
How did you find your first clients when starting as a freelance editor?
I left a job in publishing, so first off I had my former colleagues to feed me work - especially useful when they moved to other companies, widening my client base. I also contacted former colleagues and publishing friends from earlier years in the business. When an author I had formerly edited, ...
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Is there a viable market for novellas written by debut authors, and what factors contribute to their success?
Mainstream publishers, at least in the UK, are not keen on short fiction of any type. If an established money-making author wants to do a novella, it will be published, to keep the writer happy.
There may be a market for online self-publishing. Have a look at sites like Amazon where people put o...
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Are you #TeamPrologue or #TeamNoPrologue, and why?
I don't see any need for teams here. It's a question for each individual book.
A prologue can build suspense, like a teaser; it could be a flashback or -forward. It may be pointless: for example, some writers will call their first chapter a prologue when it's just Chapter 1.
A developmental ed...
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