Laura Shanahan – Editor

Hello! I’m Laura, an editor based in beautiful Bath in the UK. I have worked in the publishing industry since 2016, starting out in academic publishing and quickly moving into trade fiction, where my heart really lies. As an acquiring editor at an independent press, I am proud to have built a list of literary and upmarket fiction, mostly by debut and early-career authors and including several award-nominated novels. Alongside a part-time role in publishing, I spend around half my week as a freelancer, working directly with authors as well as with several publishing houses and agencies. I am a trained copyeditor and proofreader, having completed courses with the CIEP and the Publishing Training Centre, and I'm also experienced in developmental and line editing.

I specialise in fiction, with a particular focus on literary, historical and upmarket contemporary novels; I also have a soft spot for romance and rom-coms. I love translated fiction too – my academic background is in languages and translation, so I'm always delighted when I get to work on a translated book project. I'm also sensitive to the specific needs of writers working with English as a second language.

Whether you have a complete manuscript or are feeling stuck partway through a work-in-progress, I'm always happy to discuss your individual needs and agree a tailored approach. I offer the following editorial services:

✅ Editorial assessment:

I will read your full manuscript (or part of a work-in-progress) and produce an editorial feedback report, focusing on ‘big-picture’ issues such as plot, structure, pacing, narrative voice, characterisation and themes.

✅ Developmental editing:

I will produce a feedback report similar to the kind described above, focusing on ‘big-picture’ issues, and will also add comments within the manuscript to give concrete examples of my suggested developmental edits. If desired, I can combine this service with more in-depth line editing, addressing elements of prose style and reader experience at the sentence and paragraph level. I am happy to take a second pass at the manuscript and give feedback on your revisions.

✅ Copyediting:

I will carry out a meticulous sentence-level check for spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax issues, repetition, clarity, consistency and continuity. If desired, I can combine copyediting with more in-depth line editing, addressing elements of prose style and reader experience. This kind of edit usually means working with tracked changes and comments in a Word document.

✅ Proofreading:

This service is the final polish before publication, and involves carefully checking for errors that have slipped through the net at earlier editorial stages, as well as typographic issues introduced at the typesetting/layout stage. Proofreading usually involves working on a PDF proof using the Adobe markup tools.

✅ Query letter review:

This service is for authors with a completed manuscript that they are planning to submit to agents and/or publishers. I will provide industry-informed feedback on your query letter, and can also offer a full 'query package' review that includes your synopsis and the opening chapters of your manuscript (up to 10,000 words).