Lauren Hughes - Editor
London, United Kingdom
Recovering New Yorker and former Big 5 literary editor currently working with aspiring writers from London, England.
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Overview
A "Big 5" vetted and tested literary editor who does not like speaking in the third person about herself.
After several years of working as an Editor in New York City publishing, I am now a full-time freelancer living and working out of London, England (though I am originally from Atlanta, GA, an important bit of personal trivia, I think, as I find that my Southern verve and congeniality makes me a gentle, but firm, critic with a compassionate bedside - or deskside, as it were - manner).
In addition to my accomplishments in publishing, I am also an experienced copywriter and have written for and about luxury fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment brands ranging from MTV Networks to Keds shoes. I say this because I want you to know that I know how tough it is to craft the perfect sentence full of wit, feeling, and meaning, and I, above all, love working with clients to help them achieve just the right pitch and tone in their own projects.
My experience in New York publishing means that I'm equipped to handle just about anything you want to throw at me and at breakneck speeds, too (including, but not limited to, unjamming your printer in record time). All jokes aside, I've worked with phenomenally talented editors and writers (and I'm not the only one who thinks so - they've won incredible literary awards and recognitions ranging from NYT Notable Books to Pulitzer Prizes), so I've learned from the best of the best when it comes to crafting the perfect story. I'm most interested in literary fiction, upmarket women's fiction, and creative, genre-bending memoir. I love bold female protagonists, and character-driven plots.
I decided to begin freelancing full-time because I wanted to focus more on doing what I'm best at and love the most - telling good stories and helping writers, one-to-one, develop and strengthen their own unique voices. I'd love to do the same with you, and look forward to hearing all about the project you think would be a great fit for us to work together on!
After several years of working as an Editor in New York City publishing, I am now a full-time freelancer living and working out of London, England (though I am originally from Atlanta, GA, an important bit of personal trivia, I think, as I find that my Southern verve and congeniality makes me a gentle, but firm, critic with a compassionate bedside - or deskside, as it were - manner).
In addition to my accomplishments in publishing, I am also an experienced copywriter and have written for and about luxury fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment brands ranging from MTV Networks to Keds shoes. I say this because I want you to know that I know how tough it is to craft the perfect sentence full of wit, feeling, and meaning, and I, above all, love working with clients to help them achieve just the right pitch and tone in their own projects.
My experience in New York publishing means that I'm equipped to handle just about anything you want to throw at me and at breakneck speeds, too (including, but not limited to, unjamming your printer in record time). All jokes aside, I've worked with phenomenally talented editors and writers (and I'm not the only one who thinks so - they've won incredible literary awards and recognitions ranging from NYT Notable Books to Pulitzer Prizes), so I've learned from the best of the best when it comes to crafting the perfect story. I'm most interested in literary fiction, upmarket women's fiction, and creative, genre-bending memoir. I love bold female protagonists, and character-driven plots.
I decided to begin freelancing full-time because I wanted to focus more on doing what I'm best at and love the most - telling good stories and helping writers, one-to-one, develop and strengthen their own unique voices. I'd love to do the same with you, and look forward to hearing all about the project you think would be a great fit for us to work together on!
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Literature
Short Story
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- B.A. in Communication Studies, University of Georgia
- M.A. in Creative and Life Writing, Goldsmiths, University of London
Work experience
Writer and Editor
Self-employed
June, 2014
–
Present
(almost 5 years)
Copywriter, ghostwriter, and editor all rolled into one, working primarily in web content, developmental editing, content editing, and editorial assessment for brands and individuals alike. With an emphasis on good storytelling no matter the medium, recent clients include luxury fashion and lifestyle brands, as well as individual fiction and non-fiction authors pursuing both traditional and non-traditional publishing routes who wish to further develop and strengthen their own unique voices and stories.
Assistant Editor
Scribner
August, 2013
–
May, 2014
(9 months)
Assistant to several award-winning editors at Scribner (an imprint of Simon and Schuster), working primarily on literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, and upmarket fiction titles such as MOBILE LIBRARY by Betty Trask Prize winner David Whitehouse, ALL WE HAD by acclaimed sculptor Annie Weatherwax, THE HILLTOP by Bernstein Prize winner Assaf Gavron, BODY COUNTS by Lambda Literary Award finalist Sean Strub, and the NYT Notable Book DEMON CAMP by Jennifer Percy. Titles worked on in an ancillary capacity include NYT Bestseller and recipient of the Books for a Better Life Award CARRY ON, WARRIOR by Glennon Doyle Melton, NYT Bestseller and Pulitzer Prize recipient ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr, NYT Bestseller NORA WEBSTER by Colm Toibin, and NYT Bestseller THE FIRST BAD MAN by Miranda July.
Assistant Editor
Weinstein Books
February, 2013
–
August, 2013
(6 months)
Sole support editorial staff to Editorial Director at Weinstein Books (a joint venture between The Weinstein Company and Perseus Books Group), working primarily on platform-driven fiction and non-fiction titles such as THE BLONDE by NYT Bestselling Author Anna Godbersen, KATE: THE FUTURE QUEEN by the Mail on Sunday's Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl, and OBSESSED by NYT Bestselling Author and msnbc "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski.
Portfolio (5 selected works)
All We Had: A Novel
Annie Weatherwax
The stunning debut novel from sculptor and painter Annie Weatherwax, a wry and sharply observed portrait of a gritty mother and daughter, living on the edge of poverty, who find an unlikely home amid the quirky residents of small town America.For thirteen-year-old Ruthie Carmichael and her mother, Rita, life has never been stable. The only sure thing is their love for each other. Though Rita w... read more
Mobile Library: A Novel
David Whitehouse
From the award-winning novelist David Whitehouse, hailed by The New York Times as “a writer to watch,” a tragicomic adventure about a troubled adolescent boy who escapes his small town in a stolen library-on-wheels.“An archivist of his mother,” Bobby Nusku spends his nights meticulously cataloging her hair, clothing, and other traces of the life she left behind. By day, Bobby and his best frie... read more
The Hilltop: A Novel
Assaf Gavron
Hailed as “The Great Israeli Novel” (Time Out Tel Aviv) and winner of the prestigious Bernstein Prize, The Hilltop is a monumental and daring work about life in a West Bank settlement from one of Israel’s most acclaimed young novelists.On a rocky, beautiful hilltop stands Ma’aleh Hermesh C, a fledgling community flying under the radar. According to the government it doesn’t exist; according to... read more
A “chilling” (O, The Oprah Magazine), “darkly brilliant” (Bookforum) account of “the effects of war on the psyches of the soldiers who fight” (Esquire).In 2005 a Chinook helicopter carrying sixteen Special Ops soldiers crashed during a rescue mission in Afghanistan, killing everyone on board. In that instant, machine gunner Caleb Daniels lost his best friend, Kip, and seven members of his unit... read more
Sean Strub, founder of the groundbreaking POZ magazine, producer of the hit play “The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me,” and the first openly HIV-positive candidate for US Congress, charts his remarkable life—a story of politics and AIDS and a powerful testament to loss, hope, and survival. Sean Strub, founder of the groundbreaking POZ magazine, producer of the hit play The Night Larry Kramer Kiss... read more
Lauren has 18 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Lauren’s developmental edits were a HUGE help in strengthening the beginning of my novel. Her insights and constructive feedback were exactly what I’d hoped for…and then some. More than once while reading her edits, I thought to myself, "YES! This is how I wanted it to read!" Additionally, her thoughts regarding timeline, plot and the story's overall structure were extremely helpful and insight...
Read moreJessica Fox, April 2019
I cannot recommend Lauren highly enough! Her insights into the market were invaluable, and her feedback was thoughtful, encouraging, and constructive. She gave me some really important things to think about. Not to mention she was professional, prompt, and easy to communicate with.
Read moreKatie Caruana, March 2019
I am a lifetime writer that has always had a rough time allowing people to read my work. Recently, my best friend convinced me to give a go at becoming published author. So, I took the plunge... and chose Lauren for a manuscript assessment. Best decision ever. Lauren gave excellent feedback that was constructive and not at all critical. All of her points struck home, and got me excited to edi...
Read moreJennifer Gosselin, March 2019
My continuing collaboration with Lauren has been very productive. I am very happy with the in- depth editing she has done; her comments are clear, well thought out and specific. Her response time is phenomenal, right on schedule; she is courteous and professional and is very knowledgeable about the business. Her encouragement and enthusiasm for my project has helped to motivate me even more ...
Read moreAnne McMillan, January 2019
Lauren was kind and supportive and helpful. She offered to do more work for a lower price than the other people who I reached out to. She seemed genuinely interested in the work, and eager not just to complete the work as scoped, but also to make sure that it met the underlying need that brought me to Reedsy in the first place. A real pleasure to work with!
Read moreSpencer Hensley, November 2018
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