Lauren Humphries-Brooks

Lauren Humphries-Brooks – Editor

Peripatetic editor of genre and literary fiction since 2015, working with publishers and imprints under Macmillan, Penguin, and Tor.

Overview

I have worked as a freelance editor since 2015, with a resume that includes literary fiction, sci-fi/fantasy, LGBTQ+ literature, romance, mystery/thrillers, academic publications, and film and television. I work with indie authors and traditional publishers alike, and am the copyeditor of the International Journal of Islamic Architecture.

My clients range from experienced, award-winning authors, to new writers looking for guidance through the editing process, and include Pulitzer Prize nominees, first-time fantasy authors, family historians, and film critics.

A writer myself, with a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh, I'm currently working on a queer-themed novel set in 1980s Aotearoa. I'm passionate about editing—I want to help authors create something splendid, something of which they can be proud.

I believe that a good editor works to strengthen the voice of the author and the power of the manuscript.

Services
Fiction
Fantasy Historical Romance LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Women's Fiction
Non-Fiction
LGBTQ Non-Fiction
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (NZ) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2015 — Present
Editing: Copy and content editing on fiction and non-fiction manuscripts accepted for publication, including novels, novellas, short stories, and journal articles. Work closely with established and first-time authors to improve structure, dialogue, grammar, and syntax in accordance with in-house style guides and genre writing conventions. Experience with literary fiction, horror, sci-fi/fantasy, mystery/thrillers, romance/erotica, LGBTQ+ fiction, and academic manuscripts. Proofreading: Grammar, syntax, spelling/punctuation, and formatting for e-book and print publication. Experience with British and American spelling and grammar, and multiple style guides (CMoS, MLA, APA, AP, Harvard). Writing: Suggest changes in manuscripts. Advise the author on additional dialogue, scenes, pacing, structure, and maintaining character voice. Work with authors in creating new scenes.

Hamilton College

Sep, 2012 — Oct, 2015 (about 3 years)
Teaching: Taught academic and creative writing to international and multilingual students at Hamilton College’s ESOL Center. Provided one-on-one tutorials, grammar instruction for non-English speakers. Coached workshops on spoken English, grammar, syntax, and academic jargon for first year students in the ESOL program. Academic Writing and Literacy: Guided students in proper use of APA, AP, CMoS, and MLA citation styles. Edited and proofread academic papers, dissertations, creative writing assignments, grant applications, and cover letters. Program Development: Co-wrote ESOL Handbook, a guide for ESOL students to navigate academic language, grammar, and thesis writing. Developed workshop guidelines, exercises, and schedules. Wrote student progress reports for each academic term. Bi-annual analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the current ESOL program, with suggestions for improvement.

Portfolio

Finding Baba Yaga

JANE YOLEN

Finding Baba Yaga is a mythic yet timely novel-in-verse by the beloved and prolific New York Times bestselling author and poet Jane Yolen, “the Hans Christian Andersen of America” (Newsweek).A... read more
Copy Editing
Queer Happened Here: 100 Years of NYC's Landmark LGBTQ+ Places

Zinaman, Marc

Prestel

Copy Editing Proofreading
Rogue Protocol: The Murderbot Diaries

Martha Wells

Rogue Protocol is the third entry in Martha Wells's Hugo, Nebula, Alex, and Locus Award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Murderbot Diaries.Starring a human-like an... read more
Copy Editing
Song of Blood & Stone

L. Penelope

A TIME 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time A Time Magazine Best Fantasy Book of 2018 L. Penelope's Song of Blood & Stone is a treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a ... read more
Copy Editing
Dark Fairy Tales

Viktor Wynd

Prestel Verlag

Master storyteller Viktor Wynd is back with a gloriously grim collection of wickedly entertaining tales from around the world, guaranteed to tickle the darker side of the imagination.Viktor Wy... read more
Copy Editing
Last Stand in Lychford

Paul Cornell

Macmillan + ORM

Celestial beings and human witches clash for the future of the human and fairy worlds in Paul Cornell's Last Stand in Lychford. There are changes in the air, both in Lychford and in the land o... read more
Copy Editing
Lionhearts

Nathan Makaryk

History and myth collide in Nathan Makaryk's Lionhearts, a riveting story of vengeance, redemption and war, perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.All will be well when King Richard returns . . .... read more
Copy Editing
The Reluctant Spacefarer

Tefft, Michael

Steam Powered Writing

Witch of the Winter Moon

Mascair, Stuart

Made with Reedsy
The Hut

Zeeba Ansari

What paths do we take to end up where we are? And how do they shape the person we become? Zeeba Ansari's debut novel, The Hut, explores these questions as it follows the fortunes of a young ma... read more
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Children of Alpheios

Diana Fedorak

A genetically engineered colony on a new world. A baby born different than everyone else. A mother who will do anything to save him. On planet Eamine, twenty-one-year-old Alina must protect her baby when Mandin is born with a remarkable DNA anomaly. The colony... read more
Unanimity

Alexandra Almeida

UNANIMITY is a literary, sci-fi novel for the fans of Becky Chambers's A Closed and Common Orbit, Alex Garland's DEVS and Ex Machina, and Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror. Weaving near-future sc... read more
Developmental Editing
Hateland

Daryl Johnson

A former Department of Homeland Security analyst takes a long view on the domestic terrorism threat from radicalized individuals and hate groups of various ideologies.America is a land in whic... read more
Copy Editing
The Scapegracers

H.A. Clarke

An outcast teenage lesbian witch finds her coven hidden amongst the popular girls in her school, and performs some seriously badass magic in the process. Skulking near the bottom of West High’s social pyramid, Sideways Pike lurks under the bleachers doing magi... read more
The Borgia Confessions: A Novel

Alyssa Palombo

'Under Palombo’s skillful hand, the entangled world of the Borgias comes vividly to life, exposing the dark facets of class structure and the all-consuming greed that comes with ambition--and ... read more
Copy Editing
Drinking Games

Sarah Levy

Part memoir and part social critique, Drinking Games is about how one woman drank and lived — until sobriety freed her.On paper, Sarah Levy’s life looked like it was perfect. She was 28, livin... read more
Copy Editing
The Expert System's Brother

Adrian Tchaikovsky

Bestselling British master of science fiction Adrian Tchaikovsky brings readers a new, mind-expanding science fantasia in The Expert System's BrotherAfter an unfortunate accident, Handry is fo... read more
Copy Editing
Rosebud

Paul Cornell

“An elegant, elegiac examination of identity, fictionality, God and humanity itself”—Tamsyn MuirA multilayered, locked-room science fiction novella from Paul Cornell in which five digital bein... read more
Copy Editing
Corrections in Ink

Keri Blakinger

Corrections in Ink is an electric and unforgettable memoir about a young woman's journey—from the ice rink, to addiction and a prison sentence, to the newsroom—emerging with a fierce determina... read more
Copy Editing
Static Ruin (The Voidwitch Saga)

COREY WHITE

Corey J. White concludes his pulse-pounding space opera in Static Ruin. As the most wanted voidwitch in the galaxy has no place left to run―except back to those who created her.She killed the ... read more
Copy Editing
Miss Violet and the Great War: A Strangely Beautiful Novel

Leanna Renee Hieber

PRISM AWARD-WINNING AUTHORA superb, standalone adventure in Leanna Renee Hieber's groundbreaking, critically acclaimed Strangely Beautiful series, full of passion and power. From childhood, Vi... read more
Copy Editing

Lauren has 149 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Orysia R.

Orysia R.

Aug, 2025

Pinned
Lauren is excellent to work with and timely in her responses. Her knowledge and insight are invaluable and well-appreciated. She provided me with clear and direct feedback that has helped me shape my story better. I look forward to continuing to work with Lauren in the future. Thank you!!
Salvatore H.

Salvatore H.

Jul, 2025

Pinned
Lauren did an incredible job at helping me refine my novel. She was professional and communicative. First time ever hiring an editor and it was a wonderful experience.
Michael P.

Michael P.

Mar, 2025

Pinned
Working with Lauren Humphries-Brooks has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Her editorial assessment of my manuscript was thoughtful, thorough, and deeply insightful. She struck the perfect balance between encouragement and constructive critique, helping me see both the strengths of my stor...
Read more
Ian G.

Ian G.

Dec, 2025

Lauren gave me time and consideration, including a Zoom consultation/interview as part of this process that I very much appreciated. She completed a paid sample that was quality work and had useful advice and pointers. Though we chose not to go forward at this time, I would strongly consider her ...
Read more
John M.

John M.

Nov, 2025

This is the third book that I've had the chance to work with Lauren on, and I continue to appreciate her efforts and guidance in how I can always improve my craft! 5/5 - always would recommend, a very talented editor! It was great working with her as always.

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