Melanie Scott

Melanie Scott – Editor

I am an eagle-eyed and creative editor, writer and proofreader with experience of clients ranging from multinationals to individual authors.

Overview

I have worked in the publishing industry for many years as an editor, writer and proofreader of both fiction and non-fiction. I have a keen eye for detail, not only for the basics of spelling and punctuation, but also the nuts and bolts of a story or piece of writing – I will make sure that what your characters are doing and saying is believable and in keeping with the rest of your work. My aim is to clean out any errors that might jolt your readers out of the journey you want them to take with you, whether that be a missed apostrophe or getting a name wrong.

I am used to working with prestigious publishing houses like Dorling Kindersley as well as individual authors, and with top brands like Marvel and DC Comics. I can work in both British and US English comfortably. I am communicative and prompt, and available for advice and queries even after the edit is finished.

Whether the client is a multinational corporation or someone writing their first book on their dining-room table, my objective is always the same – make their words the best that they can be before they go out into the world.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Comics Non-Fiction
Fiction
Dystopian Epic Fantasy Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2010 — Present

I have been a freelance editor, writer and proofreader since 2010. In that time I have become an official writer for Dorling Kindersley's Marvel and DC Comics publications, and have also provided proofreading services for the same department. I have also been copyeditor for a wide variety of magazines, including soccer magazine FourFourTwo, Chat, Take a Break, The Marvel Movie Collection, and the DC Chess Collection.

For two years I was the editor of a daily newsletter for business software multinational SAP. This involved gathering news stories about the company from around the world, and rendering them all into good English that could be read by a global audience.

I have also proofread modern fiction novels.

Fresh Flame Publishing

Jul, 2008 — Aug, 2010 (about 2 years)

As an editor at a company that provided packaging services for various publishers, my most important project was World War II Eyewitness Experience. This was a high-quality magazine produced for prestigious UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph. My responsibilities included commissioning expert writers and consultants, fact-checking, proofreading, and also researching and writing one section of the magazine.

Hothouse Fiction

Feb, 2006 — Apr, 2009 (about 3 years)

I was involved from the launch stage with Hothouse, a developer of fiction series for children. New ideas were brainstormed before being developed into concepts and taken to market research, with the aim of selling them to major publishers.

Planet Three Publishing

Sep, 2001 — Jul, 2008 (almost 7 years)

I worked on many projects, diverse in both subject and format, during my time at Planet Three. I was the editor of The Catherine Cookson Collection for the entirety of its 100-issue run. I proofread 100 new editions of Cookson's work, as well as originating and commissioning feature ideas for the accompanying magazine. I edited and proofread the magazine before it went to print.

Portfolio

Queensway

Audsley, B.E.

Pantego Press

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Into the Void

Send, Jonas

Independently published

Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Qualms of the Left Behind

Morgan Lima

Morgan Lima

Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Dark Harvest: Love, Hate & Coffee

Fewtrell, Andrew

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Last Inspector

Wynkoop, Ed

Independently published

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Prince of Misadventure: YA version

Stutchbury, Bena

Independently published

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Future Imperfect

Gallard, Babette

BAD PRESS iNK

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Two Clouds Too Many

Moran, John

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
FATE OR SOMETHING

CALLOW, LEE

Independently published

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Faces That You Meet: No-one is what they seem

MacDonald, Patrick

Patrick MacDonald

Proofreading
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
ARCTIC REVELATION: A Thousand Lifetimes in the Blink of An Eye

Finch, Hugh

New London Publishing LLC

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Hidden in White Sight: How AI Empowers and Deepens Systemic Racism

Lawrence, Calvin

Chapman and Hall/CRC

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Darkness Falling: A novel of the Great Famine

MacDonald, Patrick

Patrick MacDonald

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
DINOSAUR BOY: GUILTY BY REASON OF AUTISM

COPPEDGE BOHN, LIZ

mugwump press

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Tales from the Red Sun Village: Volume 1

Swaine, Mark

Proofreading
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Only Until Midnight

Chikondi, Michael B.

Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Invitation

Patrick MacDonald

A woman receives an invitation to her own funeral... Claire Evans is a top forensic pathologist. At the peak of her career, she has successfully overseen countless investigations into some of ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Proofreading
Sex, football, beer and kebabs – Billy Cade is happy, or so he believes. But when single mum Becky Swan arrives on the scene Billy is forced to ask the ultimate question – is it true love or j... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Zombie 18

Alan Cowsill

In a post-apocalypse world where everyone over eighteen has become a zombie, seventeen-year-old Alex Stevens and his friends fight their way across England to save Alex’s kid sister from certa... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Find out everything you need to know about the heroic King of Wakanda, Black Panther. DK's Marvel Black Panther: The Ultimate Guide explores the fascinating world of the warrior, monarch, scie... read more
Proofreading
This definitive in-world guide to the Marvel Comics Universe features, in chronological order, every significant Marvel Comic character, location, vehicle, and weapon in the company's illustrious history.Go on a fact- and fun-filled journey via the first major... read more

Melanie has 94 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Sabeel K.

Sabeel K.

Aug, 2024

Pinned
I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional work Melanie did editing my manuscript. As an aspiring author, I was apprehensive about the editing process, but she made it a smooth and productive experience. From the outset, she demonstrated a deep understanding of the nuances of language and a keen eye for detail. She meticulously reviewed my manuscript, providing insightful feedback and sugg...
Read more
Melanie S.
Thank you so much for your lovely review – I was so happy to be able to help get your moving and important story one step closer to going out into the world! Good luck with everything!
Charles Michael N.

Charles Michael N.

Jul, 2024

Pinned
Melanie proved to be a superb editor. My book was nonfiction and, in parts, quite technical. She tirelessly, and with an eagle eye, found the numerous mistakes from typos to poor expression. Her professionalism made the whole work far more readable. I was grateful for her good humour, support, and constructive advice throughout. Thank you, Melanie.
Melanie S.
So glad to be of help Charles – thank you for the kind review!
Mark S.

Mark S.

May, 2024

Pinned
Within one day of submitting my query/cover letter I received one positive (so far) response from a well respected publishing house. Not only does Melanie charge a fair fee for her immaculate editorial services, but also knows exactly how to pitch a novel and how best to present the synopsis. Hiring Melanie has been the best decision I've made in terms of trying to get traditionally published.
Melanie S.
That's brilliant news – well done! Keeping everything crossed for you…
Albert S.

Albert S.

Dec, 2024

Melanie Scott is personable and explicit in her understanding of my work. Her questions and observations about my writing have been helpful and needed. She and I hold a friendly dialog about changes I need to make for the benefit of my readers. She is an example of kind of editor all coaches of writing can espier to. As I write other projects using the Reedsy platform, I will look to Melanie f...
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Melanie S.
You're very welcome, Al - I was happy to help, and glad that my services have been useful for you in the process!
Sabeel K.

Sabeel K.

Dec, 2024

This is my second project with Melanie Scott, and I know it wouldn’t be my last. Working with her was always a pleasure—she was personable, polite, and her attention to the smallest details amazed me. She approached my manuscript with the keen eye of a detective, spotting plot holes I hadn’t noticed, tightening my pacing, and elevating my prose to a level I hadn’t thought possible. Her suggesti...
Read more
Melanie S.
Thank you for that lovely review – I'm so glad you're happy with the edit, and wish your excellent book every success!

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