Overview
“Miranda did a fantastic job looking through my manuscript. Her report was thorough and her comments were all incredibly helpful for re-imagining and restructuring the story, which improved considerably as a result. Extremely perceptive and intuitive, she leaves no stone unturned. I would highly recommend her sharp eye and mind.” – Morag M
"Speedy and thoughtful work" – Hachette Children's
I'm a friendly, enthusiastic structural editor who will listen to you, respect your writing and never try to change your unique style and voice. I will, however, encourage you to find and develop that voice. I know when to step in and suggest edits, and when to step back, rather than stamping myself all over your work. My feedback style is candid and constructive and I will work with you towards one simple goal: to help shape your work to be the best it can be.
I will highlight areas where you still have work to do and will consider overall cohesion and narrative and character arcs as well as diving into the nitty gritty of line edits and finer detail. I will highlight areas where the tension or pacing sags or where something doesn’t feel quite right, whether that’s character, structure, plot, tone, dialogue or some other issue. Together, we will tighten your work and make it feel more professional.
A former journalist and newspaper editor now working in publishing, I have worked on 40+ books, many for Summersdale, Vie, Franklin Watts and Wayland. I accept a range of commissions across fiction and non-fiction and find it deeply satisfying to help shape and improve a piece of writing. I am meticulous and incisive with a keen eye for spotting inconsistencies and plot holes, and am happy to advise on whether a manuscript is ready for querying or requires further work. Ultimately, I want to help you learn the tools to effectively edit your own work, so you can chisel away at your lump of rock to reveal the unique sculpture you want to show to the world.
If we sound like we could work well together – and if you're willing to hear constructive criticism as well as cheers of encouragement – I'd love to hear from you!
Winner: Wells Festival of Literature Book for Children 2023
Royal Literary Fund Fellow 2024–2025
Shortlisted: Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awards 2017 & 2020
"Exceptional... incredibly strong" – Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, 2022
"Really impressed with the things you spotted... and... for your helpful suggestions to fix these... you always go above and beyond" – Summersdale Publishers
Climate commitment: As an active Stripe Climate partner, I contribute 1.5% of my editorial revenue to supporting next-generation carbon removal.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Wells Festival of Literature Book for Children 2023
- Shortlisted Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awards 2017 & 2020
- Shortlisted Writers' & Artists' Short Story Competition 2022
- Longlisted Bath, Mslexia, BPA, WriteMentor & Searchlight novel awards 2018–2023
Certifications
- MA (Hons) English & Philosophy
- MPhil International Peace Studies
- Forest School Assistant
- Qigong Teacher Training
Work experience
Self-employed
Editorial Services and Consultancy
Quality, professional writing, structural editing, copy-editing, ghostwriting and proofreading services (for publishers).
Manuscript reports, developmental editing, idea development, pitching advice, coaching and mentoring (for writers of fiction and non-fiction).
Self-employed
Fiction and non-fiction writing and editing
Freelance copy-editing, proofreading and copywriting
Editorial consultancy
MOST GENRES CONSIDERED included some not listed above
The Scotsman Publications
Editing, commissioning, writing, planning and generating ideas for recruitment sections of The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and Edinburgh Evening News. Working closely with sub-editors, journalists, designers, advertising staff, public relations officers and press officers in order to produce illuminating and accessible careers editorial.
"Miranda manages to keep on top of a consistently heavy workload, juggling priorities effectively and delivering to deadline. She remains calm in the face of a challenge and gets the job done. Miranda is very focused on producing good quality editorial under budget constraints. She is very motivated to achieve the best possible result." – The Scotsman Publications
Self-employed
Writing features for The Times Educational Supplement (TES), The Scotsman and The Herald. Contributing original ideas, delivering to deadline, maintaining strong relationships with editors and public relations professionals. Running my own business and website. Also editing shifts at The TES.
The Scotsman Publications
Writing features on a broad range of topics including celebrity interviews, social issues, arts and culture, education, health, environment, economy, architecture, lifestyle, travel. Regular double page spreads.
Portfolio
