Rob Dimery – Editor

I have more than 20 years' experience as an editor. I'll happily take on standard copy-editing or proofreading projects, but have also worked more broadly as a general editor on several well-known books.

Having initially started out in children's publishing with A&C Black, I branched out to join Omnibus Press – specialists in rock and pop biographies. In 1999, I began my freelance career. Since then, I've worked on a host of rock- and pop-related titles, of which the best known are probably 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.

Aside from music books, I've also handled a number of titles covering the arts more generally, including photography and cinema. But in fact, I am more than happy to turn my set of editorial skills to any subject required. That's one of the reasons I've remained freelance to this day: I relish the variety of projects that it allows me to take on – from Guinness World Records to Eisenstein on Paper.

Of course, the editing itself is just one part of the job. I also work hard to engage with my clients and build up a friendly working relationship, for everyone's benefit. For many years now, I've enjoyed return work with the same companies, and I think the personal engagement that we've established has played a big part in that.

I hope the above summary gives you some idea of what I can bring to your book. To close with, here are few testimonials from some of my regular clients:



Rob D. has been assisting the World of Interiors magazine editorial team on its mammoth October issue for the past 17 years; and I’ve been the chief-sub for 13 of those. In other words, he is a regular fixture at WoI for six weeks of each year. Thanks to his professional demeanour and his friendly, easy-going personality, everyone in the office looks forward to his arrival. The issue is almost twice the size of standard ones, and so his presence is indispensable. Like the full-time subs, Rob fact-checks and edits copy in Word; fits text and composes captions and other page architecture in InDesign; dreams up witty headlines and standfirsts. He has made one particularly tricky section – the London Design Festival round-up – his own, and he is the only freelance editor I entrust to write the contents section, an important appetite-whetter for readers that’s full of word play. In conclusion, I can highly recommend Rob for his fine grasp of the nuts and bolts of subbing, his flair for language and his all-round meticulous approach. And, not least, he’s a lovely chap to have about the place.
Damian Thompson, Chief Sub-editor, The World of Interiors magazine, 25 May 2018


Rob D. is an excellent writer and subeditor with a broad knowledge of popular culture and art. An expert in rock and pop music and film, he has contributed hundreds of text entries to a precise word count for many titles in the 1001—Before You Die series, which I managed at Quintessence, and has subedited and fact-checked a wide range of popular culture books for Thames & Hudson, from Hipgnosis album art to the works of Eisenstein. He is a gifted writer and a diligent and meticulous editor with a firm but diplomatic manner in dealing with all authors, however high profile or demanding. I thoroughly recommend him.
Jane Laing, Commissioning & Managing Editor, Illustrated Reference, Thames & Hudson, 1 June 2018


I had the pleasant and professional good luck to work with Rob D. earlier this year when he edited my manuscript ‘Being There’, the autobiography of Diana Mackintosh.
It is a complex story with many characters and extends over the the past century. Diana, the mother of Cameron Mackintosh, was 99 in January, and the material had to flow from her early wartime days in Malta through to the present and her favoured and colourful life with a billionaire son.
Rob picked up on the sensitivity of the project as he was also working with Robert Mackintosh her middle son who was watching over family interests.
In doing so, he swiftly and ably delivered an excellently edited manuscript with (happily accepted) suggestions on substance and format. I know the Mackintosh family were greatly impressed, as I was.
Douglas Thompson, author, 1 June 2018

I have worked with Rob D. in his capacity as editor, proof-reader, and writer of copy for a number of years, and have always found him extremely reliable, highly professional, and very good at what he does; he also – somehow – always manages to meet the often ridiculous deadlines that we give him. As just one indicator, he has written all the copy for the John Blake Publishing half-yearly catalogues for the past two years, and in consequence he is always our first choice for that work. I would be happy to recommend him to others, and indeed, on occasion have done so.
Toby Buchan, Executive Editor, John Blake Publishing, 6 June 2018

I’ve been delighted to work with Rob across a range of projects for John Blake Publishing over the last couple of years. The John Blake list is incredibly diverse, and Rob has had all manner of books, topics and jobs thrown his way for either copyediting or proofreading – from biography to sport, history, true crime, nostalgia, and more. As a copyeditor, he approaches texts with sensitivity, thoroughness and, above all, common sense, to polish language, clarify meaning and impose style. As a proofreader, I have found him to be quick without sacrificing accuracy or consistency. He’s certainly helped me out of one or two late running projects in recent times, and is a good, trustworthy editor to have on your side in a deadline pinch. Always approachable, professional and very friendly, he’s a pleasure to work with and I’d highly recommend him.
James Hodgkinson, Editor, John Blake Publishing, 6 June 2018