Sandra Cain

Sandra Cain – Editor

I'm a best-selling, award-winning British author, developmental and line editor, specialising in memoir . Based in Los Angeles and the U.K.

Overview

Hello ... my name is Sandra and I love stories.


I'm a professional developmental editor, line editor and ghostwriter, currently working with authors who are passionately excited about their manuscripts. I worked for twenty years as a professor of creative writing for two universities in the UK (Southampton and Bournemouth), teaching editing, publishing and creative writing. I'm a member of the National Association of Writers in Education, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Society of Authors - and an editing consultant at the San Francisco Writers Conference 2023.


I've published over eleven books in my own name and edited numerous titles for private clients. In my capacity as a professor, I designed, authored, and taught two undergraduate writing degrees and two postgraduate degrees: MA Creative Writing and Publishing and MA Creative Writing: Industry and Practice, both of which included several modules on the craft of editing. I live and work in both Hampshire, UK and Los Angeles, USA- dividing my time equally between the two countries. I have worked with several publishing houses including Macmillan, Bloomsbury, Walker, Fresher (Bournemouth University Press), Matador, Biteback, Billy Fish, Solent Press and the BBC.


I particularly enjoy developmental editing and exploring the author's creative and publishing goals. Developmental editing comes before any sentence level work and is usually the first level of professional feedback an author receives on their manuscript. I enjoy collaborating with authors to help them to deconstruct and rebuild their manuscript so that all the storytelling components work together to create a even better book - one that matches their goals.


I would love to guide you on your writing journey. Together we can explore story, plot, character, point of view, setting and world building, scene and narrative summary, genre, readership and market potential. Let's make your manuscript shine brightly and get it out into the world!




Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Anthologies Contemporary Fiction
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Writing & Publishing
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Eric Hoffer Award
  • 2013 Benjamin Franklin Award
  • National Indie Excellence Award
  • 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year
  • Southern California Book Festival Awardl
Certifications
  • MA Creative Writing
  • BA (Hons) Communication
  • MPhil Creative Writing

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2010 — Present

I own and manage an international ghostwriting, book development and editing service.

Portfolio

Running For My Life

Wylie, Jordan

As We See It

Sandra Cain

Once upon a time some of the freshest and newest writers from Southampton Solent University collaborated to bring together this collection of short stories. From the shores of fantasy lands, the haunted house on an eerie street and worlds set years ahead of ou... read more
Ignite

Sandra Cain

From Southampton Solent University's most creative minds comes this enthralling anthology. A debut of fresh writing talent: from literary art to chilling thriller; from dystopian nightmare to the closest of human encounters, the stories within display a wealth... read more
The media writing industry is constantly changing, making it vital for students and practitioners to be able to adapt to new and different forms and approaches. Now updated in a second edition, this highly accessible and practical guide to media writing brings... read more
From copywriting to screenwriting and digital to print, this text examines a variety of media writing possibilities. With case studies to illustrate concepts, the book merges theory and practical tips giving students a critical vocabulary to use when discussin... read more

Sandra has 7 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Kristina Z.

Kristina Z.

Oct, 2024

Sandra did an unbelievable job with my book proposal. I was so impressed with the quality of her work and how quickly she got it done. She helped take my book proposal to the next level. I highly recommend her. She also is a great and caring person. Couldn't be happier!!
Sandra C.
Thank you for a lovely review Kristina. It was a pleasure working with you and I hope your memoir is a resounding success.
Dan D.

Dan D.

Sep, 2024

I was skeptical hiring an editor. After vetting several, I chose Sandra because I felt safe collaborating with someone with her years of experience and similar age. I knew she would get my story, setting, and era. And I wasn’t wrong. She came through like a champ. The quality of her developmental editing and turnaround time was stellar. The detailed report was educational to say the least. Her ...
Read more
Sandra C.
Thank you Dan. It was an absolute pleasure working with you. I love your book, I know it will be an hit, and I hope we can work together again in the future.
Boe G.

Boe G.

Jul, 2024

Hello, I was stuck on my project and she helped get me back on track. Cheers,
Gary T.

Gary T.

Jun, 2024

My past encounters with 'editors' were far from pleasant, but Sandra was a breath of fresh air. Her warmth and friendliness, coupled with her collaborative and competent editing, made a significant difference. Her input was not just valuable, it was instrumental in taking my manuscript to a new level. The process was a journey of learning and growth, and I'm deeply grateful that I had Sandra by...
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Sandra C.
Thank you Gary, it was an absolute pleasure working with you and I wish you luck and fortune with your wonderful book,
Alejandro F.

Alejandro F.

Sep, 2023

Sandra is practically my savior. She not only elevated my writing but also my approach to writing this project that has long been in the recesses of my mind. Quite frankly, my writing wasn't where it needed to be and Sandra got to the core of what wasn't working and showed me how to properly address things. I'm very happy with my experience and I am going to hire her again!
Sandra C.
Thank you for your review Alex. It was a great pleasure to work with you. I’m excited to see you develop your worthwhile project further. Very best wishes to you.

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