Sandra Cain

Sandra Cain – Editor

I'm a best-selling British author, developmental and line editor, and book coach, 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 book coach, 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 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

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.
Geoffrey C.

Geoffrey C.

May, 2023

Dear Sandra, I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for your work during the discovery phase of Georgie's book project. Throughout this phase, you have demonstrated exceptional professionalism, dedication, and a genuine interest in the project. Your ability to identify and structure key aspects of Georgie's life has significantly enhanced the storytelling process. I am confiden...
Read more
Anne M.

Anne M.

Jun, 2022

I loved working with Sandra, right from the beginning she took time to get to know me and my story. She gave constructive feedback, positive suggestions and very professional editing of my ms. Working with Sandra also gave me belief in myself as an author and that my story is worth sharing. I highly recommend her.

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