Sarah MacLeod

Sarah MacLeod – Editor

Experienced editor and proofreader specialising in children's non-fiction and fiction.

Overview

I am a professional book editor with eight years' experience project managing, editing, writing and proofreading children's and adult's fiction and non-fiction, with clients that include DK, Hachette, Scholastic, and The British Museum. Prior to working in the publishing industry, I spent three years as a secondary school English teacher, which has proven invaluable in children's book editing.

I help authors craft their text into something beautiful that readers will love and return to again and again, without losing the author's voice and vision in the editing process. Having worked on heavily illustrated books throughout my career, I have a great eye for detail and for making sure that text and images enhance one another rather than simply sitting alongside each other. I have enjoyed working across many subject areas, including nature, space, science and history, but am always keen to develop my knowledge in other areas, so please don't hesitate get in touch if you would like help polishing your text.
Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences Education & Reference Life Sciences Mathematics & Statistics Nature Physics & Chemistry
Fiction
Picture Books
Languages
English (UK)
Certifications
  • BA English and American Studies, University of Leicester
  • PGCE Secondary Teaching (English)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 2018 — Present

I offer proofreading, editing, project management, indexing and fact-checking on a freelance basis. My clients have included a range of major publishing companies, including DK, Hachette, Scholastic and The British Museum.

One Third Stories

Jan, 2018 — May, 2018 (4 months)

This role involved working closely with authors, illustrators, proofreaders and other industry professionals, and my role focused on developing and editing the company's rapidly-expanding list. During my employment with this company, I initiated story ideas and worked with new authors and illustrators to shape their text and images into exciting books for children that incorporated foreign language learning.

DK

Sep, 2014 — Jan, 2018 (over 3 years)

As a project editor at DK, I was involved in book development, editing, writing and project management of major children's reference books. My specialist subject areas during my time at DK included nature, history, space and science. I began working at DK as part of their graduate internship programme, quickly working my way up to manage projects of my own, such as StarFinder for Beginners (which I also wrote) and DK's Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia.

Burgate School and Sixth Form

Jul, 2012 — Aug, 2014 (about 2 years)

At this secondary school, I was responsible for teaching English Language, English Literature and Media Studies to students aged 11 to 18.

Portfolio

Outdoor Maker Lab

Robert Winston

Jaw-dropping, up-close photography shows the natural world and animals as you've never seen them before.From fruit to flowers, from shells to sharks, from ants to elephants, this extraordinary new encyclopedia will keep animal and nature enthusiasts from ages ... read more
StarFinder for Beginners

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

With a foreword by Maggie Aderin-Pocock, budding astronomers will love this stunning, new approach to stargazing, featuring step-by-step guides to identifying the key constellations across the northern hemisphere, StarFinder for Beginners makes the night sky e... read more
Lost Species

Jess French

Are you baffled by negative numbers? Need help rounding up or down? Or how to add fractions? Learn all this and more in How to be Good at Maths, the simplest-ever visual guide to maths. Find out how much you would weigh on Jupiter, calculate the average age of... read more
Explore the wonders of history, science, space, nature, and more with the ultimate encyclopedia for children. Packed with more than 10,000 stunning photographs, illustrations, and maps, it's a mini-encyclopedia for kids on every single page!From tiny insects a... read more

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