Shanika Hyslop

Shanika Hyslop – Editor

Former agent and Big Five editor, specialising in book club, upmarket and literary fiction; experience editing Sunday Times/NYT bestsellers.

Overview

I’ve spent my career working closely with writers — first as an editor, and most recently as a literary agent — helping authors shape their manuscripts and navigate the publishing industry with confidence.

My background gives me insight into both the creative and commercial sides of publishing: what makes a manuscript compelling on the page, but also what catches an agent’s or editor’s attention in a crowded market. I love working with writers at every stage of the process, whether that’s untangling a tricky draft or sharpening a submission package.

I offer developmental editing, editorial assessments, and query letter reviews, combining an editorial eye with industry insight into what makes a manuscript stand out. I'm always happy to tailor my approach to your needs, depending on what will be most useful to you and your project, whether thats in-depth structural feedback, a collaborative discussion or light-touch polishing.

Above all, I want the process to feel supportive, energising and genuinely helpful — and to leave you feeling more confident about your work and where it can go next.

Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Feb, 2021 — Present
I have been providing freelance editing services for 5+ years, working with writers of book club, upmarket and literary fiction. I'm drawn to character-driven novels that make us feel deeply, think critically, and contend with complex moral and social questions.

Madeleine Milburn Agency

Oct, 2025 — Present
Literary Agent representing book club, upmarket and accessible literary fiction across a variety of genres: women's fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, romance, suspense and magical realism. I also represented self-help and lifestyle: cookery, popular psychology, personal development, and mindfulness.

Penguin Random House

Oct, 2024 — Sep, 2025 (12 months)
Book editor working with bestselling and award-winning authors across lifestyle and self-help. Authors included Jefferson Fisher, Dr Rangan Chatterjee, Simon Sinek, among others.

Bloomsbury

Jul, 2021 — Sep, 2024 (about 3 years)
Assistant editor working with bestselling and award-winning authors across upmarket and literary fiction. Authors included Gillian Anderson, William Dalrymple, Peter Frankopan, Cariad Lloyd, Wendy Mitchell, Johann Hari, Lara Maiklem, Reni Eddo-Lodge, among many others.

Curtis Brown

Jan, 2020 — Jul, 2021 (over 1 year)
Literary Agent's Assistant working across commercial, upmarket and literary fiction. Authors included Bonnie Garmus, Gillian McAllister, Claire Keegan, Jilly Cooper, Meg Mason, Alex Hay, among others.

Portfolio

Weyward

Hart, Emilia

Griffin

Editorial Assessment
Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

Garmus, Bonnie

Vintage

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Small things like these

Keegan, Claire

FABER AND FABER

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Tom Lake: A Reese’s Book Club Pick

Patchett, Ann

Harper Perennial

Developmental Editing

Shanika has 18 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mariela D.

Mariela D.

Aug, 2026

Pinned
Shanika is an amazing editor!! She's bright and kind. Her editorial letter was incredibly helpful and paired with her comments on the manuscript itself helped me take my novel to the next level. I highly recommend her!
Natasha T.

Natasha T.

Aug, 2026

Pinned
Great feedback, quick and well explained. Shanika answered any follow-up questions I had and delivered sooner than expected.
Gracie H.

Gracie H.

Aug, 2026

Pinned
Shanika did a wonderful job! She was fast, affordable, and very detailed. She gave me great feedback on my submission package. She answered all my questions, and I really trust her guidance given all her experience in the industry. I would definitely hire her again. I highly recommend working wit...
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Kayla D.

Kayla D.

Oct, 2026

Shanika’s developmental edit was extremely thorough and exactly what I was looking for. I had reached a point where, if I kept editing the manuscript on my own, I risked breaking something that was already working. Her notes showed me exactly where I could push the story further and bring it clos...
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Rebecca C.

Rebecca C.

Oct, 2026

Working with Shanika was great! She gave me confidence on some of the choices I had made in my query letter draft, and gave me great ideas for how to simplify and punch up the pitch. Would definitely recommend working with her!

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