Sue Poulsen – Editor

I would love to help you improve your book. I've worked for a major international publishing firm for many decades, editing works from well over a thousand debut and bestselling authors from the USA, the UK and Australia—most of them household names, e.g. Dan Brown, Lee Child, David Baldacci, Wilbur Smith, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais, Susan Hill, Michelle Paver, Joanna Trollope, C.J. Sansom . . . I have interviewed many of them about their inspiration and techniques. This has given me rare insight into what makes a bestseller and, more importantly, an irresistible read.

For a 10-year period I also edited a nonfiction series, selecting the best UK memoirs and narrative nonfiction of all kinds. Subject matter ranged from true crime, history and science (including nature) to space travel, fashion and more. If. you have the facts, or the idea, but are struggling to weave into a compelling narrative, I can help. I love working as a book coach, chatting through possible improvements to a narrative, to really make it 'sing'.

A couple of years ago I studied Creative Writing at Oxford's Centre for Continuing Education and I am currently producing a first novel, so I understand what it's like to be at the coal face as a fledgling writer. I have many helpful techniques for improving characterisation, scene-setting, suspense, pacing and more.

I sum, I enjoy Coaching, Developmental Editing, Editorial Assessments, Structural Editing and Line-Editing (as described on Reedsy). I have also trained in copy editing and naturally apply a degree of that skill to any edit I work on.