Tom Witcomb

Tom Witcomb – Editor

Big 5 editor & agent (15+ yrs) helping you find your voice. Expert, value-driven support for your book. JANUARY SALE: 10% OFF all services!

Overview

✨ JANUARY SPECIAL: 10% OFF all services booked this month! ✨

The publishing world can feel like a mystery, impossible to navigate. As a former Big 5 editor, London literary agent, and ghost-writer, I offer a rare 360-degree perspective - I don’t just see what makes a story work on the page - I have a "behind-the-scenes" perspective that helps you understand what makes a book succeed in a crowded market.

I don’t just help you "fix" a story; I help you refine your voice while ensuring your project is commercially viable. Whether you're aiming for the "Big 5" or a self-published launch, I can provide the insider knowledge needed to make your work stand out.

A Partnership Built on Honesty & Vision

I believe the best editorial relationships are collaborative and transparent. My approach is rigorous but supportive: I’ll never just tell you something isn’t working, I will always suggest clear, constructive solutions to help elevate your story. And advice is never given in a vacuum: collaborations include a sixty-minute follow-up call to dive deep into feedback, brainstorm structural fixes, and map out a clear path for you and your writing.

Tailored Support for Every Stage

Developmental Editing & Mentoring: I’ll help you "pressure-test" your concept, sharpening your pacing and character arcs to ensure your "big idea" lands with maximum impact.

The "Agent-Ready" Submission Package: With over a decade at a leading London agency, I know the "slush pile" inside out. I'll help you hone your query letter and synopsis to catch an agent's eye immediately.

Professional Coaching: Need a high-level partner to help translate your vision into a polished narrative? I provide expert-grade deep-dive mentoring and more.

Self-Publishing Strategy: From the final proofread to optimizing your metadata and pricing, I’ll help make your book indistinguishable from a major house release.

***

Publishing is a journey, and it helps to have a guide who has been on both sides of the desk. My ambition is to give you the professional edge, the technical craft, and the market confidence you need to succeed and make your manuscript impossible to ignore.

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Fantasy Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jul, 2020 — Present
After working in international publishing for over a decade as a literary agent at Blake Friedmann and then as a commissioning editor at Orion Publishing Group, Tom now works as an editorial consultant offering a range of services and helping writers across the world achieve their goals. He loves every opportunity to work with new authors and cater to their individual needs and can tailor packages to fit everyone. His real passion is editorial and development work - helping workshop projects, but also working projects up from first draft or from the seed of an idea and helping authors achieve their goals, making their manuscripts the best they can be.

Orion Publishing Group

Jan, 2020 — Jul, 2020 (6 months)
I worked with a range of commercial crime, thriller and historical authors.

Jericho Writers

May, 2019 — Present
I aid a rolling roster of authors who are all at different stages of their novels. I offer guidance and advice as well as more hands-on workshopping of their stories. It's a custom fit experience, and depends on what each individual needs.

Blake Friedmann

May, 2009 — Dec, 2019 (over 10 years)
I represented a range of authors, with a particular focus on upmarket and commercial crime/thriller fiction, as well as working with historical fiction and literary fiction authors. I was deeply involved with editing each manuscript that I represented - at both developmental and copy-editing level. Some of these I took on as submission drafts and worked with the author to polish their prose ready for an editor to buy, and some I worked on from the outset - helping an author work up the seed of an idea to fully realised novel.

Portfolio

Keshed

Stu Hennigan

Ortac Press

In the derelict shell of what was once his family home, a dying man surveys the wreckage of his former life and drinks himself senseless, haunted by the chain of events that led him there. Dark, complex and visceral, Keshed is an unflinching character study ex... read more
The First Lie

Park, A. J.

'This explosive debut reels you in from the first page and never lets up. Sinister, unsettling and gripping.' The Sun A heart-stopping, gripping thriller for fans of C. L. Taylor, Karin Slaugh... read more
Developmental Editing
The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club

Foster, Richard

Ortac Press

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Cold Dish

Craig Johnson

'The characters talk straight from the hip and the Wyoming landscape is its own kind of eloquence' New York TimesAfter 25 years as Sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire's hopes of ending his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near... read more
One Eye Open

Paul Finch

If the lies don't kill you, the truth will An electrifying, high-octane thrill ride; the new must-read standalone from a Sunday Times bestseller. Dark, gritty and always at the edge of your se... read more
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Good Samaritans

Carver, Will

White Butterfly

Walter Mosley

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 1993 GOLDEN DAGGER AWARD'In the crime field this is unquestionably the novel of the year' Literary Review'Perhaps the most important black literary figure to appear on the scene since James Baldwin's death' GuardianThe police don't show up ... read more
The only thing more dangerous than the cartels is the truth...In Ciudad Real, Mexico, a deadly war between rival cartels is erupting, and hundreds of female sweat-shop workers are being murdered. As his police superiors start shutting down his investigation, F... read more
Jack's wife is murdered. He has the chance to see justice done. But at what cost?Jack found the love of his life when he met Kate. But their happiness was shattered when she opened the door to a cold-blooded killer. He will never forget the face of the man who... read more
Proof of Life

R.J. Ellory

Stroud's best years are behind him. A former war photographer, he's seen things no one should have to see. He left the front line before his luck ran out.His best friend and mentor, Vincent Raphael, was not so fortunate. His car ran over an explosive device an... read more
Neon

G.S. Locke

A detective desperate for revenge. A hitwoman with one last job. A killer with both on his list.Detective Matt Jackson has reached the end. His beloved wife, Polly, is the latest victim of 'NEON' - a serial killer who displays his victims in snaking neon light... read more
February's Son

Parks, Alan

Tom has 68 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Paul S.

Paul S.

Mar, 2024

Pinned
Tom's work ethic and commitment to developing a story has far surpassed my expectations. I've worked with a developmental editor in the past and it was a very brief experience. I received a document showing what I should improve and that was it. With Tom, we met on multiple occasions via video ch...
Read more
Tom W.
Paul, Thanks so much for this review. I had such a fantastic time working with you, too, so I'm very glad to see the feeling's mutual! It was great to work on this over several rounds and really s...
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Patrick G.

Patrick G.

Oct, 2023

Pinned
Tom surpassed any expectations I had coming into the editing process. As a first time author, I needed trusted guidance on many levels - from the big picture concept of the book to the minor details. He not only identified the points in the manuscript that needed improvement, but offered actionab...
Read more
Tom W.
Thanks for the review, Patrick! It was so great to work with you, and to see your manuscript grow over the months we were working on it. Best of luck for the future, hopefully we'll get to work tog...
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Chris L.

Chris L.

Jul, 2023

Pinned
Working with Tom was an enlightening experience. He offered wonderful thoughts and feedback throughout the process and truly knows his stuff when it comes to editing. He gave me the perspective I was looking for, and helped me reposition the direction of my story in exactly the way I needed to br...
Read more
Tom W.
Hi Chris Thanks so much for the review. It's been a pleasure working with you on Wolfskin. -Tom
Wesley J.

Wesley J.

Dec, 2025

Working with Tom on a manuscript assessment for my novel was a fantastic experience. From start to finish, he was professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. He delivered exactly what I was looking for. Tom's feedback was insightful and clearly came from someone who truly understands n...
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Bill N.

Bill N.

Dec, 2025

The review was done ahead of time! it was thorough and insightful, rich and clear in suggestions. Although only of my pitch material it gave me ideas for improvements to the entire novel. Tom was an ideal choice and I would turn to him again in the snap of a finger. snap! b

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