Tim Major

Tim Major – Editor

Experienced editor specialising in science fiction, horror and YA fiction – offering MS assessment, structural editing and copyediting.

Overview

I have 15 years of publishing experience in senior editorial roles, having commissioned and edited content for Scholastic, Pearson, CGP and Oxford University Press. I'm now a freelance editor, specialising in science fiction, horror, mysteries and YA fiction. I work with publishers, literary agencies and emerging authors, offering manuscript assessment, structural editing and copyediting.

My other roles have included co-editor of BFS Horizons, the fiction journal of the British Fantasy Society and editor of the SF magazine, The Singularity.

My own recent books include SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BACK TO FRONT MURDER, horror novel HOPE ISLAND, SF adventure SNAKESKINS (all Titan Books) and short story collection AND THE HOUSE LIGHTS DIM (Luna Press). Previous books include YA novel MACHINERIES OF MERCY (ChiZine), time-travel thriller YOU DON'T BELONG HERE (Snowbooks) and novellas BLIGHTERS (Abaddon) and CARUS & MITCH (Omnium Gatherum), as well as a monograph about the silent crime film, LES VAMPIRES (Electric Dreamhouse Press). My short stories have appeared in Interzone, Not One of Us, Shoreline of Infinity and numerous anthologies, including Best of British Science Fiction, Best of British Fantasy and Best Horror of the Year.
Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Fantasy Horror Mystery & Crime Psychological Thriller Science Fiction Short Story Young Adult
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

British Fantasy Society

Oct, 2017 — Jan, 2020 (over 2 years)

Commissioning, story selection, structural editing and copyediting.

Self-employed

Dec, 2015 — Present

Editorial services include structural editing, copyediting, proofreading and MS reports, as well as development editing and project management for non-fiction. Clients include Scholastic, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Oxford University Press.

Scholastic

Feb, 2010 — Oct, 2015 (over 5 years)

As Editor-in-Chief of Scholastic’s magazine for primary school teachers, Child Education PLUS, I commissioned articles and resources across all curriculum subjects. I led a team of editors, design staff and digital developers to provide high-quality print and interactive resources. I ran the Online Resources department, including the Early Years and Primary Resource Bank subscription websites. I maintained the website and subscriber base and managed the web advertising department.

Pearson

Sep, 2007 — Jan, 2010 (over 2 years)

I led an editorial team and worked closely with production, design and marketing departments. I published a successful Key Stage 2 maths intervention programme, Rapid Maths, and developed the Scottish primary maths programme, Heinemann Active Maths. As Senior Editor I edited Key Stage 3 Level Up Maths, including interactive content.

CGP

Jul, 2001 — Aug, 2007 (about 6 years)

I commissioned revision guides and workbooks from Key Stage 1 up to A-level, in all subjects including maths, science and literacy, including Shakespeare text notes. I was solely responsible for running the USA editorial department.

Portfolio

Deathwish

Richman

War-torn, resource-stripped, pi**ed off. By 2045 man had all but burnt down his own house. The threat of environmental annihilation loomed, and so a machine was built.Earth's hostile land spat Willsith into space, hung-over and broken. War had trained him to f... read more
Voids

Tim J.

In a future society suffering crippling over-population and food crises, Danny Seraphine works as a Sterilization Agent tracking down men who sire children and then desert them. Caught between a violent faction that wants to kill him and a wife desperate to ha... read more
The November–December issue of Britain's longest running sf magazine magazine contains new stories by Malcolm Devlin, RM Graves, Thana Niveau, Tim Major, E. Catherine Tobler, Jennifer Dornan-Fish, Tom Greene. The cover art is by Wayne Haag, and interior colour... read more
The Singularity is a brand new SF and fantasy fiction magazine, based in London, England, that publishes short stories that are singular in voice and style. Issue 1 features ten weird and wonderful stories from award-winning and new writers from around the wor... read more

Tim has 115 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mel L.

Mel L.

Sep, 2023

TIM'S ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND UNDERSTANDING THE NECESSITY TO RETAIN THE ESSENCE OF THE CHARACTERS/PLOT/MOVEMENT, WAS APPRECIATED. THE WORK WAS COMPLETED IN DOUBLE QUICK TIME AND I WOULD RECOMMEND HIS SERVICES WHOLE HEARTEDLY.
Richard S.

Richard S.

Aug, 2023

Tim was excellent to work with. He went through my manuscript with great detail, and provided extensive suggestions to make it better. Suggesting more apt words, ways to bring the reader closer to the character and catching story contradictions just scratches the surface of the advice he provided. I learned a lot about character point of view, how to show rather than tell, and pacing the story...
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Declan I.

Declan I.

Jul, 2023

Everything was clear and any advice given led to a much better end product than anticipated. Very fair on his reply times and very good at letting me know the best times to get in contact and when he was unavailable. All in all. Very happy with his work.
James F.

James F.

Jun, 2023

I was very pleased to have found Tim who provided an excellent developmental edit and copyedit of my novel. His communication on the project was prompt, he even finished the project earlier than expected. He provided a detailed tracked changes version of the manuscript alongside 7 pages of editorial assessment covering all aspects of the plot, characters, imagery, and style. It was all very fai...
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David J.

David J.

Jun, 2023

I should have written this review ages ago, Sorry Tim. I’d done a lot of editing before looking for an editor. I was very confident there wouldn’t be much to find. That was 9 thorough edits from start to finish using (on different edits) a mixture of Pro Writing Aid, Speechelo (to read the text to me so I could hear issues), various beta readers for story overview and for spotting spelling and...
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