Manda Waller – Editor

"If you need an editor, Manda is your secret weapon.""Manda's work is impeccable and BEYOND helpful. She is worth every penny.""Manda made my words flow like hot chocolate."I'm Manda - a friendly, supportive, cheerful best-selling fiction copy and line editor with over 20 years' experience. I offer non-judgmental editing in a safe space, and ensure that my feedback is constructive and encouraging - the idea being that you feel empowered to go on to write more (even better!) books.As I work through your manuscript, I make sure that your words are as polished and engaging as possible. I always offer suggested solutions and draw examples from your manuscript to explain the more complicated points.In 2022, I edited over 30 novels and novellas, ensuring that they were ready for either self-publication or submission to Literary Agents.

Apart from having a meticulous eye for detail and an excellent understanding of punctuation, grammar and spelling, I am also (more importantly!) helpful, positive and friendly.

My promises to you:

- I reply to all my messages quickly and honestly.- I really do read every single word.- I do not skim-read or cut corners.- I return all my work within budget and on time, every time.

I edit using Microsoft Word, and track the changes so that you can see the alterations that I make and accept or reject each one individually (should you so wish!). If you aren’t familiar with using MS Word Track Changes, I can talk you through it.

In the course of editing your book, I would be looking at:

- General punctuation, spelling and grammar

- Point of view and head-hopping

- Overuse of stage direction

- The use of tentative language

- Overwriting

- Unnecessary adverbs

- Showing vs telling

- Excessive timeline nudges

- Character description

- Chapter and section endings and beginnings

- Action beats

- Tense

- Sentence length and rhythm

- Dialogue (and thoughts) formatting, punctuation, idioms, dialects and tags

- Anything else that you'd like me to look at (within reason!)

I hope this gives you a brief snapshot of me and the services I provide - but please do contact me with any questions. I'd love to help!

Manda