Alan Williams

Alan Williams – Editor

Friendly and patient Gothic, horror, paranormal romance and comedy editor with an eye for detail, pace, character structure.

Overview

I am a freelance fiction editor, script editor, publisher and author with over 30 years experience in publishing.

When not at work or terrifying myself writing horror during the early hours of the morning, I flit between the cake and wine aisles of supermarkets. My latest novel requires me to spend a week alone on an island with only puffins for company; it's a horror about a man who spends time alone on an island with only puffins for company so I think I should achieve terrifying myself, if no one else.

I constantly read, mostly the classics (which have survived as classics for a reason - all the answers are in those), dystopian, horror and comedy.

I like working with other authors. When you are eyes-deep in your own work, it often takes someone prepared to become as invested as yourself in what you are trying to achieve. Often just moving several paragraphs or changing a description can immediately snap everything into much brighter focus. I take great delight in these moments.
Services
Fiction
Horror Humor & Comedy Paranormal Romance
Languages
English (UK)

Work experience

Crimson

Jun, 2009 — Present

I currently edit two film and television magazines which list all television programmes and feature films about to be made in the UK. I monitor the trends in commission and talk with production companies on a daily basis.

Writers' Monthly magazine

Feb, 2000 — Apr, 2004 (about 4 years)

As editor of Writers' Monthly magazine, I interviewed literary agents, publishers and TV/Radio commissioning editors. I commissioned hundreds of articles from writers on an ongoing basis and promoted new authors. In addition to this I taught fiction writing to groups both in the UK and overseas.

BBC

Jan, 1994 — Jun, 2009 (over 15 years)

As well as tightening scripts and trimming out the hiccups that slow down maximum impact of punchlines, I advised on adding characters, rewrites and provided live-editing. I was also the judge of several BBC new comedy award competitions.

Portfolio

This fascinating guide contains over 200 uncanny accounts of ghostly happenings throughout Britain, ranging from legendary to real-life experiences. First published in 1971, this newly revised ‘pure digital’ Kindle edition of Underwood’s classic inaugural work... read more
In 1842, two sisters drunkenly debate their future, their family chocolate business has failed and so they decide to open a séance parlour. The locals are shocked but soon their shop is crammed with people wanting to contact the dead. Despite their change in f... read more
Charles McBride is fat. He's been through hell, hates everyone and he’s had enough. Now he's going on holiday - alone. But something is about to happen on the train through Italy, that will change his life forever. “I giggled and snorted my way through Charles... read more

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