Zakirah Patel

Zakirah Patel – Editor

Fiction editor with 6 years of experience in publishing. I specialise in proofreading and copyediting SFF, romance and literary fiction!

Overview

With over six years of editorial experience in the publishing industry, I am delighted to offer my publishing services, including proofreading, copyediting, editorial assessments and developmental edits.


I have worked on numerous Sunday Times bestseller titles, across both fiction and non-fiction. My speciality is SFF, romance and literary fiction.

Some of the authors I have worked with are Nick Grimshaw, Sarah Pinborough, S A Maclean, Richard Swan and Tom Holt. I have copyedited and proofread many books across my career. One of the books I am most proud to have worked on is The Culture: Drawings by Iain M. Banks!


I absolutely love reading and watching romance and romcoms; some of my favourite authors are Ali Hazelwood and Victoria Aveyard, so if they're one of your comps, I'd love to work with you. Also count me in for all the classic romance tropes; enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake relationships - I love it all!


I’m also a huge fan of broader genre fiction, as well as literary. I’d love to hear more about your book and work with you to make it perfect!

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Romance Dark Romance Fantasy Psychological Thriller Romantic Comedy Romantic Fantasy Women's Fiction Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK)
Certifications
  • Proofreading (The Publishing Training Centre)
  • Copyediting (The Publishing Training Centre)
  • Editorial Project Management (The Publishing Training Centre)
  • Sharper Copywriting (The Publishing Training Centre)

Work experience

Orbit (imprint of Little, Brown Book Group)

Mar, 2023 — Sep, 2023 (6 months)

I worked exclusively on Little, Brown's science fiction and fantasy imprint, Orbit, shepherding titles through the editorial and production process, proofreading and copyediting as necessary.

Hodder & Stoughton

Jun, 2021 — Mar, 2023 (almost 2 years)

I worked on a broad list of non-fiction titles, across science, technology, memoir, nature and smart thinking, including multiple Sunday Times bestsellers.

John Murray Press

Jan, 2018 — Jun, 2021 (over 3 years)

I worked in Editorial Operations across 5 imprints in John Murray Press, handling Biblio operations, metadata and project managing a small list on the John Murray Learning imprint.

Portfolio

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing
Darker by Four

Tan, June CL

Editorial Assessment
Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading
Copy Editing
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing

Zakirah has 1 review

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

William S.

William S.

Dec, 2024

Zakirah did an excellent proofread of my YA Fantasy novelette. She has an excellent eye for detail, and her proofread has given me confidence that my manuscript is now ready to be published. I would not hesitate to work with her again, or recommend her to others. Thank you Zakirah!

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