Books are made by magic*

Editorial slots for July + August are -open-

Writing a book is a mysterious thing. Years can go by and you feel like you’re getting nowhere. Then suddenly you start to develop momentum, the words keep coming, and before you know it a manuscript has been written. It might not be the end product, in fact, it will probably be quite awful, but getting to this stage is crucial for anyone who has hopes to carve out a writing career, or simply wants to share a particular story with the world.

I find myself navigating this process from both sides of the coin at the moment. I am nearing the end of the draft of my first novel, and also working with a number of writers on their own projects. We move back and forth and up and down, all in the pursuit of getting our story on to the page.

This dance, with the page, and with yourself, is a form of magic*, but it is also a process that can be difficult to navigate, particularly on your own. That’s where the help of a professional book editor (or book doula) comes in.

Perhaps you have a manuscript sitting in a drawer that would benefit from another pair of eyes. Or maybe you are in the midst of draft-revision and need a moment to step back and get a birds-eye-view on things before submitting it to an agent. Maybe you feel a sense of shame or confusion about an idea for a book that you have but which can’t quite find its form. All of these phases of book-writing can benefit from the help of a professional book editor.

I now have years of experience editing narrative non-fiction and fiction projects, working with publishers and writers and agents at all stages of the book-publishing process. In July and August I’ll be taking on some new clients to help their books find their way into the world.

How does the process work?

A typical process looks like this. You email me a copy of the draft that you want help with. I then read through the manuscript, offering extensive comments in track change, and also writing a comprehensive developmental report. This report is your road map to getting your book to the next stage of its life, be that a final round of revision, submission to an agent, or self-publication. We’ll then have an in-depth debrief call which is designed to ensure you feel fully supported as you embark on the next phase of your writing journey.

What kind of thing do you love to edit?

I specialise in environmental non fiction projects, but have published widely across: memoir, history, essay, politics, parenting and spirituality. In fiction I specialise in literary fiction, and enjoy working on any novels that have a speculative lens.

Does hiring a book editor guarantee publication?

Alas, it would be wonderful if that were the case, but it is not. What my support does give you is the perspective of someone from within the industry who understands the market and what commissioning editors are looking for. Clients tell me I’m worth my weight in gold!

So why bother?

Because the world needs your writing, but the process of writing can be hard to navigate on your own. Because we live in an age of AI-slop and need to read stories by human beings. Because books matter now, more than ever.

I love this quote from Ursula K. Le Guin:

Hard times are coming, when we'll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope. We'll need writers who can remember freedom - poets, visionaries - realists of a larger reality . . .

How much does a book editor cost?

A typical Developmental Edit of a book between 70-90k words averages at £900 - £1200 depending on length and extent of the feedback that is needed. Readers of The Murmuration receive a 5% discount on developmental edits if they use the code: MAGIC in their email

In July and August I will also be opening up my Creative Advising Consultancy. In these calls I’ll have read through the first twenty pages of your manuscript and we’ll then map out a plan for your project based on your particular needs during our 80 minute call. These calls are a fantastic space to discuss an idea for a project that is still finding its form. Investment: £230

July

• Two Developmental Edit slots available

• Three Creative Advising slots available

August

• Three Developmental Edit slots available

• Two Creative Advising slots available

Wow Grace, this sounds just great. How can I secure my place?

Email: grace@gracepengelly.co.uk briefly explaining a little about your project and what stage it is up to. After that we’ll have a quick call to check that we are a good match for each other.

If you want to know a little bit more about me and my perspective on writing, visit my website: www.gracepengelly.co.uk

I can’t wait to hear about your book.

Grace