Editorial Services
Though I specialise in Gothic, horror and historical fiction (especially books set in the Victorian and medieval eras), I also accept Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction and Fantasy – I particularly love folklore!
All the editorial services listed here can be applied to creative or academic writing.
I have worked as an editorial assistant for Open Book Publishers and am delighted to edit short- and long-form fiction, PhD theses, non-fiction monographs, academic articles, and even blog posts.
Please note, I do not accept erotica or excessive violence, and I provide editorial rather than ghostwriting services. This means I will not add new content to your manuscript. As editing is a collaborative process, authors may need to undertake additional work to refine their manuscripts.
Client Testimonial: Madelyn Walsh
“Alex edited my PhD thesis, titled ‘Unquiet Waters: Exaqua in Contemporary Responses to the Zong Massacre.’ She was able to understand the nuance and complexity of my research area with ease, and asked thoughtful and responsive questions to ensure she understood the nature and scope of my project. Her edits transformed my thesis into a clear and coherent piece of work I felt confident submitting. Alex was an incredible support and a pleasure to work with.” – Madelyn Walsh, PhD Candidate.
Developmental Editing
£40 per hour (approximately 20 pages of a Word document)
As a developmental editor, I will work with you to address any broader concepts in your manuscript, such as structure, themes, world-building, voice and character.
I bring a decade of experience in literary analysis to my role as developmental editor, and I will be able to apply my expertise to your work. It will always be your voice, your story, your vision, but I will make sure your novel achieves its fullest potential.
You will receive a Word document of your manuscript that I have annotated with my observations and suggestions, plus a document of my summary of the plot, thematic development and readability. These will be supportive and encouraging observations, with clear instructions for how to improve. Because of its focus on your novel’s wider narrative elements, developmental editing doesn’t correct sentence-level errors such as punctuation, grammar or typos.
Copy Editing
£40 per hour (approximately 20 pages of a Word document)
This type of editing is known as mechanical or line editing. It addresses any issues with word repetitions, typos, grammar, spelling, dialogue tags, capitalisations. I will also adjust stylistic issues, such as shifts in perspective or tense, as well as inconsistencies in characterisation or continuity.
Together, we will make your manuscript clear and coherent, ensuring that your readers can get lost in the story, and not be distracted by the details!
You will receive a Word document of your manuscript that I have adjusted with tracked changes, plus a document of my summary of any general issues you should address. Any comments I make on the document will be supportive and encouraging observations, with clear instructions for how to improve.
Editorial Assessment
£25 per hour
This is ideal for a manuscript in its early stages. Editorial assessment offers the writer wide-ranging insights into the main strengths and weaknesses of your plot, characters, themes and structure.
Showing someone your work for the first time can be really daunting, but my feedback is always friendly and enthusiastic. I want the best for you and your book!
I will write you a summary of my professional observations, as well as some advice for how to fix any concerns I may have noted. Any comments I make about your work will be supportive and encouraging observations, with clear instructions for how to improve. Editorial assessments don’t provide the detailed attention of copy editing, for example, so there won’t be tracked changes on your document.
Mock Viva
£100
Ideal for PhD candidates on the verge of defending their thesis. I will read your thesis in its entirety. We will meet for a one hour meeting (Zoom or in person, depending), where I will ask you questions tailored to replicate the Viva experience. If necessary, we can workshop answers for more difficult questions, so that you will enter your Viva feeling confident and well-prepared!
Client Testimonial: Meaghan Allen
“Alex was an incredibly thorough and generous mock-Viva examiner. She asked a variety of insightful questions, several of which I had not previously considered but were asked in my real Viva, meaning I was well-prepared on my Viva Day. I absolutely recommend Alex’s encouraging, yet rigorous, workshop/mock-viva approach for anyone looking for mock Viva prep.” – Meaghan Allen, PhD Candidate who researches the medieval inheritance of blood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
~Other Services~
Book Support
£20 per hour
This is a one-on-one session dedicated to discussing your book, either in-person or online. I will read a 2000 word excerpt and discuss its strengths and weaknesses with you. Book support does not include written feedback on your work.
Private Tutorials
£35 per hour
I have four years of experience teaching undergraduate and master’s degrees across a broad range of literary genres and eras. I also have worked as a private tutor for GCSE and A-level students. Our tutorials will be structured to suit your needs, and can include essay feedback.
Sensitivity Reader
£25 per hour
I will review a 2000 word excerpt of your manuscript in order to address any potential bias, stereotyping, or offensive content. This will help you improve the representation of marginalised groups. I particularly specialise in the representation of women, working-class people, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Literature Unlocked 