Mattewbane

Book Editor & Manuscript Consultant

Freelancer.com • Freelance

Jul 2021 - Present • 5 yrs 4 mos

As a freelance Book Editor and Manuscript Consultant, I worked with authors who wanted more than basic proofreading and were looking for informed, constructive guidance to strengthen their manuscripts before publication. My role focused on understanding the author's objectives and helping transform developing manuscripts into clearer, more cohesive, and reader-ready books. I reviewed manuscripts at both the structural and sentence levels, assessing elements such as organisation, pacing, narrative flow, character development, tone, consistency, readability, and overall reader experience. For nonfiction projects, I examined the logical progression of ideas, chapter structure, clarity of explanations, and consistency of the author's message. For fiction, I paid particular attention to storytelling, characterisation, dialogue, pacing, continuity, and engagement. A major part of my work involved providing detailed editorial feedback rather than simply correcting mistakes. I identified areas that required improvement, explained why particular sections could be strengthened, and offered practical recommendations that authors could use during revision. This required careful reading, strong written communication, attention to detail, and the ability to preserve an author's individual voice while improving the manuscript. I also worked through manuscripts line by line where deeper editing was required, improving awkward phrasing, sentence structure, transitions, grammar, punctuation, and consistency. Throughout the process, I aimed to make editorial improvements without unnecessarily changing the author's intended meaning or style. Another important aspect of the role was collaboration. Authors often have a strong personal connection to their work, so I developed an approach centred on respectful communication, clear feedback, and understanding the purpose behind each manuscript before making recommendations.

Freelance Book Editor & Publishing Specialist

Fiverr • Freelance

Jun 2019 - Present • 7 yrs 5 mos

I began working independently with writers and authors on full book development projects in 2019, assisting manuscripts from the initial review phase to the latter stages of publication preparation. Because my experience encompassed the entire book-services pipeline, I was able to comprehend not only specific editing responsibilities but also the relationships between the various publication stages. I began projects by reviewing manuscripts as a beta reader, assessing the overall reading experience, identifying areas that could be strengthened, and providing constructive feedback on plot development, pacing, characterisation, structure, clarity, and reader engagement. Where necessary, I helped authors identify weaknesses that might not be obvious during the writing process and provided practical suggestions for improvement. I also handled developmental and line-level editing, working through manuscripts to improve structure, flow, consistency, readability, tone, and presentation while maintaining the author's individual voice. For projects requiring a more detailed final review, I performed copy editing and proofreading to identify grammatical, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and consistency issues. Beyond editorial work, I supported authors with the practical preparation of their books. This included manuscript formatting, organising chapters and front matter, applying consistent styles, preparing documents for digital or print publication, and ensuring that the finished manuscript presented a professional reading experience. Working across the complete book-production process gave me experience with different manuscript types, writing styles, genres, and author expectations. It also developed my ability to communicate editorial recommendations clearly and work carefully with client requirements.