Hello! I am an expert creative writer and editor with years of experience. I have a BA in creative writing and a Masters in writing and publishing. My services include but are not limited to: 🔹 Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copy Editing, Beta Reading 🔹 Plot Outlines, Script Writing and Editing, Plot Development 🔹 Manuscript Critique & Feedback 🔹 Web Content, Articles, Blogs, Newsletter I'm a fast, engaging freelancer passionate about helping writers craft their stories/novels while providing honest feedback. I don't compromise on quality and always work within your preferred timeline. I'm a native English speaker from the US and am currently based in Australia. Let's discuss your project today!

I am a licensed architect and currently serve as a digital marketing strategist for a major international engineering firm. I previously served as the managing editor of a national interior design publication. I have more than 20 years of experience writing on the topics of architecture and design, including clips from a variety of national magazines. I also have experience working directly with architects and design professionals to improve their website copy and better position themselves to gain new clients. I'm willing to work with your budget for the right project!

Thanks for checking out my profile! Please reach out if you have a manuscript you'd like me to assist you with! SPECIALTIES: Developmental Editing // Copy Editing // Line Editing // Proofreading // Beta Reading // Writing Critique // Manuscript Polishing // Grammar Correction // Text Formatting // Translation Localizing CREATIVE WRITING EXPERTISE: • Passionate about fiction, especially Sci Fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Literary Fiction, Speculative, Young Adult, New Adult • Specialties: Novels, Short Stories, Graphic Novels, Comics, Poetry, Theatre Scripts • Love working on Memoirs and Autobiographies too! • Story structure analysis, character development, dialogue and pacing improvement • Manuscript assessment and editorial guidance • Key experience in manuscript formatting and self-publishing support • Active writer and published author of poetry books, novellas, short stories, theatre scripts With years of experience as a Creative Writing, English, and Theatre teacher, I'm now a digital nomad, exploring the world while working remotely. When I'm not baking scones or befriending pets, I'm dedicated to assisting with your personal and professional projects. My goal is always to boost your creativity and efficiency, preserving and amplifying your unique writing voice. Let's connect and bring your projects to life!

Transform Your Manuscript with a Story Architect I help writers and other storytellers shape their narratives into compelling, publishing-ready manuscripts. As a developmental editor, I give high-level guidance on how to improve your story's structure and pacing, strengthen character depth and arcs, highlight and develop your most compelling themes, and address plot holes or elements that aren't working. For writers who are already happy with their story's structure and want to focus on the next step of refining their writing style, my work as a line editor is focused on making the most out of every scene, every line of dialogue, and every rhetorical device so that the strength of your writing reflects the strength of your narrative. 📚 Editorial Specialties Genre Fiction • Create and sustain intrigue from page one • Strengthen your story’s structure and narrative arcs to create compelling rising action • Develop characters with emotional depth, compelling motives, and complex internal lives • Refine prose for stronger voice and smoother flow • Resolve plot or character inconsistencies Nonfiction & Professional Editing • Polish essays, articles, and promotional content for clarity and precision • Shape proposals and campaigns into clear, strategic narratives • Make every sentence read with confidence and purpose 🗣️ What Clients Say “Catherine was able to synthesize information and make stellar recommendations. It is truly her gift to comprehend what the writer is saying, but understand how to express the same idea both more eloquently and clearly.” Madeline W. “Catherine leaves no corner unpolished, I can't recommend her enough!" Nicollette T. Check out my profile for more testimonials!

Does your word salad need some seasoning to make it more palatable, or does it need trimming down to make it more digestible? Hand your content over to a master wordsmith with more than 20 years' editorial experience in newspaper publishing, public relations, marketing and book editing. Nick has real-world experience in hospitality, education, retail and business development, plus team management in corporate and editorial roles. My clients rely on my creative writing and meticulous editing skills to connect with their target audience. I specialise in transforming content into an engaging page-turning experience.

I tend to operate more on a project cost basis than an hourly rate. My per word charges start from £3.00/1000 words for proof-reading, and £5.00/1000 words for copy-editing. These depend on the quality of the work to be edited, and a final quote can be provided after a sample has been provided (the sample will be returned to you with my alterations at no charge to you, so we both know what we're getting into.) Following a successful period of publishing my own books, assisting my fellow authors with getting theirs into print, and undertaking professional training courses to enable me to do so, in 2021, I quit my print-industry IT day job to work full time as a freelance editor and proofreader. (I could definitely have made that sentence shorter, but I think it serves to illustrate the difficulty of editing your own work. 😊) I work with both independent publishers and author service providers, as well as continuing to work with a variety of published authors. As a self-publishing author myself, I am committed to creating transparent pricing and budget-friendly options, as I understand how big and frightening an investment it can be. See my services page for my base per-thousand-word rates. I offer developmental edits, line and copy-editing, and proofreading of all types of document, and I am a graduate of both the Publishing Training Centre’s proofreading course and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading’s suite of copyediting courses. (I continue to undertake other courses with both the CIEP and other providers to keep in touch with current standards and ensure I don’t get too slack.) I can provide old-school BSI proofreading (symbols written into your margins with a multi-coloured pen) on actual paper if that’s your bag (and can be as lenient or strict as you require with the rules of grammar). I also work regularly with Word, Google Docs and other software programmes, utilising tracked changes and comments, and marking up PDFs with Adobe Acrobat. I’m a native English speaker and, as such, will happily iron out language bumps from the writings of those for whom it is not a first language. In particular, I’ve worked with a lot of Polish romance authors and can now almost instinctively fix the odd verb constructions that come from some (not all) translations. As you can guess from my own published work, I specialise in fiction (particularly if you’ve written an epic fantasy, gnarly horror, fast-paced thriller, rom-com or knockabout comedy) but have worked on plenty of non-fiction texts, a lot of which focus on the music industry. As a musician myself, I’m very familiar with the subject matter and have corrected no less than seven incidents of authors attributing songs/albums/instruments to the wrong artists/record labels/musicians. I’m a keen advocate of LGBTQIA+ rights and issues, and I am very eager to help anyone from that background on their way to being published (as well as anybody from my native Devon). I’m a fully paid-up member of both the CIEP and the Alliance of Independent Authors, who carefully vet their members to ensure nobody is getting ripped off. I’ve heard enough horror stories from clients who previously hired the cheapest editors they could find on these freelancing platforms to believe in the guarantee of honesty that these two institutions stand for.

If your romance or SFF manuscript has a strong concept but something still is not landing, the issue is usually structural. That is where I work. I specialize in developmental editing for romance, fantasy, and science fiction. I help serious authors strengthen story architecture, deepen emotional arcs, and deliver payoffs that build reader loyalty in a competitive market. In romance, I focus on: • Emotional arcs that feel inevitable • Escalating chemistry and tension • A third act that earns its resolution In fantasy and sci fi, I focus on: • Worldbuilding integrated seamlessly into plot • Clear stakes and escalation • Consistent internal logic • Character-driven momentum I do not copyedit grammar. I strengthen the foundation of your manuscript so every scene supports the larger narrative. Professional Background: • Current Developmental Editor at Bold Books, a romance-only publishing house • Former in-house developmental editor at Champagne Book Group • 50+ novels edited across romance and speculative fiction • 100% Job Success on Upwork • Published author with 7 books What you receive: • A strategic editorial letter with prioritized revision guidance • Inline commentary focused on structure, pacing, and character depth • Direct, actionable feedback I take on a limited number of projects at a time to ensure depth of analysis. A 5-page sample edit is available to confirm fit. If you are ready to elevate your manuscript at a structural level, send me a message and tell me about your project.

I hold a double qualification in Sound Recording Engineering, and I studied a Teaching degree. I have worked as a private English tutor for a few years. My primary responsibility was helping students with their language skills, including reading and writing, by providing them with guidance, as well as proofreading their work. I excel at article and blog writing - I especially enjoy writing about travel and tourism. Still, I do not shy away from challenging subjects outside of my main areas of interest or expertise.

“Fantastic work—an expert in her field and phenomenal at her craft.” This is just one of many top reviews from numerous satisfied clients. These reviews reflect my decades of professional editing experience, built on the foundation of my Master’s degree in English Studies and subsequent teaching proficiency at the secondary and college levels. I began my career as a senior editor for a highly regarded publishing house and later served as a corporate managing editor. As a freelance editor, I’ve had the privilege of working on hundreds of books and documents for publishers, independent authors, and a wide range of professionals—including attorneys, engineers, scientists, technology experts, nonprofit organizations, and more. Working with these clients has made my work both meaningful and rewarding. I also bring more than ten years of experience in the legal field as a legal administrative assistant, paralegal (with a paralegal certificate), and contract administrator. Because of this background, I am especially comfortable editing legal documents and working with attorneys. My technical editing background includes journal articles, white papers, reports, theses, and dissertations. Citation formatting is one of my specialties. I am highly experienced with The Chicago Manual of Style and APA and can easily adapt to other style guides. In addition to editing, I am the author of numerous middle-grade books, primarily biographies and historical topics. (You can find my books by searching “Sue Vander Hook” on Amazon.) My experience as an author gives me a deep appreciation for the writing process and the importance of thoughtful, careful editing. My experience and expertise can make your words and voice resonate and rise to an exceptional level. With great collaboration and communication, we can accomplish your goals together.

I currently do a variety of freelance writing and editing. I write articles, copy edit, do layout, conduct interviews, and take pictures. I have experience using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Photoshop, InDesign, and Zoom. I am a diligent worker with a keen eye for details.