Elizabeth Nickels

Fiction editor and proofreader

Why choose an editor for your book?

Currently, there are plenty of online resources for authors who want to correct their grammar and spelling, such as Grammarly and Prowritingaid.

However, these apps are best used at the very end of the writing and editing process, where AI technology can be successful at catching typos or small grammatical errors. They are not yet very good at improving plot structure, narrative or character. Some authors have found that when using them to correct basic grammar errors they can make even worse ones!

The writing community is full of options for authors who’d like other people to give their opinion on their book before publishing – such as beta/ARC readers or writing buddies. Employing these readers can be a great way to test if your characters and narrative work, as well as get some much needed encouragement! They can be enthusiastic readers of an author's chosen genre, and are a good guide as to whether a book is likely to be embraced by other readers.

However, authors can't expect these kinds of readers to focus in on details of style, narrative and characterisation. Sometimes simply moving a few paragraphs around, changing the POV of a scene, or adding a new chapter can turn a good story into a great one.

That's where the editor comes in!

About me

I'm a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) with hundreds of hours of editing under my belt, and professional qualifications in copyediting and proofreading. You know you are getting the best and most up-to-date UK editing advice, recognised by agents and publishers.

I've been an editor for more than 25 years – there's nothing I haven't edited! I'm happy to work in memoir and literary and genre fiction, but I especially love romance, horror and historical stories.

As a writer myself I know what it's like to send your precious manuscript out into the world only to have it come back covered in red pen and disheartening comments! For me, supporting and encouraging authors is the most important part of being an editor. I will suggest changes but, I hope, be very positive too!