TESTIMONIALS FROM MY CLIENTS

Sara is a brilliant beta reader. She's fast and thorough and picked up on lots of issues with my plot and my main characters. I'd highly recommend using her for all things novel drafting, and finalizing: she as strong on copyediting as she is on editorial overview. Just fabulous.

~ LIZZY DENT | AUTHOR
THE SUMMER JOB

Sara has been the go-to person for beta reading, editing, and brainstorming during the writing of my second novel. With her gift for plotting and an eye for the finer details that elevate a manuscript, I cannot recommend her services highly enough. Her feedback has been spot-on and notes in depth despite a speedy turnaround. I cannot imagine writing future novels without her input.

~ CHARLOTTE LEVIN | AUTHOR
IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU

I needed someone to proofread my long, highly complex novel at very short notice before it went on submission to agents. Sara came very highly recommended by a number of other published novelists. She turned the job around, meeting my frankly mad deadline, and did a thorough, sensitive and careful job. I have nothing but praise for her attention to detail and level of knowledge. I have signed with the perfect agent, thanks in no small part to Sara’s work polishing the manuscript, and I have recommended her to a number of other writers, for whom she has offered equally excellent service.

~ ROSIE FIORE/ CASS HUNTER | AUTHOR
THE AFTER WIFE

I was so lucky to come across Sara.I asked for a simple read and edit. With Sara’s expertise, encouragement and hard work, my Autobiography is now with a publisher. Sara was always available to me, and always so considerate. I think myself so fortunate to have met her, and now really think of her as a friend.

~ JIM WHELAN | WRITER | ACTOR

I’ve had the privilege of working with Sara for many years and across multiple novels. Her advice is always insightful and thorough, and evidence of her high-level storytelling instincts. She combines a deep understanding of plot, character, and story structure with next to faultless editorial and proofing skills, and regularly highlights grammatical errors and writing tics that seem invisible to me. Highly recommended to anyone who wants advice from an expert.

~ SARAH DANIELS | WRITER

Sara has edited a few extracts of my work. She is a sensitive editor who reads manuscripts with an eye to their commercial viability. In particular, she homes in on clunky text, ensuring that I follow the golden rule of creative writing: show, not tell. I definitely credit Sara with helping me to develop as a writer. She also has the ability to step back and evaluate the overall structure of a novel, analyzing where the story should begin and how it should progress. She brings her own talent as a thriller writer to the editing process.

~ EMMA CLARK LAM | ASPIRING NOVELIST

Sharing the stories, characters and dialogue that have been bouncing around inside your head and that you have committed many hours to capture, with another human being for the first time is quite daunting. Fortunately Sara made the experience a positive and productive one. A full structural editorial report and a marked up manuscript, which is forensic in detail. Somehow there appears another person who cares about the project you have created. We all need a Sara.

~ IAN HARRLAND | AUTHOR

I located Sara through a shared contact on Twitter. I’m so pleased I did. After an initial approach from me, she constructed a mutually acceptable timetable, including sending her my manuscript and a pathway forward. As a complete novice (my first full manuscript) she had to walk me through editing options and guide my decisions every step of the way. I’m so pleased she did. I chose a structural edit and I had no idea how much work that would mean for Sara. A reasonable price and a significant report was followed by telephone advice and support.  I feel I have been well supported to bring my manuscript further towards a complete book. I feel certain I have been sympathetically and supportively edited and my confidence has survived to move my project forward! I am delighted to recommend.

~ CATHRYN SMITHSON WHITEHEAD | WRITER

Sara’s keen eye and her ability to critique without seeming to criticise makes her editorial feedback truly invaluable. Her analysis and suggestions at both the macro and micro levels really helped to tease out the issues with my manuscript in terms of both the overall structure and the line-by-line details. When you’re so close to your own writing that being objective is impossible, this kind of thoughtful, attentive appraisal is worth its weight in gold.

~ CLAIRE GLEESON | WRITER

Sara's editorial feedback has been invaluable in the development of my novel. From detailed annotation on spelling and grammar to guidance on voice, dialogue and characterisation, she has helped to shape every aspect of my work and improved it immeasurably in the process. Her professional and constructive suggestions pushed me to look at my writing from a new angle and with greater focus on areas which required attention. I would not hesitate to recommend Sara to anyone who is in need of both a deep editorial critique or a commentary on specific aspects of writing style.
Footnote: She is also generally just awesome and I am very grateful to Twitter to introducing me to a new ice-cream buddy and writing partner in crime! xx

~ HANNAH COLBY | WRITER

Sara’s advice during our course together was always spot on. Her editing advice was astute and very helpful. She was also willing to answer questions and offer suggestions on plot, character and credibility of scenes. As well as being a brilliant editor, Sara is also a brilliant writer, and I can’t wait to see her debut published one day soon. Sara is a star!

~ CAT LANE | FELLOW FABER ACADEMY STUDENT | WRITER

I was blown away by Sara’s editorial comments, which made a huge improvement to my writing and my book. In the early planning stages, she really helped me put the book on the right track. If you’re looking for an editor who will give you an honest, thorough and encouraging report, I highly recommend her.

~ JACOB COLLINS | WRITER | BLOGGER

Sara has read several of my novels. Her feedback is always spot on from addressing the smaller details to pointing out major plot flaws. She is excellent at viewing the bigger picture - plots, pacing, character arcs - and suggesting cuts for a tighter, pacier manuscript. I'd definitely recommend her as an editor. 

~ CARLY REAGON | WRITER

I have been working with Sara for a little over six months. I came to her as a first-time fictional author with a rough draft. She agreed to do a review of my first several chapters. That review told me I was working with a professional. Her approach is remarkably effective. She has a method of reading submissions, commenting on them extensively and identifying areas that must be addressed. Examples of areas she has helped me with are maintaining POV, overusing boring words, bringing characters to life, staying on the story, use of stage directions for characters, forming chapters, how to end and begin chapters. The multiple submissions have meant areas for improvement can be progressively worked on in future submissions. Then she can comment on improvements and where additional work is required. She has proved very patient in helping to work on the shortfalls that I keep repeating. The reviews are not just written commentary, she follows up with a Zoom session that is recorded. The commentary and recorded comments are invaluable in improving the writing. Beyond her knowledge on how to write, she is excellent at teaching. She understands authors can be sensitive about critiques and handles critiques so that I feel I have gained from the exchange and remained determined to keep working on the effort. Will I get published? I do not know, but I can tell you with Sara’s help, I am proud of both the effort I have put into it and the result that I have so far. I look forward to continuing with Sara until this effort is complete. My overall view is engaging with a qualified editor is critical to writing progress. Doing so can feel like a leap in the dark. Sara has shown me a way forward and exceeded all my expectations.

~ HUGH RYAN | WRITER