Freelance Editing

I am currently unavailable for THE READER’S REPORT OR DEVELOPMENTAL REPORT until the end of February 2024. If you would like to utilise my editorial services FOR THE SUBMISSION PACKAGE ASSESSMENT then please contact me to check availability. Thanks.

In today’s competitive market, your manuscript being 'book-ready' will greatly enhance your chances of an editor or agent taking your work seriously.

Editing has always been an aspect of publishing that I have enjoyed most. It needs to be a collaborative process and the authors I have worked with have valued the advice and editorial feedback I have provided about their novels.

There are various levels of editing I can offer including: a submission package assessment, reader's report, a developmental edit. 

If you are interested in having your manuscript looked at by a fully-qualified, experienced and professional editor then please use the contact page to request a quotation.

Please understand that if you book any of these reports with me on a freelance basis for your work - I will be unable to look at your submission as a literary agent.

Submission Package Assessment

Working with you to maximise your chances of having a tight and succinct submission package to query agents with. This submission assessment involves a read and edit, with tracked changes mark-up and commentary, of your query letter and synopsis. I’ll read and edit the first three chapters of your submission novel - no more than 5K words - and offer editorial feedback, using tracked changes and comments on Word to pinpoint potential issues. This report would normally take between 7-14 days and costs £300. TO REITERATE, I CAN NOT CONSIDER YOUR WORK IN MY CAPACITY AS A LITERARY AGENT, IF I WORK ON A SUBMISSION PACKAGE ASSESSMENT.

Reader's Report

This involves one read-through of the novel and then a 2-3 page report on the commercial accessibility, the writing, the larger structural issues and a suggestion about the next steps. It's nowhere near as detailed as a developmental edit and wouldn't provide suggested fixes on the script - just a broad overview in bullet points of the main issues and any writing tics that may need to be looked at. This report costs £500 for a novel of a word count up to 100K and usually takes 3-4 weeks.  

developmental report

This report explores the structure of the novel and whether it hangs together well. It would investigate any major plot holes and suggest ways to fix them. Other aspects it would cover are: character development, issues with the storyline and typical debut author writing tics and solutions on how to fix them. It would involve the manuscript being marked up with queries and comments to help guide the author, showing where the problems are and providing examples of issues occurring in the script.

This report also includes line work: suggested cuts to the manuscript on a line by line basis, reworking of sentence structure and grammatical fixes, common prose fixes and a detailed look for writing tics such as overuse of metaphors and similes, repetition and consistency issues. This report begins at £2000 for a novel up to 100K words.  Timeframe would be discussed after the initial read-through.

If you are interested in any of these reports but your manuscript is longer than 100K words, then please contact me for an individual quotation.

'A fantastic editor'

-Ann Cleeves

'Julie is a fantastic editor. She has that rare ability not only to pick up what's wrong with a book, but to know exactly what's needed to put it right'

'A personal pleasure'

- China Miéville

'Working with Julie Crisp is a personal pleasure and professional privilege and just about the best thing that can possibly happen for your book'

'Proved invaluable'

- Peter F. Hamilton

'Julie Crisp has been my editor for many years.  The work she has done on my manuscripts has proved invaluable and made me realise just how important it is for an author to be edited professionally.  Julie is that editor'

'A wonderful mentor'

- Paul Cornell

'Julie Crisp taught me how to write novels. She's one of the best editors I've ever worked with, and a wonderful mentor. If you're wondering if she should be your agent, the answer is yes'

'Took me to the next level as a writer'

- Adam Nevill

'Julie was my editor for seven novels at Pan Macmillan and took me to the next level as a writer. I learned to rely upon her inner metronome that is finally tuned to the pace and fluency of a story. So, when your own inner reader is unsure, or kidding itself, she has a second pair of eyes that your manuscript may well need. And she's expert at spotting things that you are secretly unsure about, but can't explain why to yourself: well, she'll tell you'

'Passionate and clinical'

- John Gwynne

'Julie Crisp is unique, her editorial eye being both passionate and clinical. Her talent and polishing skills have been a constant source of amazement to me, without which The Faithful and the Fallen would never have seen the light of day. Whether as agent or editor, if Julie is in your corner you can breathe easy and concentrate on the important bit. Your writing'

'Editorial precision'

- Mark Charan Newton

'Julie not only has the editorial precision of a samurai sword to cut through manuscripts, but has the sensitivity and wisdom to get the very best out of authors and their books'

'Immaculately professional'

- Adrian Tchaikovsky

'Julie is never less than immaculately professional. I worked with her as my editor for six years and always knew that I could rely on her'

'Farsighted, energetic'

- Rjurik Davidson

'Julie Crisp is one of the most farsighted, energetic, and professional people working in publishing. My books wouldn't have made it without her'

'Produce a stronger work'

- Laura Lam

'Julie's edits are thorough, with no plot hole or awkward sentence being spared. Any writer would grow under her guidance and produce a stronger work'

'A unique structural eye'

- Ben Peek

'Julie Crisp is possessed of a unique structural eye. While others may look at a portion, or a section, she sees the whole, and sees it clearly. Trust in her and you'll be fine'

'Everything you could wish for in an editor'

- Lucy Hounsom

'Julie has a sharp eye for detail as well as the overall structure of a manuscript and offers constructive advice while remaining sensitive to character and themes. I've been extremely fortunate to work with her and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her skills to writers both new and established.'

I am currently closed for submissions for the next few months as I catch-up on my submission reading. I will endeavour to reopen at the end of February 2024. You can find my full Wishlist on #MSWL - here: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/julie-crisp/

Authors