I can help you with content writing for your website or any digital services you offer: blog posts, developmental editing, copyediting and proof reading. If you are looking to get your work published, and unless you are already an experienced author, I suggest you start with a manuscript assessment, details are below, in order to give your book its best chance of hanging out with the books that appear in the photo below - that's my first novel, After the Rains, in Daunt Bookshop, Hampstead, London, looking all sunset smug! Manuscript Assessment A manuscript assessment is a potentially vital link in the publishing chain between you and showing your work to professionals – agents, indie publishers or other industry professionals. An objective eye from a professional developmental editor is invaluable, and could save you lots of time and money. If you are intending to self publish, this service is invaluable – there are swathes of badly executed self published books out there, none of us want to see any more of them! The assessment will give you advice as to other editing services you might need, or on self-editing, and give developmental, structural advice regarding the construction of your book and all the necessary elements that need to be not only there, but functioning well. You will be shown what is working to your books advantage and what may be less advantageous, and why – and crucially, what to do to remedy matters. When should I do this? Once you have got your manuscript into the best possible shape that you can, having drafted as many times as necessary, with at least a few weeks in between drafts in order to ‘rest’ the work before causing it to ‘rise again’; and after you have had feedback from several trusted readers. What does it entail? I will give your manuscript a close reading during which I will make comments via tracked changes, after which I will write a full report, commenting on structure, chapters, pacing, voice and style. I will advise as to where cutting may be necessary and areas that need further development. During the process, I am on hand to advise you as to next steps, and to keep you motivated. Why Emily Barroso? I am an award-winning author of 3 books (a fourth on the way) and 3 plays. I also run the Hiraeth Arts Festival and work across the arts in North Wales and London – both places have staged my plays and I do workshops in both. Crucially though I am a developmental editor who to date has seen 10 books that I have worked on – some initially on scraps of paper – see successful publication. I am also a writing tutor with over 20 years of experience and an independent publisher: www.hillmanpublishing.com Some of my clients have set up their own publishing companies for their books – I advise on the best route forward. What does it cost? Up to 60 000 words £520 00 What does that include and how long does it take? A thorough manuscript assessment with notes made via tracked changes. A full report, as well as an hour’s Zoom call with me that you can take at any time – the value of this hour alone is £75 00. During the process I am on hand to answer any queries or questions. Basically, I am your editor during this time. I have a swift turnaround – usually 2-4 weeks, depending on projects in process. Emily Barroso’s Editing Services 2021 Please note, I use track changes to edit. Developmental Editing Please note, developmental editing is for authors who want a publishing standard edit and who are prepared to be challenged in the way that an in-house publishing editor would do so. It’s a specialist service that requires years of expertise and experience. As with writers, there are many copy editors and proof readers of all types to be found in today’s publishing market, but experienced developmental editors are a rare breed – pardon me for saying so myself! During the developmental editing phase, I look at and comment on the overall shape, structure and flow of the narrative. Is the book too long or short? Are chapters too long or short? Do chapters work comprehensively and drive the central theme or subject matter forward? Are chapter endings punchy? Should there be more chapter development? I also look at genre and style. Should there be more testimony or story and less exposition, for instance? Are you trying to reach a multi-denominational market? Does the use of language reflect this? I look at whether content choices are appropriate or adequate. Have you perhaps left anything out? Is all content adequately explained and developed? Might there be another way of explaining things based on the overall premise of the book? I also look at subtleties such as depth of meaning, resonance, patterning and subtext and comment on clarity in the narrative. Additionally, I look at continuity, and out for any repetitions or clichés, and at authorial style, and voice, and what needs to be added or developed in these areas. I give constructive suggestions as required. I review the actual sentences – at varying the language for instance, and at sentence length and clarity of meaning. During the editing process, I keep an eye on marketability and your target audience when making suggestions. Cost: Usually £75 p/h but I quote based on the amount of work necessary. Line Editing A full line edit advising on choice of grammar, word choice, syntax and punctuation. I also flag up repetitions, cliché’s and any other errors. I make suggestions line by line in order to make your writing the best it can be. I correct errors in punctuation, spelling and grammar and check for continuity, coherence of meaning, as well as any factual errors and to a large extent, as with the developmental edit, I look at the pace, continuity, style, and flow of the narrative and word choices. I also look out for clichés and anachronisms, (with alternative suggestions). Usually £50-60 per hour but I quote on a case-by-case basis depending on how much work the manuscript needs Proofreading This is the final phase before publishing. Combing through the text for any minor errors such as punctuation and typos pre publication. This stage also covers italicisation, formatting, capitalisation, footnotes and appendices. Usually £40-50 per hour Please note, I usually ask a member of my team to do this if I have done the line editing. Content Writing I work with a number of clients to help them develop content for their websites, blogs and articles. I quote on a case-by-case basis. Press releases and other marketing materials As above, I quote on a case-by-case basis. "My thanks to Emily for making my dream a reality, in seeing me through the publishing process. Emily - the 'editor midwife,' - patient and wise, in helping me deliver Elin's Air. Emily Stanford, author of Elin's Air "A huge big Thank you to my wonderful Editor Emily Hillman. Without your ongoing support to write the book, it wouldn’t be out there. You helped me so much to develop the story into something readable and worked day and night to get it printed on time for the Book Launch. I am also so very grateful for you holding my hand during this sometimes challenging journey. I love you!" Bettina Blume, Author of “Won Ton and Hissie” I really valued Emily’s feedback - she was honest and direct whilst still fully valuing my conviction. I loved how she could just tell it how it is and be real, but then also let me decide how I took her advice on board. I also was super appreciative of Emily’s skills and knowledge when I came to writing styles and how to make the book engaging and interesting. I really appreciated Emily’s wisdom and encouragement and her capacity to keep focused on the bigger picture. I believe the book was published at the right time and I really valued the way Emily would keep me grounded in that - Bobbi Kumari, author of Sacred Sexuality "It's been a pleasure seeing how your suggestions made my poetry stronger. Thank you for everything you did. So glad you were recommended you to me. You're a gift." Sade Temiola, Author of poetry and prose book, The Silence that Falls Our book has arrived, it looks amazing! We are really pleased with the book, thank you. We spoke at a summit today for Christian authors today and mentioned how helpful you had been with our book. So you may get some new queries, it may be because of this. Mark Gilpin, Author When I pitched my book, I had offers from other publishers, including a well known company chose Emily and Simon, who not only have the skillsets, experience, expertise, but also wisdom and genuine care. Emily suggested that I should publish under Living in Light. This filled me with such confidence that Emily really was seeing this project through a wider lens than the average publisher. I am so grateful for the effort they poured into my first book. I can’t thank them enough. They did an amazing job with my book and I’m so happy and grateful. It was so reassuring and encouraging to work with them both! I have told many others about their service and I know that whoever they work with will be so blessed by all that they know, carry and produce. BK, Living in Light Journals and Publications Emily has been editing my published work for over ten years now. Her work has helped me have my work published in several books and academic journals. She is my go-to editor for all aspects of editing. She is brilliant. Dr. Judit Durst, UCL London Emily first edited for me 13 years ago for my doctoral thesis. She is so widely read, and has a real ability to grasp complex academic writing across genres; this, coupled with her being an award-winning writer herself, as well as having such a firm grip on the English language, makes her a real cut above the rest. Dr Simon Richard Hillman, Kings College, London. “I could not have had my first paper published by the journal if Emily had not rewritten and restructured my paper. Being a Hungarian writer in translation, I needed Emily’s expertise to polish my English work and I was over the moon when I had my first paper published after she had worked on it.” Veronika Nagy, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest “She has worked a miracle on this paper…” Margit Feischmidt, Intersections Journal, Editor in Chief “Emily has been an essential component in these papers coming to publication.” Nora Kovacs, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest
Emily Barroso’s Editing Services 2021
Please note, I use track changes to edit.
Developmental Editing
Please note, developmental editing is for authors who want a publishing standard edit and who are prepared to be challenged in the way that an in-house publishing editor would do so. It’s a specialist service that requires years of expertise and experience. As with writers, there are many copy editors and proof readers of all types to be found in today’s publishing market, but experienced developmental editors are a rare breed – pardon me for saying so myself!
During the developmental editing phase, I look at and comment on the overall shape, structure and flow of the narrative. Is the book too long or short? Are chapters too long or short? Do chapters work comprehensively and drive the central theme or subject matter forward? Are chapter endings punchy? Should there be more chapter development?
I also look at genre and style. Should there be more testimony or story and less exposition, for instance? Are you trying to reach a multi-denominational market? Does the use of language reflect this?
I look at whether content choices are appropriate or adequate. Have you perhaps left anything out? Is all content adequately explained and developed? Might there be another way of explaining things based on the overall premise of the book? I also look at subtleties such as depth of meaning, resonance, patterning and subtext and comment on clarity in the narrative.
Additionally, I look at continuity, and out for any repetitions or clichés, and at authorial style, and voice, and what needs to be added or developed in these areas. I give constructive suggestions as required.
I review the actual sentences – at varying the language for instance, and at sentence length and clarity of meaning.
During the editing process, I keep an eye on marketability and your target audience when making suggestions.
Cost: Usually £75 p/h but I quote based on the amount of work necessary.
Line Editing
A full line edit advising on choice of grammar, word choice, syntax and punctuation. I also flag up repetitions, cliché’s and any other errors. I make suggestions line by line in order to make your writing the best it can be.
I correct errors in punctuation, spelling and grammar and check for continuity, coherence of meaning, as well as any factual errors and to a large extent, as with the developmental edit, I look at the pace, continuity, style, and flow of the narrative and word choices. I also look out for clichés and anachronisms, (with alternative suggestions).
Usually £50-60 per hour but I quote on a case-by-case basis depending on how much work the manuscript needs
Proofreading
This is the final phase before publishing. Combing through the text for any minor errors such as punctuation and typos pre publication. This stage also covers italicisation, formatting, capitalisation, footnotes and appendices.
Usually £40-50 per hour
Please note, I usually ask a member of my publishing team to do this if I have done the line editing.
Content Writing
I work with a number of clients to help them develop content for their websites, blogs and articles. I quote on a case-by-case basis.
Press releases and other marketing materials
As above, I quote on a case-by-case basis.
Consulting and Coaching
I am a creative coach and consultant. I charge an hourly consultancy fee of £75.00 for conference calls on all aspects of writing, editing and publishing.
As a coach I charge an hourly rate and have packages available for individual clients. Please contact me for details.