Books are personal.
The editing should be,
too.
I'm Joseph Collins, a professional book editor with more than nine years of experience working with fiction and nonfiction authors. I hold a BA in Creative Writing and gained three years of professional experience working with reputable publishing presses before moving into freelance editing. I'm also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and work confidently in both US and UK English.
Over the years, I've had the chance to work on all kinds of manuscripts, from novels and memoirs to self-help and other nonfiction. One of the things I enjoy most about editing is getting to know an author's writing style and understanding what they want their book to become. Every manuscript is different, and I don't believe editing should make every author sound the same.
My approach is simple: I want to strengthen what's already there without taking over the writing. That might mean improving structure, tightening a sentence, catching inconsistencies, or simply knowing when to leave something alone. The goal is always to give you a cleaner, stronger manuscript while keeping the voice and personality that make the book yours.
Every genre asks something different.
I've worked with books across a range of fiction and nonfiction genres. Each comes with its own conventions, reader expectations, and challenges, so the editing should never feel one-size-fits-all.
Fiction
Nonfiction
Have a manuscript outside these genres? Feel free to get in touch and tell me about your project.
Contact Me →Let’s make your manuscript stronger, without losing what makes it yours.
Send me a sample and I'll edit it at no cost, so you can see how I work before moving forward.