Non-fiction

Non-fiction encompasses a wide range of diverse styles and genres focusing on real-world events and experiences. Non-fiction usually aims to inform and instruct, but great non-fiction can also be moving, powerful and emotive. Just like fiction writing, high-quality non-fiction writing is all about telling a compelling story that will grab your readers and make them want to find out more.

Non-fiction aims to represent the world as it is (or was), so it’s important that your writing is free from errors and inconsistencies. This will build trust with readers and make your work more authoritative. It’s also important that the narrative structure hangs together, and that the writing style is accessible and engaging. Non-fiction works often include referencing, and it’s vital that citations are accurate and that authors follow the relevant referencing style or house style guide.

I can help you to develop, improve and polish your non-fiction writing. I work on a diverse range of non-fiction texts, including:

  • non-fiction books and reference works

  • biography, autobiography and memoir

  • local history and family history

  • self-development and self-help material

  • guides, guidebooks and instructional texts

  • online articles and blogs

  • magazine and newspaper articles

  • educational materials and textbooks

My areas of expertise and interest include:

  • music, popular music, music history

  • society, culture, popular culture, media

  • literature

  • art, art history

  • history

  • self-help, psychology, wellbeing, personal and professional development

  • travel

  • food and drink

  • education, learning and teaching

Please see below for a list of non-fiction services. These services can be tailored or combined to suit your specific project.

 Non-fiction Services

Copyediting

Copyediting is the editing process which prepares a text for publication. This means ensuring that a text is clear, consistent, readable and accurate, and that it is written in a style that will be appropriate for the target audience. Copyediting takes place at sentence level, which means paying close attention to sense, meaning and clarity, as well as grammar, spelling and punctuation. Copyediting can also involve preparing the text for typesetting.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing (sometimes called structural editing or substantive editing) usually takes place early in the editing process. A developmental edit focuses primarily on the big picture, considering the organisation of ideas, the narrative structure and the coherence of arguments within a work.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final quality check before a text is published. This typically involves checking grammar, spelling, punctuation and consistency, and looking for any last-minute errors. Proofreading sometimes takes place after formatting has been applied to the text, and it is usually the last stage in the editorial process. As your proofreader, I can also apply the house style and check/format references if this is required (see below).

Reference Checking/Formatting

A special service I offer to academics and authors of non-fiction. Checking and formatting references can be a time-consuming and arduous task. I will work through your references, ensuring that they are formatted according to the relevant style. This saves you time, so that you can relax and get to work on your next project.

Please note, this service requires me to have access to a complete list of your references. This list must contain all of the relevant information required for each citation (such as page range, volume number, publication place, publisher, etc.). I must also have access to the house style guide or referencing style guide that you are using.