The Mini-Comprehensive Edit

I was referred to Shelley by a literary agent who felt that my book needed further editing. I’d used literary agencies in the past, with mixed experiences, but Shelley seemed to offer something different – a truly personal service, rather than a fairly anonymous book report with little back-up. Not to mention an expertise in children’s and YA literature that is second to none.

Shelley was amazingly prompt. Within a week of sending off my manuscript, she returned a comprehensive set of notes, with both an overview of the book, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggestions for improvement. In addition, her line-by-line analysis of my prose helped me to identify habits and quirks I needed to attend to, as well as drawing attention to where I could further strengthen the narrative and characterization.

But above and beyond her skills as an editor and YA lit doctor, Shelley offered a level of emotional support that proved invaluable. At a point when I was ready to abandon my book completely, unable to see a way forward, Shelley’s resolute ‘kick up the backside’ was just what I needed. Her faith in the book motivated me to move past the obstacles I’d set up in my head and forge ahead. The revision did not actually prove as difficult as I feared, and undoubtedly made the book a lot stronger – when I resubmitted it to agents, I was lucky enough to gain considerable interest.