Writing a book proposal? Need some book proposal editing with constructive feedback from an experienced guide?
I’d love to learn more about your project and help you achieve your publishing goal.
If you’re writing a book proposal, you can sometimes feel daunted by the mysterious world of book publishing. You begin with a great idea for a book, but as you draft and revise, doubts can set in.
- How can I tell whether my idea will appeal to literary agents and book publishers?
- Is my proposal ready for agent submission?
- Have I forgotten to include something important in my book proposal?
- Who can I trust for constructive and commercially astute suggestions to make my book proposal the best it can be?
You don’t need superficial copyediting that spots a few typos and word repetition.
You don’t need empty encouragement from someone calling themselves a freelance editor or publishing consultant who has never written or edited a traditionally published nonfiction book.
What you do need is a constructive book proposal edit and practical advice from an experienced publishing professional that gets you closer to your goal—a literary agent and a book deal.
My book proposal editing will help you get there.
I’ve turned a lifelong obsession with books and writing into a business helping other writers get literary agents and publishing deal. Authors such as:
- physician Dr Olivia Ong, who is finishing a memoir that HarperCollins acquired from the book proposal I edited and developed with her.
- psychologists Professor Gillian Straker and Dr Jacqui Winship, who with my help transformed their academic-sounding manuscript into a commercially appealing book — resulting in The Talking Cure (Macmillan).
- journalist Tim Elliott, who I helped turn an explosive feature article in The Sydney Morning Herald into a manuscript that was hotly contested by several publishers at auction and published as Farewell to the Father (Macmillan).
- novelist Fiona Higgins, whose breakout debut The Mothers’ Group (Allen & Unwin) was a national bestseller.
- dog behaviourist Guy Hull, who came to me with an idea for a book that I helped him turn into the bestselling The Dogs That Made Australia. (HarperCollins).
What sets me apart from most publishing folks you’ll find online is that I’ve been a commercially published author (twice), and a literary agent, as well as an in-house editor of fiction and nonfiction for a big five publisher. I know how hard it is to write a book — and how hard it is to sell one to a publishing house. I know the level you need to reach, and the questions and concerns that publishing professionals will have about your project.
My portfolio and testimonials speak to the ways I help aspiring authors and subject experts achieve their publishing dreams. I can help you too.
Why do my clients get book publishing deals?
As a published author I know how hard it is to write a book and get it published, and I understand the joys and agonies of rewriting. I bring all my experience and empathy to the immersive work of book proposal editing and manuscript development.
As a former literary agent I know exactly how selective agents can afford to be and the reservations they’ll have about a book proposal or query letter—so I make sure that my book proposal editing reflects the expectations of industry decision-makers.
As an experienced structural editor I can see identify areas for improvement in most book proposals and sample chapters that the author, who is typically too close to their material, often cannot.
My clients value my strong editorial background because I know what constitutes a book proposal or manuscript of publishable quality. Client outcomes in the form of agent representation and book deals reflect the fact that hard work invested in book proposal editing pays off.
In my clients’ words:
Anna Bligh Through The Wall
Anna and I worked closely for several months during the drafting and editing of her story of...
Agent, MS developmentTim Elliott Farewell to the Father
Tim came to me for help turning a feature article about his brilliant but troubled father into...
Agent, MS developmentDavid Kowalski The Company of the Dead
Award-winning work of alternate history, the first book I sold as an agent. Published in the US...
AgentKatrina Lawrence Paris Dreaming
Structural edit for the publisher, HarperCollins...
MS development, Structural EditingVirginia Lloyd – Girls at the Piano
A story about how learning to play the piano shaped the lives of the author and her...
AuthorJenny Ackland The Secret Son
I was delighted to discover Jenny, and then find her a publisher for this warm, haunting novel...
Agent, MS developmentMaryanne Moodie On the Loom: A Modern Weaver’s Guide
Reviewing and advising on aspects of the author's offer from her publisher, Norton...
AgentKellie Arrowsmith Skimpy
Kellie and I worked on the structure and a few sample chapters before I pitched and sold her...
Agent, MS developmentGuy Hull The Dogs that Made Australia
Guy and I developed a chapter outline and a partial manuscript, which was enough to convince...
Agent, MS developmentFiona HigginsThe Mothers’ Group
Fiona was a nonfiction client when she sent me the draft of a novel she'd written. When I read...
Nonfiction Book ProposalsDr Cassandra Pybus Truganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse
I helped esteemed historian Cassandra Pybus find a publisher for this important book, which...
AgentVirginia Lloyd – The Young Widow’s Book of Home Improvement
A young professional woman finally meets the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with,...
AuthorTracy Crisp Surrogate
I edited three drafts of this novel as the author developed it....
Structural EditingHave You Seen Simone
Exploratory discussion of the ideas and motivation for the author's new project...
MentoringSally Cooper Between a Burqua and a Hard Place
I helped the author shape a publishable book-length work from a diary she kept of her...
Agent, MS developmentMaryanne Moodie Weave The Rainbow- Forthcoming
Reviewing and advising on aspects of the author's offer from her publisher, Norton...
AgentSally Rynveld & Guy Winship A Good Life: The Story of Guy Winship and Good Return
Initial manuscript assessment led to a detailed structural report -- and ultimately a...
MS development, Structural EditingLeon Silver The Miracle Typist
Structural edit for the publisher, Simon & Schuster...
Structural EditingLauren Chater Gullivers Wife
Structural edit on the bestselling debut author's second novel for the publisher, Simon & Schuster...
Structural EditingDr Steven Lin The Dental Diet
I helped Steven clarify his pitch & chapter outline, edit sample chapters, finalize a book...
MS development, Nonfiction Book ProposalsBecoming Westerly
I provided encouragement and some editorial notes, and found Jamie an Australian publisher for...
AgentGame, Set, Cash!
Brad came to me with a great idea and a rough ms. With some editorial tough love I got him a...
Agent, MS developmentBrooke Hemphill Lesbian For A Year
After working with the author on story structure and a chapter outline, I was able to find her...
Agent, MS developmentLily Brett Lola Bensky
I was proud to edit this wonderful novel, Lily's sixth, which won the prestigious Prix Médicis...
EditorAshley Hay A Hundred Small Lessons
I edited this folllow-up novel to Ashley's international bestseller The Railwayman's Wife for...
EditorDore Ashton David Rankin: The New York Years
I interviewed the artist to create a first-person introductory essay to this volume, published...
EditorProfessor Gillian Straker and Dr Jacqui Winship The Talking Cure
The authors approached me for constructive feedback on their manuscript. We worked together to...
Agent, MS developmentFleur McDonald The Missing Pieces of Us
I worked with one of Australia's leading rural novelists on this novel about mothers,...
EditorLaura Garber- In Progress
Structural report and developmental editing on my client's memoir-in-progress...
MS development, Structural Editing
Book Proposal Editing
Description: A practical and commercially minded book proposal edit that identifies potential red flags and other issues that might limit literary agents and/or book publishers’ interest in your book project—and Zoom meeting to clarify your questions about the proposal and your next steps.
Who is this for: Aspiring nonfiction authors who want to save time with a personalized constructive editorial feedback and industry insights to help fast-track their dreams of a literary agent and book publishing deal.
How it works:
- Following purchase, please send your draft book proposal to hello at lloydliterary.com. (Maximum of 30 double-spaced pages.)
- I read and edit your draft as a Google doc, annotating the document with my sense of its strengths as well as areas for further development, or anything that appears to be missing from the proposal.
- I send you the edited proposal along with a link for you to schedule a Zoom consultation.
- We have a Zoom discussion of 50 minutes to clarify your questions on my feedback and issues arising.
- I will provided limited written feedback on a revised draft if you submit it within one month (30 calendar days) of our Zoom meeting.
Outcomes:
- an edited book proposal with detailed annotations that will guide you through the process of further revision and refinement if/as required
- a clear sense of what else needs doing to strengthen your proposal prior to agent or publisher submissions
- a direct connection with a publishing professional with a strong track record of client results who can answer most of your publishing-related questions
$997
All Prices in USD