We can’t thank Charlie enough for her editorial support, patience and attention to detail. Our books were transformed from amateur scripts to real proper books under her watchful eye. Just brilliant!

Penny Avis and Joanna Berry, authors

Go Away I'm Editing Bone China Mug

Oxford A-Z of
Grammar and Punctuation

SERVICESThe Book Specialist offers a full range of editorial services for authors and publishers:

Please visit each service’s page for full details and examples. If you would like a quote for your project, please contact me.

SERVICES FAQs

How does the editing, proofreading and critiquing process work?
The client sends over an extract of their book and lets me know the total word count and the level of service they require (the best way to do this is via the contact form on the Contact page). I look at the extract, and come back to the client with a costing, timescale and terms for the service they require (and I may recommend other services as well). If the client is happy to proceed, my assistant sends an invoice. If the fee is £300 or less, or the client is based outside the UK, I require the full payment upfront. Otherwise, I invoice half of the project fee in advance. Once the client pays the invoice, I assign an editor to the job. When the editor has finished the edit/proofread, I return the file(s) to the client along with any notes/questions, and my assistant sends the final invoice if applicable. The client goes through the edit and comes back to me with any questions, and pays the final invoice within 14 days.

How does the ghostwriting process work?
The client sends an initial email outlining their requirements and providing as much information as they can. I assess the email and see, at that point, whether I think I can help. If the book looks promising, I arrange to call the client and chat on the phone about the project. From there, if I think the book is viable and I am available to ghostwrite it, I will meet the client.

How does the author mentor process work?
The client gets in touch with their requirements. I look at whatever samples of writing are available, and establish whether I think I can be of help and have the availability to do so. With author mentoring, it's essential that I feel my support will really benefit the author and that I will be able to work well with the author.

Can I request Charlie Wilson to work on my book?
I do my best to accommodate authors' wishes, but because I spend my time running The Book Specialist, writing my own books and ghostwriting, I am not always available to take on a project. All editors working for The Book Specialist are hand-selected by me from my network of contacts and all have gone through my careful training before they are cleared to edit without supervision. Therefore, when you work with an editor other than myself through The Book Specialist, I have full confidence that the service you receive is as good as that which I would provide myself.

Will you proofread/edit any material?
Pretty much. I focus on books (ebooks and print), but my proofreaders and editors also work on scripts and screenplays, poems, song lyrics, reports, website copy and marketing materials. And for academic text, I refer clients to my sister company, AcEDemy.

If, when I assess an extract, I don't feel the writing is of a standard to be proofread or edited, I may not take on the project.

Can you help me find a publisher for my book?
I'm a writer and editor, not an agent. If I were to spend my time helping clients place their books, that would take me away from what I do best: editing and writing. My experience and my skills lie in the editorial field, so this is what I focus on. Although I may recommend an agent or publisher if I think it's worth you approaching them, it is the client's responsibility to submit the book. I am, however, in the process of setting up a searchable database of agents and publishers that accept submissions which will be integrated into this website soon.

Do you work with clients outside the UK?
Yes, I have clients all over the world. I do, however, ask non-UK clients to pay the full project fee upfront as security.

Do you have terms and conditions?
Yes – you can access them from the very bottom of this page. I ask all clients to accept The Book Specialist general terms and conditions of work, as well as the project-specific terms, before work commences.