You’re writing a novel. I’m here to help.

I’m Sarah de Souza, a freelance book editor with over five years’ professional experience at some of the world’s most commercially successful publishing houses. I would love to work with you to grow your talent, polish your prose, and set up your novel for publishing success.

I have worked on bestselling, award-winning novels across a range of genres including literary fiction, romance, memoirs, crime and thrillers, memoirs, fantasy and historical fiction, many of which have charted in bestseller rankings and been reviewed in the New York Times, The Sunday Times and The Guardian.

How I can help

I’ve been lucky enough to work with hundreds of talented authors over the course of my career and love the entire process of editing, whether that’s troubleshooting plot holes, coaching an author through detailed line-edits or providing insider knowledge and guidance on how to navigate the publishing industry.

I work with authors of all genres and levels. Maybe you’re…

  • Looking for a detailed manuscript assessment to elevate your book to the next level

  • Halfway through your first draft but stuck on what happens next

  • Perfecting your novel for publication and need a second pair of eyes

No matter what stage you’re at in your novel, I’d love to hear from you.

Editorial services I offer

  • I provide a thorough assessment of your manuscript and tailored guidance on how to make it a success, including:

    -15-20 pages of guidance on characters, structure, pacing and tone

    -In-depth comments on every page of your manuscript

    -Follow-up Zoom calls and emails for extra support and feedback

    -Insider tips about the publishing industry

    My editing style is friendly but fierce (I will be honest if something isn't working!) I'm a strong believer that there is nothing less helpful for a writer than a vague comment like 'Pacing feels slow here' or 'Add more tone'. My feedback is specific: I won't just tell you there's a plot hole, I will offer tailored solutions on how you could fix it.

    To hire me or for any questions, please get in touch

  • I will edit your novel line by line, word by word, with an eye on clarity and flow, providing in-depth commentary and polishing your prose until it glows.

    I'll address the following:

    •Authenticity of phrasing and word choice in relation to character voice

    •Chapter sequencing

    •Character-trait consistency

    •Cliché and awkward metaphor

    •Dialogue expression: style, tagging and punctuation

    •Effectiveness of sentence-level narration

    •Layout guidance

    •Letter, word, line and paragraph spacing

    •Pace and flow: special attention to repetition and overwriting

    •Problematic representation, stereotyping and othering

    •Spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation, hyphenation and capitalization

    •Standard document formatting using Word’s styles palette: indentation, paragraph style, section breaks

    •Told versus shown prose

    •Use of tenses

    To hire me, or for any questions, please get in touch

  • Need someone to fix grammar gaffes, nix typos and format your manuscript in line with publishing best practices, to maximise its changes of being plucked out of a submissions pile? I'm a fully trained proofreader with 5 years' professional experience.

    You can hire me on Reedsy, or by dropping me a line here (which may be quicker!)

  • We will work together on your submissions package - query letter, synopsis and pitch - to make it an irresistible proposal for agents and publishers.

I have a track record of working with leading publishers such as Hachette and Penguin, as well as leading agencies like Janklow and Nesbit, David Higham, Madeleine Milburn (and many more!) I know the ingredients that make an editor or agent pick a manuscript out of their submissions pile, and can give you insight into publishing trends and industry know-how to set up your novel for success. I am here to help you structure query letters, proposals and pitches to help ensure that your book lands with the perfect agent or publisher.

I provide a fierce (but friendly!) and flexible editing service which is tailored to each author and their needs. I guarantee to wholeheartedly devote myself to every editing project with enthusiasm, creativity and thoroughness and am committed to making my services accessible to all*. I'm nice, too (I promise!) so please don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss a project or find out more about my rates and services. I would love to work on your book together.

View my portfolio on Reedsy

Writer bursaries

*I offer a limited number of writer bursaries every year: these are free of charge editorial services for writers from low-income backgrounds who would otherwise be unable to afford to hire an editor. To apply for a bursary, please drop me a line introducing yourself and your work.