Manuscript Assessment and Editing

Ed provides top quality manuscript assessment and editing services for fiction, non-fiction and poetry manuscripts. Books he has worked on have been short-listed for the Miles Franklin, Prime Minister’s and Walkley Awards among others and he has extensive experience in helping people realise their dreams of publication.

Manuscript Assessment

This service provides feedback on the main structural elements of a manuscript and also an indication of whether it is ready to submit to publishers and agents. Ed’s experience as an editor, but also as a long-time newspaper book reviewer specialising in Australian fiction and publisher give him an invaluable edge in assessing your manuscript. This service is best undertaken once a first draft has been finished.

Editing

A full edit includes a structural edit and a line edit. Our structural editing resembles a more in-depth version of a manuscript assessment. Line editing is not just about fixing grammar, but of tightening sentences so they sing. It’s an intensive process that can make all the difference.

Publication

We can also arrange for your book to be proofread, typeset, the cover designed, and printed or formatted for ebook.

Testimonials

Ed told me what I wanted to know but also what I needed to hear. I wanted to know whether the draft I’d completed was worth pursuing, and I needed to hear what didn’t work. It’s hard to get an overall perspective on your own writing, especially in a long form, and so I was really pleased by Ed’s generous, engaged and constructive feedback. He provided me with some examples of successful novels in the genre I’m working in, a breakdown of the characters and plot in my draft, and a number of options for improving the overall storyline. I now feel that I have a potential way forward with the draft and, perhaps more importantly, a good sense of what to take with me on that journey, and what I might just as well leave behind. I can thoroughly recommend Ed’s services as a manuscript assessor.

David Prater

I needed to finish my memoir and stop the writing procrastination. In the first term at Creative Word Shop I learned so much, I enrolled again. Ed expanded my skills with accurate feedback, guiding my writing voice and helping me stay on track. The workshops were fun, educational and professional and my book would not have been published, had it not been for Ed’s encouragement and wonderful teaching. Bronwyn MacRitchie, author of Pixie Dust.

Ed Wright was the editor for my novel Waiting and he also read and advised, editorially, on my next novel in-progress, The Returns. Ed is a brilliant combination of sympathetic reader, insightful editorial eye and hard task-master. He is subtle but strong, he knows where to suggest, and where to insist, and the difference is crucial. [He gave me the criticism I needed to reduce my manuscript by 20,000 words – without alarming me, without losing anything essential – and thereby achieve the best possible structure and value of the novel. Ed saw how some characters were over-indulged and other under-done. This can unbalance any novel, but especially a novel like Waiting, where the narrator focalises so closely with allthe characters.] A fine and very well read editor like Ed knows the problems common to many novels but also how each manuscript is unique.

The writer often becomes over-invested in the manuscript when all seems finally to be right. An editor must see through this illusion of the writer’s; a good editor knows the writer’s words are not sacrosanct. The editor must first see then show where the writing can be better, where it is loose, cliched, digressive, even well-written … but extraneous. The editor must do this without interrupting the writer’s essential vision. Ed Wright is this kind of editor. He knows what he is doing. He does it with flair and endless good humour.

The above is the expected range of a fine editor. But Ed has shown extra talent and favour – he has added ideas for my writing which allowed me to both reduce the word-length and better integrate the characters with the narrative. He has suggested excellent plot shifts and narrative variations. He gave me new possibilities. This is special advice. It is generous advice. Editors do not always behave so selflessly. I absolutely recommend him!

Philip Salom (both these books Ed worked on were short-listed for the Miles Franklin Prize)

Ed was recommended to me by a writing tutor when I was at the crucial stage of a second draft, with no idea what step to take next. Ed delivered a thoughtful and detailed review of the manuscript, calling out key characterisation issues that I knew were there but was too close to the subject to see and address. Ed really understood the nature of the story I was trying to tell and was able to articulate it in a way I was struggling to. He reviewed plot, structure, the relationships between the characters and also offered advice on publishability. I felt that he took the time to really understand and consider the story’s strengths and weaknesses. I would absolutely recommend Ed for writers stuck at a draft, or even part way through a draft, to help clarify the way forward and give you thoughtful and constructive feedback. Thanks Ed! Jessica Mansour-Nahra

Jessica Mansour-Nahra

His deep knowledge of story and the craft of writing allows him to communicate with the writer on a very practical level. I found his advice to be invaluable, helping me develop my manuscript in a way that honoured the potential of the story without ever misrepresenting my intentions as a writer. More particularly, he always had a solution for any given problem as well as knowing how tobest use that most important of tools, the delete button. But of all the many things which recommend him, perhaps the most important is that he brings a reader’s love to his work. His enthusiasm for the written word is inspiring.

Ian Shadwell

Author of Slush Pile

As a qualified editor as well as published author and writing lecturer Dr Ed Wright is well equipped to not only edit the written word but also to give helpful advice. I found him easy to relate to from the very first meeting. He is encouraging, insightful and empathetic. Although he gave constructive criticism I always came away from our time together believing he was positive about the potential of my book. I have followed all his suggestions and believe that my writing is better because of them.

Ruth Myors

Author of When the Lights Go Out

It’s rare to find an editor with the eyes for the big picture
and
the glasses for the finish edit – Ed Wright is one such provider. He’ll improve your work by 10-20%.

Monte Dwyer

Author of The Egg Collector

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