Welcome to Mr Edit

It’s been said many times that having your manuscript professionally edited makes it just that little bit less unpublishable.

There’s truth in that statement.

Up to a point.

Not every manuscript is, after all, worth editing. Fact is, some are so poor they ought to be in a workhouse, not a publishing house. It’s no sin, mind. No shame. It’s just that good writing takes time to develop and generally won’t be rushed.

You live, you learn.

So it goes.

Other manuscripts, meanwhile, are good, but not quite good enough. They’ve got style and substance and are generally sound. But they need that extra edge.

Or polish.

Which is where guys like myself, Mr Edit, come in.

So welcome to my editing desk.

Editing services

I’m an editor primarily, a ghostwriter secondly, and a novelist too. I fix failing fiction and ailing articles and help bail out sinking books. I don’t promise anything except my best, and I offer no guarantees, written or implied, except the promise of a tough road to success.

Or failure.

But if you’re lost for words, stuck for style, or just need a fresh pair of eyes to perk up your prose, you’ve come to the right place.

Practically all broken manuscripts can be repaired. But if I feel that yours is beyond economically viable help, I'll tell you and will advise on how and where to begin again.

I'm confident enough that my editing services and skills are second to none. But I make no offers to "work within your budget"—which is usually a euphemism for a cut price and therefore inadequate service.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for, and the last thing you want to do before submitting your hard-wrought manuscript is to saddle it with a cheap edit.

So shop around and see what else is on offer. There are some very good editors out there, and one or two ... well, less than good.

It's a buyer's market.

Buy carefully.

Writer's workshop

Aspiring writers looking for help and advice might care to check out the links on these pages. My writer's workshop offers free tips on how to find a literary agent; how to handle rejection; how to plot a novel—and monographs on many other subjects pertinent to the business of creative writing.

There are also some inspiring words on how to maintain your enthusiasm and how to stay focussed. So check out my Inspiration for writers page, and see what I have to say on the contentious subject of Writer's block.

Acceptance and rejection

I’ve made a million mistakes in my time. You can read some of them for yourself on the sample pages from my novels. But maybe you can learn from my errors—or at least compare notes and console yourself that you’re not alone out there.

Everything I do is handled right here by me. I don’t sub-out work. I don’t buy editing services. What you see is what you get; one editor with 25 years at the sharp end. I think I'm pretty good and reasonably priced. So can I help you with your project?

Whenever you're ready, email me for a quote. There's always scope for improvement, and it really can make the difference between acceptance and rejection. Remember that today's literary agents and publishers are flooded with hopeful material and will accept only the best.

If you credit it, edit it.

And in the meantime, keep writing.

Never give up.

Mike O'Neill

P.S. I've been developing some You Tube videos that might be of interest to you. Hope you enjoy them.
Here are the links:

Mr Edit. Let's talk about dialogue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lauFZ5d59wY

Mr Edit. Pitching fiction to a literary agent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy698w2Ooc8

Mr Edit. 5 Minute Fiction Fix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q75oh6SDEFY

Mr Edit. Let's talk about tautology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zhoBLImV6U

Links for writers

Preditors & Editors. Here's where you can check out the credentials of literary agents and publishers. A must for any writer.

http://pred-ed.com

Creative Helps. Helpful resource for the creative community. Articles, links and tips.

http://www.creativehelps.com/products.htm

Nick Daws' Writing Blog. Lots of useful posts on all aspects of writing, both for print and online, plus a guest post for anyone who wants to make a contribution. Check it out.

http://www.mywritingblog.com

Creative writing

● Writing tips

● Plotting a novel

● Finding a literary agent

● Choosing a literary agent

● Agent query letters

● Inspiration for writers

● Rejection letters

● Manuscript critique

● 5 minute fiction fix

● Proof reading

● Writer's block

● Creative writing school

● How to get published

● Active & passive voice

Sample writing

Like to read a few examples of my style of writing? Check out the links below. If you like what you read, and have a manuscript of your own that needs a little help, email me. I'll do what I can.

Sample 1

Dirty Business

Murder and mayhem following an industrial pollution cover-up.

Sample 2

Cruising

A light hearted tale about a holiday venture, with a difference.

Sample 3

Exit Point

An aviator becomes embroiled in a terrorist murder plot.

Sample 4

The Grace of God

A tale of blackmail following a hit-and-run incident.

Sample 5

Exclusion Zone

A middle-aged man takes a couple of suitcase bombs onto a London underground train.

Special features

Darley Anderson, top UK literary agent, on books,
publishing and success

Zoë Sharp, creator of the action-packed Charlie Fox series of books

Jeff Kleinman, New York literary agent, talks shop

Crème de la Crime:
An interview with Lynne Patrick, publisher and managing editor of a smaller—but essential—British publishing house.

Click the image above
to see more excerpts from
my novels. All feedback,  whether good, bad or indifferent, is welcomed and appreciated.

● Mr Edit advert 1

● Mr Edit advert 2

● Mr Edit advert 3

● Mr Edit advert 4