
Encouragement is the only true criticism. Pen to paper is the most judged external act.
I have edited, mentored thousand-page tomes and single sentences on scraps of paper, bestsellers to absolute beginners, and see something worth seeing in them all. Editing is creative if there is trust in development.
We are a team approaching your story.
Each works respectfully with the other and the manuscript. We begin with what your manuscript contributes, not what it lacks. We work to improve, not decimate.
From published award winners to students of adult literacy, the fear is the same. Hesitant beginnings bring about powerful publications. I aim to give authors listening skills to their own work. Sometimes the person I work with is a beginner in the first instance and becomes a professional author by the time our work together is done. Most who persist have, and will continue to be published.Our collaboration - your empowerment.
We work from a foundation of inspiration.Suggestions over Instructions
The only real authority over a story is its author –notice that one word is contained in the other. Author is the verb in this case, authority the noun.
Tools over Opinions
Together we shape for improvement; we hone your skills to edit your own words, in your own way.
Insight
My skill is to offer you a perspective that does not remove your own. However rough the draft I will see the potential.
Establishing Authority
From inception to conclusion, an editor is someone who hears the writer actively. It is not the mentor’s book, but the writer’s. The writer has the author-ity.
Persistence
We push past the feelings, always an interim story, to reach the conclusion.
A book, a story, a poem, a website, anything that presents you as you, is in your hands.
For writers who have books at differing stages with the same intention.
Editing becomes Empowering.
Each project is unique.
Each story is assessed and priced according to the stage the story is at and the requirements of the writer.
If you have a completed draft it will be of great benefit to you to decide what kind of edit you require.
A first draft manuscript or redrafted – you will know which of the following best suits your story and you as a writer.
Options for Working Together
Proofreading
You want someone to do your grammar, spelling, layout and punctuation checks. Rates apply but if the manuscript requires extra consideration, an hourly rate is used.
Copy and Creative Editing
You want a considered evaluation of a completed first draft manuscript. You have three options.
Creative Edit
For the author who wants to develop their story and needs an experienced assessment of the text (on a micro and/or macro level) together with creative recommendations.
A technical genius
Suzanne is just so knowledgeable about literature and writing - her critiques were always on the ball, and always constructive. Her close readings were detailed, and insightful. Suzanne is extremely skilled at teaching the craft of writing, and conveying all the elements that go into a novel. All these years later – I’m still referring to her handouts on structure! I couldn’t recommend Suzanne highly enough. Her love of writing is infectious. She can restart the heart of any novel, and when it comes to the craft - she’s a technical genius. A very fair person, she was equally passionate about all her students work and created a safe and magical space where we could explore our creativity without fear of judgment.
Niamh Boyce, authorAn exceptional thinker and believer
Suzanne believed in me, she believed in us as a group. She believed in our capacity to write words which were important to us and she helped us believe we could do it. Suzanne is one of those exceptional people who can summon up quotes and lines from a huge array of thinkers, and philosophers, and writers, and mystics from time immemorial and make them relevant today. As she paced the floor, we followed her thoughts and her words, I often thought of Oliver Goldsmith's village schoolmaster:
‘And still they gaz'd and still the wonder grew
That one small head could carry all (s)he knew.’
Celine Mescall, authorA very gifted writer, offering threads of hope
‘Suzanne Power is a very gifted writer... But she is so much more than that. She is also a believer in the goodness of people and somehow the light that seems to surround her shines on whoever is in her midst. Suzanne is a true Celtic Spirit that brings strength to those around her. I have met many people, but few have the power to give you an inner strength without even realising that they are doing it. Suzanne has given me so much more than mentoring in creative writing. She gave me the delicate threads of hope, truth and belief in my writing. I feel blessed to have met her.
Sheila Forsey, authorLet's turn editing into the creative act it always was. Editing is improving. It will release your story.
If you want to try to connect with how I edit, sign up to my newsletter – Within Words – and download your free PDF which includes Digging with Words – an introduction to empowered editing.
I am highly experienced, but never more experienced than you when it comes to your book.
Suzanne Power is an author, editor, and mentor. Her books are published worldwide. Her life purpose is also her work: to convince others that writing is an empowering act. Suzanne lives with her family in County Wexford. You can contact her here. suzanne@suzannepower.com
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