Hello, I’m Sara.
I’m a book-lover who’s worked in the publishing industry for over a decade.
I started out in-house, within publishing houses large and small. Here I looked after every type of book you can think of – from pacy crime fiction, to teen vampire novels, to behind-the-scenes journalistic accounts and global English-language textbooks. The roles differed, but my job was always the same: to steer authors and texts through the publishing process, and make sure each book was published to the highest quality.
After ten years in the industry, I knew I was equipped with a rare set of skills. Not only had I become an eagle-eyed editorial expert, but I also knew the ins and outs of the entire book-making process. I could review manuscripts, expertly correct grammar, and apply a house style; but I could also adjust the layout of a typeset page, consider cover finishes, and improve image quality. The different areas of my expertise would fit together perfectly in the name of producing beautiful, exceptional books.
But career progression was pushing me further away from these elements – towards schedules, and project management, and finance. Though those skills were important, I knew there was no work I enjoyed more than perfecting and polishing the written word. And that’s why I chose to take the leap into freelancing full-time.
I now get to indulge myself, and focus on the books themselves. My clients are wide-ranging, including Allison & Busby (commercial fiction), Chicken House (children’s & YA), University of Exeter Press (academic), Yale University Press (general non-fiction) and Pelagic Publishing (wildlife), among others. I love what I do, and am always on the lookout for new opportunities.
I would like to use my valuable mix of skills and experience to help authors achieve their best work – especially those who might feel intimidated or unwelcome in the publishing world. I would like to help quality publishers shepherd books through the editorial process, safe in the knowledge that they have been examined by a meticulous eye. And I would love to make my portfolio even more diverse. If you have a project that’s in need of my skills, please get in touch.
Magness Editorial 