“Kirsty was an asset when it came to editing my stories. Her concise and thoughtful feedback and edits helped me see the places where my story was lacking, and made the narrative of my story stronger as a whole. Not only do I recommend her work, but I plan to use her services again in the future as well.”

C. E. Clayton

About

My aim as an author has always been ensuring my stories are the best they can be so that the reader can envision the scene, feel the emotion, and, most of all, remember your story long after they have finished reading. As an editor, you can expect me to strive for the same with your stories. New or established, we artists could use that little extra help with identifying issues or maintaining style consistency. Most importantly, we want to achieve this through mutual collaboration, honesty, and trust. You can be rest assured you will receive this from me.

  • Intermediate Copyediting for Fiction (Club Ed Freelancers, 2025)

  • Beginning Copyediting for Fiction (Club Ed Freelancers, 2025)

  • Developmental Editing: In Practice (Liminal Pages, 2021)

  • Developmental Editing: Fiction Theory (Liminal Pages, 2020)

  • BA (Hons) Creative Writing (The Open College of the Arts, 2013–2020)

  • Editors Tea Club; 2026

  • LGBTQ Editors Association; 2026

  • ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors); Partner; 2025–present

  • EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association); Emerging Professional Member; 2025–present

  • Codex Writers’ Group; 2023–present

  • Online Writing Workshop; 2022–2023

Developmental Editing

£0.022/word

A developmental edit examines the overall content and structure of your story with three components: explanations on issues raised, highlighting specific examples, and suggesting possible solutions for the following:

  • Worldbuilding: history and backstory, setting

  • Pacing

  • Dialogue

  • Theme(s)

  • Devices (epistolary formats, narrative distance, metaphors, etc.)

  • Point of view

  • Characters

  • Voice, style, tone, and mood

  • Plot and subplots

  • Sensitivity reading for queer identity, mental health, and PCOS

Deliverables include an editorial report of up to 20 pages and margin comments.

Manuscript Assessment

£0.018/word

A manuscript assessment covers the same as developmental editing but with the editorial report only (of up to 20 pages).While this service also follows the three components, and as many as possible, they are likely to be fewer than what you would receive as part of developmental editing due to the constraint of having the report only.

New authors eligible for 20% discount off a project or service of their choice.

Packages available at discounted rate!

Copy Editing

£0.016/word

This service focuses primarily on the the technical elements of your manuscript, such as:

  • Punctuation

  • Grammar

  • Spelling

  • Typography

  • Usage (e.g. misused phrases)

  • Indexing of characters, places, worldbuilding, and timeline

  • Fact-checking

  • Legality

  • Tense

  • Consistency and continuity (of both style and story)

  • Word choice, repetition, redundancies, ambiguities, and filter words

  • Readability (splices/fragments, dangling modifiers)

  • Minor formatting adjustments (paragraph indents, scene/page breaks, ensuring chapter headings are the same size)

Deliverables include margin comments, tracked changes, a clean copy, a style sheet, a query sheet (if applicable), and an additional pass.Final checks and further adjustments to typesetting, layout, and formatting are not included in this service. Those are for proofreaders and designers.

Line & Copy Editing

£0.02/word

There will be some overlap where copy editing addresses line elements, but it will not be to the same extent as a combined edit.With this service, you receive everything under copy editing and a more thorough eye on the following line additions:

  • Structure (scenes, paragraphs, sentences)

  • Voice, style, tone, and mood

  • Pacing

  • Clarity

  • Flow

  • Point of view

  • Narrative distance, metaphor, symbolism, showing vs telling, passive vs active voice, and other techniques

  • Sensitivity issues, e.g. offensive or stereotypical language

Deliverables include margin comments, tracked changes, a clean copy, a style sheet, a query sheet (if applicable), and an additional pass.

Developmental and Line & Copy Editing

£0.036/word

Manuscript Assessment and Line & Copy Editing

£0.032/word

Developmental and Copy Editing

£0.03/word

Manuscript Assessment and Copy Editing

£0.028/word

Process

01
Confirmation

We have a chat via email, Discord, or WhatsApp, trading samples if necessary, for as long as you need before making any commitments to ensure we are compatible.

02
Contract

If we are in agreement, we must both sign a contract, which outlines clauses such as price (termination, refunds), schedule, confidentiality, copyright, and my stance against the use of artificial intelligence.

03
Credit

Once signed, an invoice will be sent. The standard is an upfront 50% deposit with the final 50% upon the delivery of completed work. This may vary if there are other factors, such as booking in advance, payment plans, or having a budget.

04
Commencement

Work commences once the deposit (or deposits depending on what is decided during the Credit step) has been paid.

05
Completion

Excerpts of the initial edit documents will be provided first as proof of work. Following the receipt of final payment, you will receive the full versions. If applicable, we will then move onto the additional pass.

06
Correspondence

Once all passes are done, and should you have any questions regarding my feedback, we can continue correspondence until you are satisfied your needs have been met.

“I’ve worked with several editors on my story, but Kirsty has been my greatest asset by far. I initially hired her for line editing on the first book of my ongoing series, and she consistently went above and beyond my expectations. Her feedback didn’t just improve the prose, she also helped me identify where the story was falling short, and has helped me shape the book I was truly trying to write. Her insight, clarity, and attention to detail were invaluable to the whole process. I fully intend to work with her again as the series continues, and I highly recommend her to any writer seeking constructive feedback delivered with precision and care.”

S. A. Perchez

FAQ

What is Speculative Fiction?

Speculative fiction covers a variety of genres, primarily the genres (and their subgenres) that are fantasy, science fiction, and horror.This can be magical realism, or apocalyptic fiction, or supernatural horror, or cosmic historical fiction.I'll edit almost anything speculative, excluding military or hard science fiction.

What type of editing do I need?

While there may be some overlap with the elements each service focuses on, it mainly depends on the scale.Developmental editing and manuscript assessments zoom out to examine the content and structure, which should be done after you have completed your own edits.Line and copy editing comes after, narrowing the lens to the concentrate on the finer details once the bigger issues have been addressed.

Do you offer samples?

I provide free sample edits for copy or line and copy editing (of the first 1,000 words). These samples are deducted from the overall cost.I provide brief notes on the first few chapters for developmental editing or manuscript evaluation. These chapters are not deducted from the overall cost.

How long will the editing take?

Turnaround times can vary from two weeks to two months. It all depends on word count, service, and if you have a deadline.

What file format do you use?

Word (.doc/.docx) for all services. PDFs are fine too, but for reading purposes only.

Do you do video or voice calls?

Not at this time. My preference is written communication via email, Discord, or WhatsApp.

What’s your position on AI?

I will not edit anything that has been created with or processed through generative AI, such as ChatGPT or other LLMs (Large Language Models).I'm fine with assistive tools and software such as PerfectIt, Harper, or Word, and others that do not use generative AI in any way.Personally, I will only use Word and PerfectIt on your manuscript as an aid, not a replacement, to check and record consistency, spelling, and grammar.

What style guides and/or dictionaries do you use?

For fiction, The Chicago Manual of Style is usually the standard. However, it is used as a guide, not a rulebook. In other words, there are some things that are flexible.Do you use the proper ellipsis character over three spaced dots? Do you use a spelling that is listed second (“naïve”) rather than the first (“naive”) in the dictionary?These things are fine left alone if they are preferences. However, if you want to strictly follow a style guide, like CMOS, then they need changing.Dictionaries are Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, and Collins, to be used as primary references, comparisons between regions, and confirming if, for example, a UK dictionary lists a US variant when a US dictionary does not.Let me know if you have an alternative style guide or dictionary in mind.

How Does the Additional Pass Work?

You can have a second pass of your manuscript once you have either accepted or rejected my edits, made your own changes, and/or responded to my comments. Scheduling for the second pass is determined after completion and delivery of the initial edit.

Do you offer any other discounts?

Aside from the ones listed, no, but I'm open to negotiating prices and/or payment plans if you have a budget.

How Do I Pay You?

I accept payments through Wise, Payoneer, and Stripe.

“Working with Kirsty was such a gift. She didn’t just read my manuscript — she sat with it, observed it carefully, and treated it with genuine attention. Her feedback was thoughtful, clear, and incredibly useful without ever feeling discouraging or rushed. As a writer, you always hope the person reading your work will truly understand what you’re trying to create, and she did. She pointed out strengths and highlighted areas needing refinement in a way that felt encouraging rather than overwhelming. I’m deeply grateful for her time, her insight, and the care she put into my story. I highly recommend her to any author who wants honest, meaningful feedback that helps elevate their work.”

Candace M. Ellowen

Contact

You can either use the intake form if you are looking to work together. For general enquires, use the form below. In either case, you can expect a response within 48 hours.

© 2025–2026. Tutin Editing. All rights reserved.

Resources

Books

Magazines

Websites

Organistations

  • EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association; US)

  • ACES (The Society of Editors; US)

  • CIEP (The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading; UK)

  • ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors)

  • SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association)

Critique Groups

Software & Apps

  • Scapple | Mind Mapping Software & Tool for Mac and & Windows (Paid)

  • Obsidian | Sharpen your thinking (Free/Paid)

  • World Anvil | World Anvil tools & RPG Campaign Manager (Free/Paid)

  • Aeon Timeline | Grow big ideas into brilliant narratives (Paid)

  • Scrivener | The #1 Writing Software for Mac, Windows & iPad (Paid)

  • Ulysses (Paid)

  • LibreOffice (Free)

  • PerfectIt | Proofreading Software for Professionals (Paid)

  • Harper | The Private Grammar Checker (Free)

  • Vellum | Create Beautiful Books (Paid)

  • Atticus | An Author's Best Friend (Paid)