Nonfiction Books/Manuscripts

As with any craft, the best writing appears effortless — a smooth flow of words that conveys images, tells a story, and pulls the reader, engaged and entertained, through a journey of insight and discovery. But as effortless as they may appear, nonfiction books must be carefully constructed and organized, with:

• the right pacing that keeps the reader involved;
• cohesive and focused chapters that bring together core themes and content;
• an effective chapter structure that lays out the book’s thesis in clear and compelling steps; and
• writing that is neither confused nor oversimplified.

Chris is an experienced book development editor, having worked for both authors and publishers in evaluating, restructuring, rewriting, content editing and copyediting manuscripts. Chris has edited projects in all phases of completion, from unstructured pages of writing and notes to finished first drafts. Chris has also edited PhD dissertations for publication.

In the past seven years, Chris has developed nearly 35 books for authors and publishers. Specifically:

• Publishers hire Chris to evaluate and edit manuscripts submitted by authors to ensure that, for example, the chapters are well structured, that the argument of the book is developed in a logical and compelling manner, the writing is clear, the content is complete and non-repetitive, and that specific points in the book are supported by legitimate examples.
• Publishers refer authors to Chris when a submitted manuscript or a proposal has a promising thesis and author but does not meet their editorial standards. In this case, Chris is paid directly by the authors.
• Authors hire Chris as a development editor when they’ve either completed a first draft that has been rejected by publishers, or have been unable, sometimes after years of effort, to complete a cohesive manuscript. Chris can resolve the issues of a failed first draft or build an effective manuscript based on notes, powerpoints, various drafts of chapters, annual reports and other primary sources.

For more information on costs, timeframe, and opportunities for publication, contact Chris today.

"Chris’ contribution to my manuscript for No More Pointless Meetings was significant. As a first-time author with a book contract in hand, I recognized the need for professional editorial input. While the content was solid, the presentation of that knowledge needed polishing."

"Chris provided that. The breadth and scope of his experience working with publishers and authors in the business book field enhanced the manuscript. The maturity of his insight is impressive: it encompasses both publisher production requirements and a keen understanding of editorial structure. It was a privilege to work with a master of the writing craft."

Martin Murphy, author of No More Pointless Meetings