My approach to editing is informed by my knowledge of the mechanics of the craft of writing, coupled with an in-depth understanding and experience with the creative writing process. While studying Creative Writing and completing a BA in English Language & Literature, friends and colleagues would hand me their writing and ask me to  just take a look over it. Today, I am grateful for these people and their trust in me to respond to their work.

After Uni, I studied a Diploma in Publishing & Book Editing, which gave me the tools to create an editing service and receive renumeration for taking a look over writers’ work. Initially, I attracted mainly academic students, along with small business owners and writers, mostly children’s authors, poets and literary artists. Then, across my early days of mum life, I worked on my middle-grade novel, wrote articles and sub-edited for a community paper in West Melbourne, writing, copyediting, and proofing content for four papers, over a few years. Once we moved to the Mornington Peninsula, my daughter then started kindy and I returned to my love of books and became a full-time book editor. 

It soon became apparent I was naturally adept at understanding and helping authors develop credible narrative arcs coming out of authentic cause and effect grounded in characterisation and setting. These skills were also true when working with life-story and memoir. When it came to knowledge based non-fiction, I became adept at assisting authors to consider their ideas more deeply, so they could develop them fully and articulate them clearly. 

I’ve been greatly privileged to work with many gifted and talented people, including but not limited to: teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, non-for-profit leaders, faeries, academics, meditation masters, pastors, ice-hockey players, musicians, designers, karaoke stars, labourers, NDIS participants, nurses, Op-shop volunteers, and many more. Regardless of the backgrounds of my clients, they’ve all had something in common – VISION and DESIRE! Vision for their work and an unrelenting desire to achieve their dreams. 

If you’d like to join my band of merry authors and achieve your dreams by finishing your book, your way, drop me an email or fill out my contact me form, or alternatively you’ll find me on Instagram. You can call me, but as I get a lot of spam, I don’t often answer my phone. Or, perhaps, fortuitously we will meet at a writing conference or workshop. In any case, those who are meant to find me always do, for they say, “what you are seeking is seeking you!”

Hear from you soon. 

Merilane Buonarroti