Your manuscript deserves the support, guidance and careful attention to detail only a professional can provide.
Our manuscript assessments provide the lens that will help guide you through the next stages of development, whether you have a full draft, or a partial manuscript.
We offer all levels of editing: structural editing (deep analysis of the big picture), copyediting (finessing at the line level) and proofreading (the final tidy up).
Working with an industry professional allows you the opportunity to discuss your ideas, explore options, consider potential issues and pose questions.
Invigorate your writing practice and learn new tips, tools and strategies, as well as gain inspiration and support. Laurel Cohn presents workshops and courses in person and online.
Laurel Cohn and her team of experienced editors are passionate about communication and the power of words to engage, inspire and challenge.
We help aspiring and published authors from all over the world realise their writing goals. We work with fiction and non-fiction manuscripts, including works for children, and short-form writing (essays, short stories, novellas).
‘Thank you so much for your help with the early part of my manuscript. I didn’t know quite what I expected of a manuscript assessment but you have given me a solid plan of attack, a great deal to think about and enough positivity to keep my spirits up. I carried your report with me through the development process, and it was important to me not only for what was contained within it, but as evidence that someone other than me really understood what I was trying to achieve.’
‘The process with Laurel was truly exceptional. She took me from a writer who had training wheels on, to a writer who had confidence in her voice and her story. I could not have secured a publishing deal without Laurel. She helped me to write a tight, well narrated and strong manuscript. She held my hand closely through the whole editing process. I am indebted to her forever!’
‘I wanted to say a big thank you for your help and guidance in helping me get my work to a point where it got the attention of a publisher. I signed a two book contract and my first book has now been released. Madeline taught me so much with her objective, critical advice and also her encouragement in helping me believe my work had merit.’
‘I wanted to say thank you for your input to eventually getting a publisher and the crucial part your course on Nailing Your Pitch was to that. It was in that course that I realised I needed to hone my theme and the focus of the book to childhood memories of a pool and was when I came up with the title The Memory Pool. So thank you very much, Laurel!’
‘Laurel’s assessment of my manuscript was detailed and insightful. She not only addressed technical matters such as structure and plot, but was able to provide an overview of themes and character development in a way that was very helpful, even in the later edits for publication. I was so close to my manuscript that I had lost perspective and Laurel’s report offered me a clear idea of what I needed to do before submitting it to an agent, while also confirming what was working in the manuscript.’
‘Laurel, your initial assessment of my manuscript was thorough, insightful and structured in such a way that I could immediately get to work with taking it to the next level. You are a passionate and engaging teacher, a consummate professional with a depth of experience across genres. I am indebted to you for your significant contribution, seminal really, to my growth as a writer! You will forever be my first master.’
‘After struggling to complete my first draft I was lucky enough to be recommended to Laurel. Her astute editorial assistance helped build strong structural bones and a clear narrative arc. Laurel clearly understood the challenges and opportunities of memoir and helped me to see where I lost and found my voice. Her support and encouragement extended far beyond the job description and was chicken soup for this writer’s soul.’
‘I’ve found a publisher for my book! It’s been a bit of a journey and I’d like to thank you for being with me on it. Publishing as you know is a very subjective business. Your feedback made me believe in the concept and take it to the next level. I couldn’t have got here without your help. So big thank you!’
‘I love how you have gone to the heart of the story, which was eluding me. I knew there were some themes there, but having them articulated strongly by you is almost a revelation. I now feel very inspired to progress to the next stage of rewriting. Thank you also for your encouragement and detailed feedback. I had really lost my way a bit with this story, but think I’ve found it again. I will press on!’
‘Receiving Laurel’s report on an early draft of my manuscript proved invaluable. I am incredibly grateful for Laurel’s early input. Her astute and insightful comments helped give me a clearer sense of direction and helped direct me towards the next stage of the manuscript’s development. In addition to a detailed overview, her clear comments covered important areas such as structure, use of tenses and general problems. Her report ended with suggestions for the next steps which helped define the direction I would then take. All in all an incredibly helpful experience! Thanks Laurel!’
4th Estate
Allen & Unwin
Australian Scholarly Publishing
Bantam
Black Inc
Brolga Publishing
Central Avenue Publishing (Canada)
Cilento Publishing
HarperCollins
New World Library (US)
NewSouth Publishing
Penguin Random House
Penguin (South Africa)
Rockpool Publishing
Scribe
Transit Lounge Publishing
Laurel Cohn and her team offer comprehensive editing and manuscript development services, as well as mentoring and consultations to help you realise your writing goal.
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‘I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I live and work, the Midjungbal of the Bundjalung, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. For thousands of years the First Peoples of this Country have understood the power of story to shape and reshape our understanding of ourselves and our world, a continuing practice from which we can all draw inspiration.’ Laurel Cohn
