Editing non-fiction books

A non-fiction book needs more than good writing.

It needs a clear idea, a defined reader, a strong argument or promise and a structure that takes the reader somewhere.

Whether you're writing about your area of expertise, turning years of experience into a book, exploring an idea you've been thinking about for years or finally writing the memoir you've been carrying around with you, Fae Media can help you shape it into a book.

We work with non-fiction writers on everything from the first idea and book outline through to developmental editing, copyediting and the final manuscript.

And you don't have to know exactly what you need before you get in touch.

Is your book ready to be written?

Before you spend months — or years — writing a book, it's worth stepping back and asking a few questions.

Can you explain the book in one sentence?

Not the whole book. Just the promise.

What will the reader understand, know, feel or be able to do by the time they reach the final page?

If you need several paragraphs to explain what the book is about, the idea might need a little more work.

Who is the book for?

Everyone isn't really a reader.

Think about the person who would pick this book up, see the title and think, that's exactly what I've been looking for.

The more clearly you understand that person, the easier it becomes to make decisions about what belongs in the book — and what doesn't.

Why are you the person to write it?

For non-fiction, your expertise matters.

That doesn't necessarily mean academic qualifications or decades of experience. It might be professional experience, lived experience, research, a particular perspective or knowledge that you have developed over time.

Your book needs to make that connection clear.

Is there already a book like this?

There probably is.

That's not necessarily bad news.

Comparable books can help you understand the market, see what readers are already being offered and work out where your book fits — or where it could do something different.

If you can't find anything remotely comparable, that's worth investigating too.

Does the structure make sense?

A non-fiction book isn't just a collection of things you know.

The reader needs to be taken somewhere.

Each chapter should have a reason for existing, and the chapters should build on one another rather than feeling like a series of loosely connected essays.

Is the book actually a book?

This sounds obvious.

It isn't.

Sometimes an idea is better suited to an article, course, newsletter, podcast, report or series of essays. Sometimes there is absolutely a book there, but the idea needs to be expanded, narrowed or reframed first.

Working that out early can save you a lot of time.

Not sure what kind of editing you need?

That's normal.

Non-fiction editing can happen at several different stages, and the right kind of support depends on where you are with the book.

Book guidance

You have an idea but aren't sure where to start.

Book guidance helps you work out what the book is, who it's for, what it needs to contain and what you should do next.

This can be particularly useful if you have a lot of ideas but aren't sure which one is the book.

Book outlining

A strong outline gives you somewhere to go.

We'll help you develop the structure of your book, decide what belongs in each chapter and make sure the book has a clear progression.

For authors planning to approach agents or publishers, we'll also consider the market, comparable titles and the overall proposition of the book.

Book proposal

Non-fiction is often sold on proposal rather than a completed manuscript.

A book proposal needs to demonstrate that there is a book here, that there are readers for it and that you're the right person to write it.

Depending on the project, a proposal may include the book's concept and positioning, target readership, comparable titles, chapter outline, author platform and sample material.

Developmental editing

Developmental editing looks at the book as a whole.

We'll look at structure, argument, organisation, clarity, pacing, repetition, gaps in the content and whether the book is delivering what it promises.

We'll also ask the slightly awkward questions.

• Is this chapter actually necessary?

• Have you made the same point three times?

• Does the argument hold up?

• Where does the reader get lost?

• What needs more evidence?

• And, perhaps most importantly, what is this book really trying to say?

Manuscript review

If you're not ready for a full developmental edit, a manuscript review gives you a focused editorial assessment of the book.

You'll get a clear picture of what's working, what isn't and where your revision time will have the greatest impact.

Think of it as an editorial map before you start making changes.

Line editing

Once the structure is working, we can look more closely at the writing itself.

Line editing focuses on clarity, rhythm, tone, repetition, awkward phrasing and whether the prose is doing justice to the ideas.

Good non-fiction doesn't need to sound academic, corporate or overly polished.

It needs to sound like you — only clearer.

Copyediting and proofreading

Copyediting checks grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency, terminology, references and the small details that can undermine an otherwise excellent book.

Proofreading is the final check before publication.

These are different stages, and we'll recommend what your manuscript actually needs rather than adding services simply because they're on a list.

What kind of non-fiction do we edit?

Non-fiction covers a lot of ground.

We work with books including:

• Memoir and personal writing

• Business and entrepreneurship

• Self-help and personal development

• Psychology and wellbeing

• Cultural criticism

• Arts and creative practice

• History and popular history

• Travel and place writing

• Lifestyle

• Social and cultural commentary

• Professional and specialist books

• Essays and essay collections

• Narrative non-fiction

And books that don't fit neatly into one category.

If you have a subject, an audience and something worth saying, we'd like to hear about it.

Your expertise isn't the same thing as your book

This is one of the biggest challenges in non-fiction. You can know your subject inside out and still struggle to turn that knowledge into a compelling book. That's because a book isn't simply everything you know. It's sending the reader on a journey.

Your job is to know your subject. Our job is to help you shape that knowledge into something a reader can follow, understand and remember.

Why work with Fae Media?

We believe good editing should be collaborative, honest and useful. You don't need an editor who simply tells you that your book is great. What you need is someone who can tell you where it works, where it doesn't and what you can actually do about it. We'll question your structure when it needs questioning, flag the missing pieces, challenge assumptions and tell you when you've buried your best idea on page 147. The same goes if something isn’t working.

The aim isn't to make every non-fiction book sound the same. It's to make your book clearer, stronger and more compelling.

Our non-fiction editing services

Book guidance

For ideas that haven't quite become books yet. We'll help you work out what you're writing, who it's for and where to take it.

Book outlining

For authors who know what they want to say but need help turning it into a coherent book structure.

Book proposals

For authors preparing to approach agents or publishers with a non-fiction book.

Developmental editing

For manuscripts that need work at the structural, conceptual or content level.

Manuscript review

For authors who want an editorial assessment and a clear revision plan.

Line editing

For improving clarity, flow, tone and the quality of the writing at sentence level.

Copyediting

For grammar, punctuation, consistency, terminology and accuracy checks.

Proofreading

For the final check before publication.

Ghostwriting

If you have the expertise and the ideas but not the time — or perhaps not the desire — to write the book yourself, we offer limited ghostwriting on a piece-by-piece basis.

You bring the ideas, knowledge, notes and goals. We'll help turn them into a book.

How it works

1. Tell us about the book

Send us what you have. That might be a complete manuscript, a proposal, an outline, a collection of notes or simply an idea you can't stop thinking about.

2. We assess the project

We'll take an initial look at your material and consider what kind of editorial support would actually be useful. If you're still at the idea stage, we'll talk through the project rather than pretending there's a manuscript to assess.

3. We talk

We'll discuss what you're trying to achieve, who the book is for and where you are in the process. This is also your chance to decide whether we're the right fit.

4. You receive a proposal

We'll recommend the appropriate scope of work, along with the estimated timeline, cost and what's included.

5. We get to work

Once everything is agreed and the deposit has been paid, we start editing.

You'll receive your manuscript and editorial feedback according to the agreed schedule, with opportunities to discuss the work as we go.

You don't have to have the whole book figured out

You don't even necessarily have to have written it yet.

If you've got an idea, a pile of research, twenty pages of notes, a half-finished manuscript or a very strong feeling that there is a book somewhere in your head, that's enough to start a conversation.

We'll help you work out what comes next.

Tell us about your book

Non-fiction editing FAQs

Do I need writing experience to publish a non-fiction book?

No. Many non-fiction authors are subject-matter experts first and writers second. Your expertise, perspective and the strength of the book idea matter enormously. Writing is a skill, though, and editorial support can help turn expertise into a book that readers can actually engage with.

Do I need to finish my non-fiction book before contacting an editor?

Not necessarily. In fact, you may benefit from getting editorial input earlier. Book guidance, outlining and proposal development can all happen before you've written the full manuscript.

What is a book proposal?

A book proposal is used to pitch a non-fiction book to agents and publishers. It typically explains what the book is about, who it's for, why you're the person to write it, how it compares with existing books and what the proposed structure looks like. It may also include sample chapters. Unlike fiction, non-fiction is often sold before the full manuscript has been written.

Do I need a literary agent for a non-fiction book?

Not always. If you're pursuing traditional publishing, an agent is often part of the process, particularly for trade non-fiction, memoir and narrative non-fiction. Some specialist and niche publishers accept direct submissions, and self-publishing doesn't require an agent. The right route depends on the kind of book you're writing and what you want to achieve with it.

How do I know whether my book idea is marketable?

Start by looking at comparable books. Find three to five relatively recent titles that speak to a similar reader or occupy a similar space. Look at their positioning, titles, subtitles, publishers and what they promise the reader. You're not trying to prove that nobody has ever written your book before. You're looking for evidence that there is a reader for it — and an opportunity for your version.

What is an author platform?

Your author platform is the audience, expertise, reputation and channels you already have available to reach potential readers. For some types of non-fiction, particularly business, self-help and specialist books, platform can be an important part of the publishing conversation. That doesn't mean you need hundreds of thousands of followers before you can write a book. It does mean you should understand what you bring to the project beyond the manuscript itself.

What's the difference between developmental editing and copyediting?

Developmental editing looks at the book as a whole: structure, argument, organisation, clarity, content and the reading experience. Copyediting happens later and focuses on language, grammar, punctuation, consistency and correctness.

In most cases, you want to solve the big problems before spending time polishing the sentences.

Can you help me if I don't know what my book is yet?

Yes. That's exactly what book guidance is for. You don't need to arrive with a perfect title, chapter outline and publishing strategy. Bring the idea. We'll work out what it could become.

Can I self-publish a non-fiction book?

Yes. Self-publishing can work particularly well for certain kinds of non-fiction, including specialist, professional, business and niche books where the author already has a defined audience.

Whatever publishing route you choose, good editing, design and production matter.

How do I choose a title for my non-fiction book?

A strong non-fiction title usually needs to do two things: catch the reader's attention and tell them what they're getting. Writing a memorable main title can work particularly well when paired with a descriptive subtitle that makes the subject and promise of the book clear.Your title is doing marketing work before the reader has even opened the book.

Do I need to fact-check my book?

If your book contains factual claims, statistics, historical information, quotations, dates, names or research, you need to check them. Editorial fact-checking can identify obvious inconsistencies and questionable claims, but it isn't necessarily the same thing as specialist research verification. If your book relies heavily on research, we'll discuss what level of fact-checking or source checking is appropriate for the project.

Do I need permission to use quotations?

Possibly. Copyright and quotation rules depend on what you're using, how much you're using and the jurisdiction involved. Short quotations for purposes such as criticism or commentary may be treated differently from substantial extracts, song lyrics, poetry or other copyrighted material. If your manuscript relies heavily on quotations or third-party material, it's worth checking permissions before publication.

Have a book in you?

Maybe it's already half-written, a collection of ideas, or you've been telling people about it for five years.

Let's talk about it. Tell us what you're writing, who you think it's for and where you are in the process.

If you're not sure what you need yet, that's completely fine.

Tell us about your book