EDITING FOR SUPERHEROINES

LET ME POLISH YOUR MANUSCRIPT SO IT'S READY TO ROCK THE WORLD

ONLY 0.5% OF MANUSCRIPTS ARE EVER TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED.

YUP, THAT SUCKS.

BUT I THINK THE REASON SO MANY BOOKS DON’T MAKE IT INTO PRINT IS BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T EDITED PROPERLY BEFORE THEIR AUTHORS SENT THEM OUT.

WRITING FIRST DRAFTS IS FUN, BUT THE EDITING PROCESS IS WHERE BOOKS REALLY BECOME PUBLISHABLE.

INDEED, I’D ARGUE THAT YOU NEED TO EDIT YOUR BOOK WITHIN AN INCH OF ITS LIFE EVEN IF YOU INTEND TO SELF-PUBLISH TOO BECAUSE, IN A WORLD WHERE TOO MANY NEW WRITERS JUST HIT ‘PRINT’ AFTER FINISHING THEIR STORIES, YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO RESPECTS THEIR READERS ENOUGH TO ENSURE THEIR WORK IS THE BEST IT CAN BE BEFORE IT GOES OUT INTO THE WORLD.

EDITING MIGHT BE WRITING’S PEDANTIC COUSIN, BUT SHE’S THE ONE WHO CAN TURN OUR AMAZING IDEAS INTO SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN TRULY ENJOY.

SOMETHING THAT HAS AN INCREASED CHANCE OF GETTING PUBLISHED, IF THAT’S THE DREAM YOUR CHASING.

THEREFORE, EDITING IS SEXY AS HELL.

AND I JUST HAPPEN TO BE REALLY GREAT AT IT, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT RED PEN AND PILE OF PAPERS ALONE, WONDERING WHETHER YOU BOOK IS GOOD AND DRIVING YOURSELF CRAZY WITH CONFUSION.

IMAGINE KNOWING YOUR MANUSCRIPT WAS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING AWESOME AND THAT AN EDITORIAL EXPERT (MOI!) HAD SHINED THAT THING LIKE A CRAZY DIAMOND BEFORE YOU SEND IT OUT TO AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS OR UPLOAD IT TO AMAZON.

IMAGINE GETTING TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY BY THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY AND READERS AS A RESULT.

IMAGINE NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT TYPOS AND OTHER CRAP THAT DRIVES YOU CRAZY ANY MORE.

JUST SEND YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO ME AND LET’S GET YOUR BOOK READY TO ROCK THE WORLD.

There are various levels of editing – going from developmental editing, which looks at the text and also adds commentary in order that you can structure your book properly and deal with other issues, to copyediting which works on the text in detail, rewriting where necessary, to proofreading which leaves the wording of the text as it is, but corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation.

In my opinion, since most writers need deeper work on their text unless it’s been professionally read before, I prefer to provide developmental editing or copyediting to my author clients, but all my editing work is bespoke, based on the needs of the client and their particular manuscript, so we can decide together what level of editing you would like for your work.

I believe that women’s voices need to be heard now more than ever and I want to ensure that female authors have the biggest impact possible – however, I feel that can only really happen if writers’ work is polished to perfection as sadly unprofessional errors put off even the most eager readers.

Sharon came into my life at exactly the right time. As “chance” would have it, we got together right when I was in that eternal writer’s struggle of, “Do I really have what it takes?” With her signature blend of wit, vivacity, and no-holds-barred honesty, Sharon at once restored my faith in myself and reignited my passion for my work, while still truthfully preparing me for the road ahead. She is a gem and a blessing to writers everywhere. LINDSAY THACKER

COACH, AUTHOR AND EARTH-SHAKER

GAIN ACCESS TO MY EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF WRITING RESOURCES FOR ALL STAGES OF THE CREATIVE JOURNEY and get my twice monthly 'Love Letter from the Literary Revolution' to keep you strong!

In working with Sharon, I found her to have a strong sense of craft. She provided specific, honest, thorough and compassionate feedback. She identified the challenges in my drafts, those things that will distract readers and turn away decision makers in the industry. But for every problem identified, Sharon provided tangible ways that I could improve my manuscript. This is far beyond the help that one would find in a critique group or with most beta readers. I am deeply grateful that we have sisters in the industry like Sharon Zink who hold out a hand and guide the uninitiated through the mystifying world of publishing. KIRA SWANSON

COACH AND AUTHOR, ALCHEMY CHANGE AGENCY

I’M SHARON ZINK, PH.D., A FEMINIST WRITING COACH FOR WOMEN WITH BIG THINGS TO SAY.

I’m on a mission to get more women’s books written, published and out there changing the world.

I’ve been working as a writer my entire life – I was named as Young Poet of the Year and Writers Inc. Writer of the Year and my first novel, Welcome to Sharonville, was longlisted for The Guardian First Book Award and is currently being pitched as a TV series, so I know a thing or two about how to get this word shiz done.

On top of that, I’ve got a Ph.D. in English (I studied at London and Cambridge and my doctorate was supervised by the famed feminist, Professor Lisa Jardine) and, since leaving academia, I’ve worked as an editor with literally hundreds of writers.

My previous clients have gone on to become bestselling authors, whilst others have been signed by major agents and got big publishing house book deals.

In 2024 alone, a client’s novel has contracted to be a Simon and Schuster lead title (my second in recent years), whilst another’s story collection has come out with Penguin US and yet another has secured a deal with a great Scottish house. And an academic writer I worked with has been shortlisted for a major prize.

WILL YOU BE NEXT?

You can read more about me and my work here.

If you want someone to line edit your work, so your words sing on the page, upping your chances of being treated as a contender by the publishing industry or the general reader, I’m your gal.

Sharon is a marvel – each session has given me exactly what I needed at the time and I’m so glad I decided to work with her as her coaching and editorial feedback have helped me achieve my long-held dream of having a literary agent. REBECCA ANN SMITH

AUTHOR, 'BABY X'

Some big plusses of having your work professionally edited:

No more worrying about missing pesky typos and other errors in the text which all writers overlook after working so long on their projects – let my beady professional, objective eye pick up on the issues in your work before agents, editors and readers do.
No more getting rejected because you failed to correct errors in your work (see above!).
Get taken seriously by agents and publishers because your text is flaw-free – something they don’t often see!
Readers will recognise that you’re a professional, even if you self-publish, because your work will read as well as if it had been traditionally published (again, not something that usually happens!).
You’ll learn how to work with an editor – something which will prepare you professionally for when you get your big book deal!
You’ll learn about the general standards used for spelling, punctuation and grammar so you can include them in your future work.
You’ll become a better editor yourself, making creating your incredible next book so much easier.
You’ll have the confidence which comes from having had a professional editor look over every single line of your work. (If that character changes names in Chapter 4, I’ll notice and sort it out for you!)

If you want to discuss your editorial needs with me, you can arrange a free 30 minute consultation session and we’ll see how I can best help you.

I also ask for a short sample of your manuscript to be sent to me via email before we speak, so I can look at your work’s specific genre and language and assess what might be the right editorial approach.

This will also allow me to give you an accurate quote, as all my editing work is bespoke.

Let’s make you one of the 0.5% who get published!

Just hit the button below to arrange a free 30 minute editorial consultation.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR EDITING NEEDS!