Editing - The History Quill

Specialist historical fiction editing

Our editing services are designed exclusively for historical fiction writers. We combine in-depth knowledge of story craft and language with specialist knowledge of history and the historical fiction genre. Whether you need content editing to bring your characters and plot fully to life, or copy-editing and proofreading to polish your prose to perfection, we’re here to support you in making your story as compelling and authentic as possible. Every manuscript receives careful, personalised attention to allow your unique voice and vision to shine, helping your story to captivate readers and resonate long after the final page.

CONTENT EDITING

Content editing – also known as developmental editing – focuses on the big-picture issues in a manuscript, including plot, structure, setting, characterisation, historical authenticity, and overall writing quality. It should be your first step in the editing process, showing you what's working in your story and what isn't. As well as identifying any problems in your manuscript, we offer detailed recommendations on how to fix them.

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COPY-EDITING & PROOFREADING

Copy-editing and proofreading are vital for refining your manuscript once all the big-picture issues are settled. They focus on the micro-level elements of your writing, such as grammar, punctuation, syntax, and formatting, and they help catch the inevitable typos. Copy-editing also involves checking your story for consistency and logic. Together, they're vital for ensuring your story is as professional and polished as it can possibly be.

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Testimonials

Johanna Wittenberg

Author of The Queen in the Mound

“I've had the pleasure of working with The History Quill on several books in my series, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. Their passion for history and knowledge of the genre shine through in every content edit they provide. They have a fantastic ability to pinpoint both the strengths and opportunities in my manuscripts, always offering insightful feedback and suggestions that boost my confidence in delivering a polished, captivating story. If you’re looking for editors who understand historical fiction inside and out, this is the team to trust.”

Penny Hampson

Author of A Gentleman's Promise

“I was thrilled with the service I received from The History Quill. The copy-edits and proofreads they provided were thorough, punctual, and vital for giving my manuscript the professional polish I was aiming for. The team combined invaluable historical expertise with a forensic approach to grammar, punctuation, and consistency. When they spotted errors, they did an excellent job of explaining them in the accompanying style guide, and they answered my queries at the end thoughtfully and comprehensively.”