Writing Services:
Quick links on this page:
Chris started to offer writing services on his website in 2013. This was because Chris's website users contacted him regularly, asking him to critique their stories. There was obviously a demand for a service like this, so he launched one.
In 2017, Chris was so busy with other projects that he had to pause his writing services to make his workload manageable. During this time, he considered how to improve his services and make them feasible around other work commitments.
Early in 2018, Chris put a small team of experts together and relaunched his writing services. The combined knowledge of the writers and editors in the team, all of whom have extensive experience in their areas of expertise, has allowed Chris to expand the range of services he offers. This gives clients more choice and a better quality of service.
You can learn more about the team members on the meet the team page.
The services offered include:
You can find out more about each service below, and on their dedicated service pages.
We offer professional critiques for short stories, flash fiction, poetry, non-fiction (blog posts, books, lead magnets etc.) and novels. The critiques are constructive and delivered in a friendly, encouraging manner.
The service gives you detailed feedback on your writing and suggestions for improvement, to give you the best chance of having your work published.
You can find the full details about our critique service, including prices, turnaround times, FAQs and testimonials, on the main critique service page.
We offer a professional copy editing service for novels, short stories and non-fiction.
The service includes:
You can find the full details about the service on the main editing service page.
Sorry, our book formatting service is currently closed – all our other services remain open
We offer a book formatting service, preparing your manuscript ready for printing as a paperback book or publishing as an eBook.
As part of this service, we can help you upload your book to self-publishing platforms and make it available for purchase on Amazon and other online shops.
We also offering a typing service, so if you have handwritten a book, we can type it up for you as well.
Chris runs writing workshops and delivers talks and presentations about being an author. He will consider travelling anywhere to do this.
Chris, undertaking an author presentation
When speaking at events, Chris draws on real-life experience as an award winning and Amazon best-selling author. He talks extensively about being a short story competition judge, a published writer and running this website for a living.
If you would like him to be a guest speaker at an event you're running, please look at his page about author talks and presentations.
Phil C
Hi Chris, I hope you are well.
I am thinking of trying to get into proofreading and editing as a job. How did you get into it - can you recommend any courses?
Chris Fielden
Hi Phil, I don’t know of any courses.
Most of what I offer is based on critiques I’ve received from dealing with professional publishers and editors over the years. I’m sure there are courses out there though.
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Phil C
OK, thanks Chris
Sanober
HS
Dear Chris. I am a student of medicine in my 3rd year in Islamabad Pakistan. I love to write short stories and have never tried submitting to a magazine before. Would you be kind enough to help me to get my stories and essays published?
On your kind response I will send you some examples of my writing.
Chris Fielden
I’m afraid I receive lots of requests like this and cannot offer to proofread other writers work for free. If you want me to read your work, please see the paid service I offer above.
To enter competitions and approach magazines, the best bet is to look through the lists on my website, see which are most appropriate for your style of writing and then submit to them directly. You can start your research in the Writing Advice section of my website.
I wish you the best of luck with your writing.
Janak S
Dear Christopher, what is the format for sending you a short story for assessment in the critiquing services you offer?
Chris Fielden
Hi Janak. You can find out about my proofreading services and how to submit by reading the page above.
Unfortunately, my services are closed at the moment as I have received many entries into my short story competition and have lots of reading to do.
Please let me know if you are happy to wait until I can open these services again. If not, you can find details of other reputable proofreading services here.
Janak S
Dear Christopher, I have read about your proofreading services including the prices. I understand you are preoccupied with other things, it's okay. I will contact you later, when you are free. Kind regards.
Chris Fielden
Great, thanks Janak :-)
Tom S
How much is it going to cost me for a story that is 10,000 words long in US money?
Chris Fielden
Hi Tom. Thanks for your interest in my services.
With the current pricing, it would be around $135.
However, I am currently reviewing my pricing and will be reopening this service in February/March, so please check back with me then. I'm putting a team of editors together, so am having to review the whole offering at the moment.
Sorry I can't give a definite answer right now.
Nasrin P
Hi Chris. I would like to know how much you would charge for copy editing of a novel of 75, 000 words, and how long it takes?
Thank you.
Chris Fielden
Hi Nasrin. Thank you for your interest in our services.
Copy editing a novel takes up to 2 months. Our usual turnaround time is 4 to 6 weeks.
Full details regarding prices, turnaround times and the service offering can be found on the main copy editing services page.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Nina J
Hi Chris, I have been writing poetry for the past 20 years. I am also an artist. I have self published two books that are on Amazon, and recently assembled a collection of poems and mono-types (that I have been working on over the past 2 years) into a very attractive looking book called Personal Rituals.
I am interested in finding a publisher for this book. Do you have any advice to give me. Thanks in advance.
Chris Fielden
Hi Nina. Congratulations on completing your collection.
I'd just recommend that you research carefully, to find suitable publishers to submit to. The best bet is to start with books, like The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, or Mslexia's Indie Press Guide and take it from there.
I hope that's helpful and wish you the best of luck with finding a publisher.
Neerja J
Hi Christopher, I am planning to apply for MFA creative writing program. Do you guys provide any service for reviewing writing samples and SOP?
Chris Fielden
Hi Neerja. Yes, we would consider critiquing writing samples.
What is SOP? I'm only familiar with it meaning Standard Operating Procedure... :-)
Neerja J
Hi Chris. Sorry SOP meant Statement of Purpose. So what is the cost of these services? Let me know the details.
Chris Fielden
Hi Neerja. Thank you for your reply.
The pricing is based on the word count of the work you submit for critique. You can find a full explanation of the service, including pricing details, here.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Kyle G
Thank you for the opportunity to reach out, I recently completed a hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail and have spent considerable time writing about my experiences of the adventure. I do not have a background in writing, I work in the special Events industry and with work being quite slow amidst Covid- I have found enjoyment in telling my story.
I would very much like to gather feedback, and I think it would be quite insightful to have someone who specializes is short story narratives to provide an honest opinion prior to investing in an editor. The piece I have put together is 11,000 words, I would hope to utilize your service to help guide me on where I go from here with the story I have prepared.
Chris Fielden
Hi Kyle. Thank you for your message.
Great to hear about your story - it sounds really interesting. We'd be happy to critique your work for you. You can find all the details of the critique service here.
If you'd like to go ahead, please let me know.
James C
Hi Chris. I have sent a message to the beavers, to see what it will cost to proofread my story. In a month's time, I may have the funds.
I have kept a diary, from which I have created a story. I haven't exactly finished the story completely. Would it be a mistake to send something that may still take six months to complete?
I'm still trying to tie in the characters to the whole thing. Possibly I could send a few broken down segments. I realise it would cost cash, so anyway, I suppose the beavers will inform. To be honest, as ridiculous as it sounds, it's twenty years of diary, so I worry... I don't want to let it out until it's complete. I'm not deluded or anything, I'm sure you've heard of first time authors and there false beliefs. Yours sincerely, James.
Chris Fielden
Hi James. Thanks for your message.
If your story is long, I'd recommend getting someone to critique the opening section (5,000 words or so) and a synopsis. From that, you can take feedback and apply it to your whole manuscript. That's what I usually recommend as a starting point as it's cost effective and offers good value. When you have a more polished manuscript that has been carefully proofread, you can consider having the whole thing reviewed or edited by a professional, if you feel it's necessary.
You need a bit of self-belief to complete a book of any type. Delusion is usually associated with self-proclaimed genius and unrealistic expectations regarding success, sales and reviewers recognising said genius. I'd recommend keeping a positive but realistic outlook :)
I hope that helps. And I wish you all the best with completing your project :-)
Mun V
I need a line editor. May I get a quote for 75,000 word manuscript of a narrative fiction? Thank you.
Chris Fielden
Hi Mun. Thanks for your message.
The price for editing a manuscript up to 80,000 words is £765. Full details can be found here. However, before we agree to take editing work on, we ask you to send a sample chapter (preferably the opening of your novel) so we can see if it's something we can help with.
This is because many writers think they need an editor when they actually need a critique and some proofreading. Line editing is usually conducted at the final stage in the publishing process. The novel should already have been through a few draft stages by then. And line editing is usually done in house, by the publisher, unless you're self-publishing of course.
I'd be happy to discuss with you via Zoom if needs be - just let me know :-)
Tony S
In answer to the question by Phil C re proofreading and editing as a job, courses are available through the Chartered Institute for Editors and Proofreaders. I hope this helps.
Chris Fielden
Thank you for sharing that Tony, very much appreciated :-)
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