Liz Monument

The Script Doctor

International Fiction Editor & Writing Coach

based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

The Script Doctor service is designed to suggest edits for work of all kinds, including literary fiction, thrillers, historical fiction, SF, speculative, dystopian, fantasy, horror, young adult, and crime. I also also advise on non-fiction projects such as lifestyle, historical and memoir. It's my job as an editor and coach to build every client's skill-set and understanding of the market they're writing for.

I work on the premise that story functions the same way across any number of genres, so whatever you write, I can offer the same level of help. I can help with the mechanics of historical settings and equally, with the challenges of creating a unique futuristic landscape.  

Before booking, please note: I recommend setting aside your newly-finished manuscript for a minimum of three months. This will help you to return to it with fresh eyes, to give it a final edit. Problems you didn't previously notice with characters, plot and sentence structure should be easier to spot after a 'rest' from the script. Ideally, you should’ve had your work critiqued (perhaps in a writing group), or at the very least read by a friend or relative who has offered honest feedback. Edit your manuscript as many times as it takes to ensure it is the best it can possibly be. Then, when you can go no further on your own, you're ready to book The Script Doctor. I can help you to take your work to the next level.

How I can help you:

I provide two services: Reader's Report, and Developmental Edit. 

The Reader's Report

A Reader's Report comments on the structure, characters, pace, plot and language of your work. A Reader's Report is a structural overview which assesses the strengths and weaknesses of your project. Areas for improvement are suggested in a detailed report, often with worked examples where appropriate. 

The Developmental Edit

A Developmental Edit is a more detailed version of the Reader's Report. It includes at least one comment on every page of your manuscript, as well as a reader's report. Anywhere the tension picks up or lessens, anywhere the dialogue is great or perhaps needs to be reduced, or indeed anything else which comes to mind as the story unfolds, is noted on the manuscript in margin comments. This allows for a close focus on things which are working well, and things which might need some attention. 

Which Service Should I choose?

I generally advise a Reader's Report as a first choice. A Developmental Edit is useful if you've had a near miss with an agent, who's replied personally to your enquiry and has perhaps invited you to make changes and resubmit. This is the point at which drilling down into the prose on each page is more appropriate. 

Any Questions? Fill in the Contact Form HERE, then I'll be in touch to discuss the best approach for editing your novel or non-fiction, and to tell you how much it will cost to evaluate or edit. All projects are of different length and require different amounts of input, so every quote is individual.