Serious Support For Serious Writers
Founded in 1980 by Renni Browne, a former senior editor at William Morrow and coauthor of the bestselling Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, The Editorial Department provides expert and highly personalized support in planning, writing, editing, and publishing all genres of fiction and nonfiction.
Our Services
Manuscript Critique
Candid, constructive editorial critiques for complete manuscripts, book proposals, and unfinished works-in-progress
Developmental Editing
Line & Copy Editing
Editing to strengthen voice, polish prose, correct errors, and ready your work for traditional or independent publication
Author Coaching
Craft-focused primers and personalized coaching on writing technique, based on your own manuscript or work-in-progress
Ghostwriting & Book Collaboration
Professional collaboration, ghostwriting, and book planning by experienced authors published in a wide range of genres
Traditional Publishing Support
Self-Publishing Support
Education, planning, and editorial support for self-publishing authors using any printer or publishing services provider
Screenplays & Screenplay Adaptations
Critique, editing, and ghostwriting services for screenplay adaptations, original screenplays, treatments, and more
Our Promises
Our Book
“The only practical guide to the craft of writing that is both inspiring and essential.”
Our Methodology
Our editors help authors hone writing skills and prepare manuscripts for traditional or independent publication by providing:
Our highly personalized approach to nurturing writers and helping them succeed has earned us feature coverage from The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Writer’s Digest, and “recommended” status by various Internet watchdog groups.What To Expect (and What Not To)
A guide for new clients
Real People, Real Conversations (No Phone Menus or Automated Customer Service)
We are happy to connect with you about your project and stay in communication with you via whatever method suits you best. If you call us, you’ll speak to a real person. If you email us or reach out to us online, we respond personally. Once work is underway, your editor will be directly available to you. And our client services director Ross Browne is always just a phone call or email away to help with the business end of things and any logistics along the way.
More information: Client Services Overview | Call Ross at (520) 546-9992 | Email him at rsb@editorialdepartment.com
Straight Talk About Publishing (No False Promises)
No one here will ever tell you that writing a great book is easy or that you can write a guaranteed bestseller in 90 days. Writing isn’t easy–and usually what may appear to be an overnight success in publishing is actually the culmination of years of hard work. The editing, development, and publishing support we provide can speed things up, make everything considerably easier and ultimately improve the odds of success. But the process of bringing a really good book to fruition requires a good deal of effort and care and should not be rushed. We want you to go in with realistic expectations.
More information: Patience: A Sterling Virtue of Quality Publishing – A Writer’s Primer on Why Hurrying is Bad for Books
Honest Critiques to Help You Improve and Mature as a Writer (No False Praise)
We believe in candor when it comes to assessing the literary and commercial merit of your work–and your current manuscript’s readiness for publication. Our manuscript critique services explore the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement with attention to the very high standards your work must reach to have a legitimate chance of competing in a crowded and competitive marketplace.
More information: More About Our Manuscript Critique Services | FAQ: What Happens if My Manuscript Isn’t Very Good?
Hands-on Editing to Strengthen Concept, Execution, and Style (No Boilerplate Responses)
Our developmental editing services guide you through revision to help you realize these high standards. Our line and copy editing services help strengthen voice, hone narrative style, and make sure everything is technically correct.
More information: Developmental Editing Explained | Developmental Editing Services and Pricing | Line and Copy Editing Explained | Line and Copy Editing Services and Pricing
Human Touch (No AI-Based Editing)
All our work is powered by human intelligence–experienced editors who love books–not automated tools. We believe there is simply no substitute.
Your Book, Your Journey (No One-Size-Fits-All Solutions)
Every manuscript is unique, and so is every author. That’s why we take the time to get to know your specific situation, goals, challenges, and vision for your work before recommending an editor or service to you. And while we always encourage authors to consider any relevant conventions or guidelines that may be helpful to them, the choice to embrace them, modify them, or ever reject them entirely is always yours.
More Information: FAQ: What can I expect if I send you my work to request a quote for services? | How Do You Assign Editors And Can I Pick My Own?
No High-Pressure Sales Tactics (No Sales Pressure, Ever)
We don’t have salespeople and never use aggressive sales tactics, limited-time offers, or pressure-driven upselling. Our owner and author services director Ross Browne can provide clear, no-cost/no-obligation service recommendations and price quotes based on the specific needs of your manuscript and situation. We welcome your questions and will make every effort to accommodate whatever degree of customization is suitable to meet your needs and budget.
Our Knowledge Freely Shared (No Paywalls, Access Barriers, or Advertisements)
Craft coaching and helping our authors better understand the publishing industry is something we take seriously at The Editorial Department. That’s why our extensive online and subscription-based archive of writing, publishing, and screenwriting insights for fiction and narrative nonfiction writers are open to all, cost nothing, and are always ad-free.
And for just a few dollars, you can get a copy of Self-Editing For Fiction Writers from any book store, which was co-authored by our founder Renni Browne and is a best-selling title on how to edit your own work.
More Information: Reading Room | Creating Captivating Fiction
Your Trust Matters (No Sharing Your Ideas or Selling Your Data, Ever)
Your manuscript, story ideas, and personal information are always considered strictly confidential. We never sell, share, or misuse your data. While NDAs are available upon request, 100% confidentiality is our standard.
More information: Request an NDA | Know Your (Copy) Rights – An Introduction to Copyright for Authors
Flexibility First (No Bundle or Package Requirements)
All our services are provided à la carte so we can make sure you’re happy at every turn and so the process can stay flexible and totally within your control.
More information: Prices and Services Homepage | FAQ: What is the Total Cost Likely to Run For Having a Manuscript Edited to Completion?
Your Vision Leads the Way (No Loss of Creative Control)
Your creative vision matters. Your voice matters. While it’s our duty to help you hone both and elevate concept and execution, all our services are designed to improve your work and make the best of what you want your book to be—not override your intentions.
This is why we do our work with care for your creative vision. We deal in guidelines, not rules. We advise, not instruct. We also look at everything through the lens of what you’re trying to accomplish with the goal of providing constructive, actionable guidance based on your goals and objectives.
Our Editors
Our staff includes a diverse mix of editors, literary agents, writing coaches, screenwriters, ghostwriters, and publishing consultants who work with our authors directly to provide as much or as little support as is needed to bring your project to fruition. Many of us are successfully published writers or have experience acquiring and editing books for major New York publishers. Others are experienced writing teachers with a passion for nurturing creativity and helping writers realize your own creative vision at the highest level possible.
Areas of fiction specialization
Areas of nonfiction specialization
Our editors specialize in providing concrete guidance and clear direction, first in making your manuscript as good as it can be, then in getting it published, and finally in giving it the best chance of success in the marketplace. Whether you’re working on your first book or your fifteenth, whether your goal is traditional or independent publication, whether you’ve got a rough draft teeming with potential or a polished final draft that’s ready to find its readership, The Editorial Department is uniquely qualified to help you succeed.
Our Clients
Our clients range from bestselling authors with loyal readerships to new writers who are just starting out on their writing journeys. You can learn more about their books here and the literary agents and publishers who brought them to fruition here.
One especially satisfying affirmation of the quality of books we have edited comes in the form of praise for our clients’ novels from authors such as Allison Brennan, Lee Child, Clive Cussler, J.T. Ellison, Lisa Gardner, Jim Harrison, Susan Isaacs, and Stephen King. Rave reviews can be found in publications that include, Booklist, Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus, New York Times, Library Journal, People Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Times (UK), Washington Post, and many more.
Getting Started
If you’re considering working with a professional editor and feel we may be a good fit for you, the first step is to contact Ross Browne in the Tucson office. You can do this by phone at (520) 546-9992, by email at admin@editorialdepartment.com, or by visiting our online welcome center, where you can upload your manuscript and answer a few questions that will help us assess what you have and which editor(s) and service(s) may be most appropriate for your needs.
Once Ross receives all the information he needs to make a recommendation, he will contact you to discuss your options for moving forward, introduce the recommended editor(s), and provide a written quote for any pertinent service(s). At this point in the process, there’s never any cost or obligation, and Ross will be happy to answer any questions and customize the proposed editorial course, based on your project’s unique needs.