Structural Editing Services for Writers and Authors
Developmental editing
Stories make up the fabric of our lives, our histories and our cultures. They connect us to one another and increase our understanding of ourselves. We each have ideas that will enrich, colour and strengthen the tapestry of our world.
You may write fiction or non-fiction for adults or children.
I provide structural editing for:
- novels
- memoirs
- personal essays
- articles
- short stories
- I work with novice and aspiring writers
- as well as established and published authors
I’d tried a few structural editors before a friend recommended Ann Harth to me. I’m so glad she did.
Ann has edited my last five manuscripts and is by far the best editor I’ve had.
Her structural reports are thorough, covering not only in depth character analysis, but also examining the plot and making suggestions to strengthen the story. In addition she marks up the manuscript, providing thought-provoking comments and tips.
Ann’s work is comprehensive and fast. I highly recommend Ann to anyone looking for a decent editor.
Manuscript assessment
As a manuscript assessor, I am supportive and flexible when working with you. As a writer myself, I understand the importance of maintaining your original voice and intent.
Before I get started we'll take time to define your wishes and needs.
Fiction Authors:
The strengths I bring to your work include character development, dialogue, plot and continuity.
Non-Fiction Authors:
Your work will benefit from my assessment of structure, logic, consistency and accessibility for your target audience.
I was nervous sending my first manuscript, The August Soldiers, to someone for an assessment, but Ann made the process a positive and inspiring experience.
Her feedback and guidance was perfectly aligned to the direction the story needed to take and improved my manuscript immeasurably. Years later, I enlisted her help for another project and I was once again thrilled with the result.
I can’t recommend her enough for anyone looking to gain a second perspective on their work.
Katie Horneman
Mentoring and workshops
Mentoring is a partnership between you and me. Over 20 years writing and mentoring experience has shown me that mentoring is most valuable when you...
- have great ideas but don't know where to start
- have hit the wall - yep writer's block is real
- you know what you want to say but need help finding the right way to say it
- your friends and family love your writing, but you want professional, objective feedback
- you have lots of questions, and don't know where to turn.
'Ann is an amazing mentor who is generous with her time and advice. As well as being positive and enthusiastic, Ann always provides constructive and detailed feedback on how I can improve. I found her advice on plotting and characterisation to be particularly helpful.
She has bolstered my confidence as well as my writing skills and
I feel lucky to have found her.'
Danika Hall
Charlotte Waring Barton Award 2016 and
CBCA HarperCollins Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program recipient.
More testimonials
I can barely describe in words how incredible working with Ann has been.
Not only is her Full Assessment affordable - which was perfect for my tight budget - but she also returned it very quickly! I have had a few professionals gaze over my work, but Ann has proved to be the best suit for me.
Her comments were easy to understand, and she described her reasons for the constructive criticism that my work desperately needed clearly and with precision.
She helped me to realise that the flaws in my story weren’t the end of the world. I honestly can’t recommend her enough and look forward to working with her in the future. :)”
Keira Wattus
Ann Harth completed a structural edit on my novel. I devoured her feedback!
Her comments were thoughtful and insightful and she really gave me a way to move ahead now and improve my story. It has been an invaluable experience.
She will definitely be hearing from me again in the future!
Lucy Watts
Ann took my first novel, The Magpie's Nest, to the next level, something that I could not have managed on my own.
So, when the praise flooded in about how well written it was, and the book reviewer from The West Australian newspaper commented on my "snappy, sassy prose", I had to tip my hat to Ann's keen editing eye. I also sent Ann the manuscript to the sequel, The Cat's Miaow (to be released in late 2017) and again she has given my work the polish and shine it needed.’
Jacqueline Perry
https://www.facebook.com/MagpieNovel/ http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/themagpiesnest/
‘Ann Harth has been an invaluable help to me in my writing journey. From when she and I first met at the inaugural Allen and Unwin Children’s Manuscript development program in 2009, I knew she was someone who would make an excellent editor and manuscript assessor. She understood my story immediately and was able to offer insightful and constructive advice as to how to improve it.
I would class myself as very much a beginner writer in those days, and Ann’s approach to critiquing was sensitive and encouraging.
She has since critiqued three more of my stories, and her constructive comments about my work’s qualities and weaknesses are always offered in an enthusiastic and positive way.
Ann offers insightful suggestions on structure, plot and character development and is a master at picking up when you begin to ‘tell’, instead of ‘showing’.
I would highly recommend Ann to anyone who is considering having their manuscript assessed. She will definitely help you improve your writing, and will hopefully develop your manuscript towards successful publication, as she did mine.’
Samantha Wheeler www.samanthawheeler.com
Mr Cassowary (University of Queensland Press 2015) Spud & Charli (University of Queensland Press 2014) Smooch & Rose (University of Queensland Press 2013)
‘Ann has helped uncover the best possible book from my raw manuscript.
She's done this by not only using her expert knowledge on structure, grammar and style, but also provided me with helpful advice throughout.
She ensured that at the end I had the tools to help myself in the future and understood completely why she made the changes she did.
My novel originally blew out by over twenty five thousand words, but she helped me tighten the prose to reveal a book that flows well from start to finish. I found her to be extremely helpful, timely, generous in her knowledge and would you believe it – a kind and friendly editor. I don't think I can now publish a novel without having Ann take a look. I recommend her services to all my friends and will definitely be using her in the future.’
Lana Pecherczyk
Hunting for Witches(2015)
‘I have worked on my writing with Ann Harth as a mentor for several years, across a number genres ranging from non-fiction, writing for children and adolescents, and most currently, historical fiction.
Ann has guided me throughout my writing journey, from a completely nervous novice, to a writer who is soon to seek publication for her first novel.
I definitely could not have achieved this without the mentoring I have received from Ann. She is very professional, extremely efficient, and also very funny! Ann provides a great depth of knowledge and experience in writing, is always highly constructive and honest in her advice, however never hesitates to point out the positives in your writing and is a great cheer squad. I would not hesitate to recommend Ann Harth to anyone seeking mentoring, whatever stage of your writing journey you are at.
I call her my Literary Legend!’
Rachael K
‘Ann is awesome. Her comments on my writing have been a crucial part of my learning. She never criticised, she gently held my hand and sprinkled me with a shower of her knowledge. I will take her wisdom with me and, throughout my writing career, it will be her that I thank.’
Francine H
‘As a consultant I spend most of my life rewriting my work and it is very clear that I have a lot of room for improvement.
One of the best things about working with Ann is that I get to see my work through the eyes of a professional who understands writing and isn't simply changing words to make her mark on the work.’
Claire Savage
Managing Director www.savagelycreative.com.au
‘The changes Ann made definitely tightened up the writing and I can clearly see how it improves the flow. Her feedback is invaluable and it’s truly amazing how much I have learned.’
Heather M
‘Ann gave me the confidence I needed to actually put what I wanted down on paper.
Her support and constant stream of advice has helped build my confidence and really become excited about finishing this story.
She helped everything come to life and I will be eternally grateful for that.’
Esther D
‘… I cannot believe how much I have learnt and how much of an improvement I see within my own work.
All of Ann’s feedback was fantastic and gratefully received.’
Katherine H
‘I don't think I could have brought myself to this point of creativity without Ann.
She has been such a strong influence for me. She has inspired me and shown me how this process of writing brings insight and a real sense of achievement.’
Susanna W
‘Talk about striking gold! Her insights, comments and suggestions were embarrassingly close to what I had always meant to write, but never quite did. In addition to the formal aspect of my studies, there were a number emails that were the electronic equivalent of tutor - student “chats”. Ann encouraged this conversation and was always understanding and supportive of what I wanted to do and how I was going to get there. Thanks Ann. It was a great two years.’
Tony H
