Elyse Lyon | Book Coach and Editor for Fiction Writers
Inverness, Scotland; working with clients in the US, UK, and abroad
- Website
- https://www.elyselyon.com
- Membership Grade
- Advanced Professional Member
About Elyse
If you're seeking an editor who will walk beside you, helping shape your manuscript and refine your skills every step of the way, you're in the right place. I do everything from coaching to proofreading, but my most popular service is what I call a coached manuscript evaluation—a collaborative, bespoke approach that blends developmental work with coaching and can be shaped to fit most authors' needs and budgets.
My background and experience are split between literary fiction and genre fiction, and I particularly love it when the two intersect. I've edited manuscripts by numerous New York Times bestsellers, a few National Book Award winners, a Booker Prize winner, and some Hugo winners, among others.
I love character-driven novels and thoughtful writers driven by craft, ideas, or both. Particular interests include literary fiction and crime/mystery novels. I strive to meet the needs of each project individually, listening to the client and working together to find the approach best suited to the manuscript at hand. I'm also happy to work on most types of subject matter: I'm always interested in hearing what authors have to say, and I'm not easily offended.
I received my copyediting certificate from the University of Chicago Graham School and studied developmental editing with Club Ed. I'm an American living in Inverness, Scotland, so I have experience with both US and UK English. I've also lived extensively abroad, including in Germany, Vietnam, and eastern Europe, which can be useful when editing books set in far-flung locations.
I'm an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders, and I'm also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. I'm a senior editor for a primary client, meaning that I work in a collaborative environment where editors learn from one another and constantly hone our skills. I also engage in regular professional development: currently, you'll find me devouring one craft book after the other.
Check out my website for my portfolio and to see some of the books I've recently worked on—including titles by Rebecca Yarros, Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, and many more.
Other Skills
Publishing support for self-publishing authors
Media
1. Books
2. Websites/blogs
3. Multi-author books
4. Online materials
In-house and freelance experience
Freelance since 2010
Job title: Senior Editor
Company: Elite Editing: 2021–to date
Training
1. Developmental Editing for Fiction: Courses 1–6 (Club Ed) 2023
2. The Art of Querying (CIEP) 2023
3. Introduction to Fiction Editing (CIEP) 2021
4. How to Write the Perfect Fiction Editorial Report (Louise Harnby) 2021
5. Certificate in Copyediting (University of Chicago Graham School) 2021
Subjects
ficton (adult, romantic, literary, crime/mystery/thrillers, historical, popular, science fiction/fantasy/horror)
biography/autobiography/memoirs (musical, classical, 20th century, business, popular)
finance (financial services, personal finance)
business (business to business, b2b, direct marketing, marketing, small businesses)
Qualifications and awards
BA English
Certificate in Copyediting (University of Chicago Graham School)
Testimonials
You can stop looking now. Your search for a copy editor ends right here. As a debut author, it was really important to me that I worked with someone who was not just an extremely experienced copy editor, but someone who got me, got my story, and believed in my project. In Elyse, I got that in spades.
—Dan H.
Elyse Lyon is the best of the best. Professional, passionate, knowledgeable, organized, and efficient. I will use her again. Always. The process of creating a clean copy, from start to finish, was seamless. I will definitely reach out to Elyse when my next novel is written.
—Evelyn L.
Service(s)
Specialisms
Client types
Associated skills
Disclaimer note
The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.