Editing middle grade and YA fiction, from the magical and mysterious to the downright macabre – and everything in between
Editing middle grade and YA fiction, from the magical and mysterious to the downright macabre
Let’s get your book ready to unleash
on those young readers
Hello and welcome!
I’m so happy you’re here. I can tell you’re going to be one of my favourite people because you’ve slogged through multiple drafts, cried into your gin, wondered whose idea this book was anyway and made it to the other side. Plus you were brave enough to write a story for young people – a demanding audience who deserve the very best. But most importantly, you’re so serious about your writing that you want to hire an editor to get it to the next level.
I think I love you.
And I want you to love your book. To be completely, utterly, hearts-for-eyes smitten about your story. So I’ll help you make your characters unforgettable, your scenes full of drama, your setting vivid and your dialogue snappy. I’ll look at anything that might pull readers out of the story and distract them from the world you’ve built so they can stay captivated right to the last full stop. Let’s get this book ready for young readers.
Hello and welcome!
I’m so happy you’re here. I can tell you’re going to be one of my favourite people because you’ve slogged through multiple drafts, cried into your gin, wondered whose idea this book was anyway and made it to the other side. Plus you were brave enough to write a story for young people – a demanding audience who deserve the very best. But most importantly, you’re so serious about your writing that you want to hire an editor to get it to the next level.
I think I love you.
And I want you to love your book. To be completely, utterly, hearts-for-eyes smitten about your story. So I’ll help you make your characters unforgettable, your scenes full of drama, your setting vivid and your dialogue snappy. I’ll look at anything that might pull readers out of the story and distract them from the world you’ve built so they can stay captivated right to the last full stop. Let’s get this book ready for young readers.
Let’s get your book ready to unleash on the world
Hello and welcome!
I’m so pleased you’re here. I can already tell you’re going to be one of my favourite people, because you’ve slogged through multiple drafts, cried into your gin, wondered whose idea this book was anyway, and made it to the other side. Plus you were brave enough to write a story for young people – a demanding audience who deserve the very best. But most importantly, you’re so serious about your novel and your craft that you want to hire an editor to get it to the next level.
I think I love you.
And I want you to love your book. To be completely, utterly, hearts-for-eyes smitten about your story. So I’ll help you make your characters unforgettable, your scenes full of drama, your setting vivid and your dialogue snappy. I’ll look at anything that might pull readers out of the story and distract them from the world you’ve built so they can stay captivated right to the last full stop. Let’s get this book ready for young readers.
Let’s get your book ready to unleash on the world
Hello and welcome!
I’m so pleased you’re here. I can already tell you’re going to be one of my favourite people, because you’ve slogged through multiple drafts, cried into your gin, wondered whose idea this book was anyway, and made it to the other side. Plus you were brave enough to write a story for young people – a demanding audience who deserve the very best. But most importantly, you’re so serious about your novel and your craft that you want to hire an editor to get it to the next level.
I think I love you.
And I want you to love your book. To be completely, utterly, hearts-for-eyes smitten about your story. So I’ll help you make your characters unforgettable, your scenes full of drama, your setting vivid and your dialogue snappy. I’ll look at anything that might pull readers out of the story and distract them from the world you’ve built so they can stay captivated right to the last full stop. Let’s get this book ready for young readers.
The Writer and the Wolf mission statement
Young readers deserve the best books. They deserve authors who care about their readers and what’s important to them. They deserve to see themselves reflected in the books they read, and to feel valued and important. They deserve stories that help them see the world in new ways.
And I couldn’t be more excited to lift you up and support you while you create those stories for them.
About Siobhán & Writer and the Wolf
About Siobhán & Writer and the Wolf
Hi! I’m Siobhán O’Brien Holmes and I’m a developmental editor of middle grade and YA fiction. Although there’s a special place in my heart for stories with a dark or spooky side, I work with all genres, including contemporary, historical, romance, science fiction, horror, fantasy and mystery!
I focus on the big-picture story elements of your manuscript like character, plot and pacing and I offer critiques and developmental edits.
What I do and who I do it for
Hi! I’m Siobhán O’Brien Holmes and I’m a developmental editor of middle grade and YA fiction. Although there’s a special place in my heart for stories with a dark or spooky side, I work with all genres, including contemporary, historical, romance, science fiction, horror, fantasy and mystery!
I focus on the big-picture story elements of your manuscript, like character, plot and pacing, and offer manuscript critiques and developmental edits.
Head to the about page to find out more about me!
What I do and who I do it for
Hi! I’m Siobhán O’Brien Holmes and I’m a developmental editor of middle grade and YA fiction. Although there’s a special place in my heart for stories with a dark or spooky side, I work with all genres, including contemporary, historical, romance, science fiction, horror, fantasy and mystery!
I focus on the big-picture story elements of your manuscript, like character, plot and pacing, and offer manuscript critiques and developmental edits.
Head to the about page to find out more about me!
⭐️ Children’s book expertise
I’ve got an MA in Children’s Literature from Roehampton University, lots of specialised training in editing children’s fiction, and a lifelong geeky love of children’s books.
⭐️ Tactful and supportive
I’m a delicate flower who hates criticism so my feedback is always thoughtful, sensitive and encouraging. I’ll give my honest opinion about what’s not working but it won’t make you cry.
⭐️ Knowledge of the craft
I have an MA in Novel Writing and studied editing with CIEP, PTC and EFA. I’m also a Professional member of the CIEP and have passed their editorial test.
Who I am and what I do
Hi! I’m Siobhán O’Brien Holmes and I’m a developmental editor of middle grade and YA fiction. Although there’s a special place in my heart for stories with a dark or spooky side, I work with all genres, including contemporary, historical, romance, science fiction, horror, fantasy and mystery!
I focus on the big-picture story elements of your manuscript, like character, plot and pacing, and offer manuscript critiques and developmental edits.
Head to the about page to find out more about me!
‘The story has been truly seen for the first time’
I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the hard work you have done on my edit. I am absolutely thrilled with it; the attention to detail and depth with which you went into the manuscript left me speechless. The hashtag system is so handy and the book map made so many things clear for me.
I feel like the story has been truly seen for the first time. I will recommend your work without hesitation.
Aisling White | YA
‘The best editing I’ve ever received’
Siobhan is absolutely brilliant! I’m trying not to sound too gushy but her work truly is astonishing — the best editing I have ever received. Siobhan is a master editor at every level, from word to idea. She is a consummate craftsperson and expert researcher.
She is efficient and generous, bright and fun — an absolute joy to work with. I have never felt so quickly understood and supported by an editor.
Sara Cassidy | Children’s author
Stay informed and protected on your publishing journey! Check out these free guides:
Classes and editing for kidlit authors
⭐️ Freebies ⭐️
Build your craft library
It can be hard to choose from the thousands of craft books out there. To help narrow it down a little for you, I put together a PDF booklet full of my top recommended writing craft books for writers of children’s & YA fiction – 39 of them!
GRAB IT FOR FREE!
Quiz Your Protagonist
A free self-paced course with 14 surprising interview questions for your MG or YA character to answer. The more you understand your hero and their hopes, dreams, fears and motivations, the more believable and relatable their actions will feel to readers.
GRAB IT FOR FREE!
Become a genre expert
A fun project for writers of children’s and YA fiction who want to learn more about the genre they write and get a better understanding of the market and the readers they’re writing for
GRAB IT FOR FREE!⭐️ Courses ⭐️
Manuscript Wishlist Walkthrough
Find agents looking for books like yours right now by browsing up-to-date, deeply specific wishlists! I'll walk you through this fabulous resource so you can find the right agents for your book.
GET IT FOR £7!
Book Map Rockstar
See your story all in one place with a book map! Spot emerging patterns or gaps and understand what’s actually on the page rather than just what you *think* is on the page.
GET IT FOR £68!
Space opera, steampunk and slashers, oh my!
A deep dive into genre for children's book authors. We’ll explore and explain tropes, genres, subgenres, mashups and the children’s book industry, all while showing you how to apply this learning to your own book and marketing materials.
GET IT FOR £68!
The Kidlit Comp Title Workshop
This workshop guides you through finding, reading and pitching the perfect comp titles for your children’s or YA book, levelling up your chances of publishing success.
GET IT FOR £68!
Untangling Children's Books
Learn about the middle grade and YA markets and understand what children, agents and publishers are actually looking for, so you’ll stand the best chance of achieving your publishing dreams and putting something fabulous out into the world!
GET IT FOR £68!⭐️ Editing & support ⭐️
Real-Time Review
Quick, constructive, no-fluff feedback via video on 250 words of your kidlit manuscript from a professional children’s book editor. Get off-the-cuff gut reactions as I read your work for the first time on camera – in 24 hours.
BOOK IT FOR £20
Cub Report
Feedback on a specific element of your story. I read your first 10,000 words and let you know if you’re heading in the right direction or, if you already have a completed manuscript, give you the guidance you need to tackle revisions.
BOOK IT FOR £250
Plot Check-Up
Want feedback on your story before you start writing? With a plot check-up you can run your plans past me to make sure you’re heading in the right direction. Send your outline, synopsis, pitch, chapter plan or back-of-a-napkin story ideas up to 10,000 words and I’ll send you back a short report on what I think is and isn’t working.
BOOK IT FOR £250
Query Package
Wondering how to make your submission really stand out and impress your dream agents? Send me your query letter, synopsis and first 10,000 words and I’ll write a short report (up to 5 pages of A4) with suggestions on how to strengthen your submission materials.
BOOK IT FROM £250
Weekly Pages
Weekly Pages is where we work together on an ongoing basis as you plan, write or revise a manuscript. We can start at whichever stage you happen to be at, and we can keep going until you’re ready to stop.
BOOK IT FROM £400 A MONTH
VIP day
Imagine having a professional children’s book editor (that’s me!) on call for the day, replying to your messages and answering your questions there and then instead of taking days or even weeks to put a response together!
BOOK IT FOR £425 A DAY
Pixie Report
A Pixie Report gives you 5 specific, actionable recommendations for taking your manuscript to the next level. Less full-on than The Monster but just as valuable!
BOOK IT FROM £649
The Monster
The big one! The Monster combines story craft teaching with a thorough review of your manuscript, like a workshop on story craft with your novel as the text book.
BOOK IT FROM £899