Fiction Editing Education - Mentoring Programme
From book to business, a six-month deep-dive into all aspects
of being a fiction editor
Your mentor, Jill Marshall
Learn to Edit Fiction Like a Pro with Expert Training
As a bestselling author and experienced fiction editor, I know what it takes to transform a good story into a great one. Now, I’m sharing my expertise with others, teaching you how to master the art and craft of editing fiction.
With 15 books published by Macmillan, Penguin and Hodder , including the internationally popular Jane Blonde series (sold in over 20 countries and currently being adapted for screen by Oscar-winning animators) as well as a dozen more published under my own boutique publishing house, Jill Marshall Books, I bring the perspective of a successful author who understands storytelling from the inside out. My stories are known for their pace, compelling characters, and themes of transformation, empowerment, and self-discovery—skills I’ll help you apply as an editor.
But what you may not know is that I’ve also edited over a thousand manuscripts for publishers like Penguin and Scholastic and for professional author and manuscript assessment associations, as well as for independent authors who have gone on to win awards, hit bestseller lists, and capture readers’ hearts. My editing approach combines creative instinct with proven techniques to refine narrative structure, enhance character arcs, and elevate storytelling.
What sets me apart is my ability to teach these skills in an engaging, accessible way. With a background in Learning and Development, HR, and corporate communications, I’ve designed and delivered training programs for individuals, teams, and organisations worldwide. I’m also a podcaster and digital creative who can design and implement a website and social media strategy. Whether you’re new to editing or looking to deepen your expertise, I provide practical tools, clear strategies, and real-world insights to help you succeed.
If you’re passionate about storytelling and ready to develop your skills as a fiction editor, let’s work together to build your confidence, knowledge, and career. This is your opportunity to learn from an author-editor who has been there, done it, and can’t wait to help you do it too. NB This is not a proof-reading or copy-editing programme! We’ll cover that, of course, but this is to enable you take a story and turn it into a book, which means viewing that manuscript from many different angles.
Fiction Editor Education - how it works
Six months, fourteen webinars, seven assessments, end-to-end coaching on editing and feedback for one major manuscript
Group workshops and teach-ins
With your fellow Future Fiction Editors, you’ll join Jill for a webinar once a fortnight to investigate all the areas a fiction editor takes into account - structure, plotlines and sub-plots, reader satisfaction, characterisation, word choice, dialogue, showing not telling, resonance and reasonableness … and a teensy bit of copy-editing, correcting grammar and so on (a very teensy bit).
Individual editing and assessment
As well as exercises and ‘homework’ from Jill on the fortnightly webinars, you may also do some of Jill’s other courses on writing fiction (provided free of charge). Most importantly, you’ll begin to do some live editing on different scopes of writing and delivering feedback to the writer. You may discover what your preferences are in this process. Jill will guide and comment on your editing throughout.
The business of editing and ms assessment
In addition to the nuts and bolts of fiction editing and manuscript assessment, Jill will also share many insights into the business of being a fiction editor - how to provide feedback; setting up on your own; specialising to find your niche, communications practices to help you launch. You’ll also source a complete manuscript to edit, and Jill will read both the book and your feedback in stages.
Contact us
to register your interest and discuss the programme
“Jill has an amazing ability to read a manuscript and assess its strengths and weaknesses. She’s an expert at evaluating structure, plot, characterisation and dialogue. Not only that, but she can identify where scenes need to be shown rather than told, and can offer insights on writing style, which will really help make your writing sparkle. I highly recommend Jill’s services."
Rachel, NZ
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