I had been working on my first novel for years, but despite all my plotting and planning felt I was going in circles after five drafts. Lu offered to read my first 10k words and then provide a one-hour video review. She explained this is a far less expensive way to get someone like me back on track than to have her read the whole thing, editing every page. And she was right!

Her feedback was very thoughtful and honest, exactly what I needed. She covered some technical aspects, characterisation, voice, and plot themes, and diplomatically pointed out some things which might confuse the reader.

So it’s a developmental type of review with a structural twist that has inspired me to reconsider what wasn’t working so well and enhancing what was. Perfect!

I’m a budding author and have some technical training. I’d written a novel that had somewhat gone in the weeds but recoverable with the proper focus. I had a coaching session on my first 10K words which was incredibly valuable. The video interaction was much better than previous line edits [from a different editor]. She is very precise in her ideas, gives strategy, and frankly I feel confident going forward with my big project and plan to use her expertise for the final edits.

It’s been an insightful and joyous experience working with Lu. I’ve eagerly awaited her feedback and suggestions, her restructuring advice and her kickstarting copy in my ‘voice’ that got me going further and faster on my chapters. She’s taken my ideas, information and repetitions and brought clarity, focus and an artful arc to them. Many thanks. I’d rate her 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 😁

Lu has been incredible, her ability to help my voice and give me the guidance and confidence to tell my story has been more than I asked of her. I highly recommend contacting her, no matter what stage you’re at, and you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait until we can work together again…after I implement some her insight and rework a few more chapters. Love ya style Lu 😁

Lu’s structural edit of my book, Rewiring Pain, made sure my ideas come were presented in an engaging and entertaining way. She understood the needs of my target audience and found clever ways to make an easy read of my book on the heavy topic of neuroplasticity. I also asked Lu to typeset my book, and it looks great.

Lu worked with me on my book Smart Parenting from first draft to publication. Her keen eye for structure, her word magic and her wit made it an unforgettable experience. I’m forever grateful for her support. Can’t wait to work with her on my next book.

Thank you so much for your work on my book! I’ve had a quick look at most of your comments and suggestions and I can really see the value of a professional copy edit. It’s precious for a writer to see the editor engage with your manuscript in such depth, and in such a supportive way. It builds a relationship of trust. I like how your comments range from word choice and syntax to narrative technique and character development.

Lu skillfully edited our anthology, ‘A New Beginning’. Editing the work of twenty authors was no easy feat. Lu was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend her services.

Lu did a manuscript appraisal of my novel. She was great to work with. She gave me some terrific ideas to develop the story. Her insight made a significantly positive impact on the direction I’ve taken it in.

As an aspiring writer, I didn’t know exactly what to expect from an editor, but nevertheless, Lu managed to go beyond and impress me with her practical approach and useful tips. I feel that “an ice block” in the way of my finishing my first novel manuscript melted away in Lu’s hands. Thank you!

I found Lu’s partnership invaluable in developing an information and marketing package for our potential clients. She has a rare ability to grasp complex concepts very quickly.  As a result she is able to  simplify, shape and develop supporting materials on any topic for any audience, and within a short timeframe.

There are so many positive things to say about Lu, and how she helped with my newest novel, ‘These Pictures of Us’.

It started with a structural edit (manuscript assessment) where Lu examined the vital elements of the novel like tone, characters and pacing. She delved deep and the report helped immensely in writing the next draft, which was a massive improvement from where it had started.

The copy edit itself was vital to refining the novel into the best book it could be. A copy edit like Lu’s is essential for any novel. With line-by-line examination and editing, along with positive feedback – a wonderful surprise – the copy edit was exactly what I’d hoped for.

Lu has the patience, knowledge, skills and connectedness to creative writing to help develop and refine any self-published or trade published novel.

Cannot thank you enough, Lu. Look forward to working with you again.

Tommy

I just wanted to thank you for this whole process you’ve been a pleasure to deal with and your comments/insights have been incredibly valued. If you’re still game I’d be delighted if you’d like to take a look at the fourth book when that’s ready to go.

We were really impressed with Lu’s work! Lu took a document that was the product of a few people’s co-writing, which did not have an executive summary, a clear flow or a punchy wrap up, and turned it in to a well bookended piece that took you through the story in a succinct and well structured way.

Lu has been a pleasure to work with. Her manuscript assessment, one-on-one writing workshops and copy edits have been invaluable in the development of my first novel. Lu has a lot of knowledge and attention to detail which, along with her enthusiasm, really helped me take my manuscript to the next level.

I’d strongly recommend Lu to any writers – she can really help you develop a solid finished product.

My co-author Chris and I engaged Lu to copy-edit our manuscript, Courting Victory. Lu was able to bring together our writing styles (academic and journalistic) and to provide a broad range of editing suggestions that tightened up the manuscript, whilst keeping an eye on the detail.

Happily, Lu was able to return her edits ahead of schedule, giving Chris and I more time to discuss the changes and typeset the document.

Lu did a fantastic job typesetting and proofreading my book. As a first-time author, there was so much I didn’t know about the process of bringing a book to print. Lu’s attention to detail ensured I considered all the decisions I needed to make and that nothing slipped through the cracks. She was very responsive to what I wanted and she also had excellent input that improved the final product.
Very happy to recommend Lu!

Lu is the dream editor – she has vast general knowledge, strong writing skills and an innovative take on any task.

Lu worked with us on our two national quarterly magazines, Inside Small Business and The Strategic Super Investor, in 2013. She worked right through editorial print production, from writing to subediting to image collection to proofreading, and applied herself to any task with equal willingness. Lu was quick to pick up weaknesses, major and minor, in substance and in style. In addition, her meticulous scrutinising of the iPad app saved us from a myriad of embarrassing navigational and textual glitches.

Lu’s portfolio career has given a bright shine to her people skills and her ability to assimilate smoothly into a workplace. I recommend her without hesitation.

I have worked with Lu Sexton as an editor over several years. She is generous and encouraging, bringing previously unseen perspectives and an exacting critique to the work. Lu has always shown an uncanny ability to understand subtleties of style and what the work is trying to achieve and to assist me as a writer in finding ways to realise these.

Her deft editor’s hand has helped me enormously with work published in Page 17, Wet Ink, Visible Ink and other anthologies, and with work submitted successfully for a Varuna Writers Fellowship. Her contribution to looking at thematics and structure in my novel in progress has been vital and her specific suggestions for how to progress continue to prove invaluable.

I had the pleasure of working with Lu as my editor for a piece I had selected for a Visible Ink anthology in 2012.

From the outset, Lu established a great line of communication between us, and I found her to be an excellent editor in her ability to be supportive and constructive as well as critical. Her initial feedback and comments were fantastic, and I felt she really engaged with the story and the characters.

She has a keen eye, and a great ear for rhythm and cadence; some of her editorial suggestions very much enhanced the voice of the protagonist in my piece by keeping it consistent. She expressed her thoughts and opinions about editorial changes in a very constructive way, and has the ability to be practical, clear and concise about her reasoning for suggested changes.

I found Lu to be respectful in regard to my writing style, and her editorial work really productive. She was open and approachable, and I felt very happy with the final edit we ended up sending to print.

I wouldn’t hesitate to work with her again on future projects.

I sent my manuscript to Lu Sexton for copy editing. She skilfully realised a manuscript assessment was in order. The assessment was brilliant and it gave me about twenty-eight crucial issues to respond to concerning character journey, story arc, time frames, plausibility, tense, and show don’t tell. On top of that we discussed her findings fully as part of my contract.

Now my manuscript has given me purpose and confidence in completing something I will truly value. It is finally, taking shape.

Lu edited a long and complex strategy. She was quick and very reasonably priced and managed to greatly improve the final project by picking up many inconsistencies we had missed as well as obvious errors.

She was very flexible and easy to work for, it makes all the difference having a professional editor and I would definitely recommend Lu.

The Torch Project engaged Lu to whip our 2013 annual report into shape and she did a fantastic job. Her editing was informed and astute, her consultation clear and direct. Highly recommended.

I was one of seventeen trainee proofreaders for a contract between RMIT and the Australian Defence Force. Lu coordinated all aspects of the contract, organising schedules, directing, instructing, correcting and guiding our team to provide a quality service on time, to the brief and to the client’s satisfaction.

Lu’s sense of humour and endless patience made the project experience thoroughly enjoyable. I would recommend Lu for any form of project and team management work as well as for editing.

Lu managed the writing, editing and production of a series of case study story boards for the Yarra Sustainability Awards. She gathered stories from nominees, edited them into concise and appealing case studies, got approval from nominees, and liaised with designers and printers to produce the posters.

She is a very competent writer and editor with an eye for detail and a flair for good storytelling. She was able to manage an unwieldy and disparate group of stakeholders to pull off the project on time and on budget.

Lu edited my Masters Thesis. She showed amazing attention to detail and an awareness of the necessity to work within the academic guidelines, which was very helpful. A fast, smart editor with integrity, I would heartily recommend her for any work.