About the Darling Axe
We are professional editors as well as award-winning writers. We understand the intense effort and emotional investment you have poured into your work. It's our job to help you realize your vision and take your manuscript to the next level.
The Darling Axe is an open-minded, forward-thinking group. Our editors are interested in literary as well as genre fiction. When you partner with us, you can rest assured that your manuscript will be handled with respect.
Questions? Inquiries? We'd love to hear from you.
Services
We offer narrative development and editing services for every stage of your manuscript's journey to publication.
THE FORGE: NARRATIVE ASSESSMENT
This service is ideal for early-draft manuscripts, partial manuscripts, and novel outlines. We provide you with a thorough analysis, giving special attention to your hook, structure, plot, character arcs, and overall narrative appeal.
THE FOUNDRY: DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
In our developmental edit, we take a close look at your plot, characters, relationship arcs, perspective, and voice. In addition to a written critique, you receive a marked-up copy of your manuscript with comments added throughout, including scene-level feedback and pointers for recurring grammatical or mechanical issues.
THE WORKSHOP: LINE EDITING
In our workshop, we sharpen your manuscript line by line, with special attention to grammar, style, clarity, repetition, and word choice. We aim to maintain your voice as we refine your prose. Also included in this service is a customized style sheet.
THE STUDIO: PROOFREADING
Enter the studio for your final round of editing. One of our technical editors joins the project at this stage to ensure your manuscript is free of errors, and to double check the text against your style guide. We also offer a first-pass proofreading service for manuscripts that have been line edited elsewhere.
THE EXHIBIT: QUERY CRITIQUE
So you're ready to showcase your work to agents and publishers. Our query critique includes a workshop of your query letter and a close look at your synopsis and first 5,000 words.
THE CROW'S NEST: HOOK ASSESSMENT
This is an abridged version of our narrative-assessment service. From the heights of the crow's nest, we take a look at your first 10,000 words. Most readers need to be captivated within the first forty pages, so our goal is to help you polish your opening and sharpen your hook.
Testimonials
Our editors
Michelle Barker, Senior Editor
Michelle is an award-winning author and poet. Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have been published in literary reviews around the world. She has also published two YA novels (fantasy and historical fiction) and a historical picture book. Michelle holds a BA in English literature (UBC) and an MFA in creative writing (UBC). She loves working closely with writers, both at the developmental level and on finer line-by-line issues. Many of those writers have gone on to win publishing contracts and honours for their work. Michelle lives and writes in Vancouver, Canada.
Preferred genres: literary, contemporary, historical fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction.
David Brown, Senior Editor
David is an award-winning short fiction writer, and his debut novel is represented by the Donaghy Literary Group. He has published poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in magazines and literary journals, and he volunteers for the Malahat Review where he interviews writing judges and screens contest entries. He holds a BA in anthropology (UVic) and an MFA in creative writing (UBC). As an editor, he pays special attention to structure, relationship arcs, and voice. David lives in Victoria, Canada, in the unceded traditional territory of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.
Preferred genres: literary, science fiction, fantasy, hardboiled, young adult, and romance.
Carmen Craig, Associate Editor
Carmen is an award-winning short fiction writer and poet. She holds a BA with honours in linguistics from the University of Victoria and a diploma in creative writing and English literature from Camosun College. She is also an instructional assistant for the School of Access at Camosun College where she helps students upgrade their writing skills. Carmen lives on Vancouver Island, Canada in the unceded territory of the WSÁNEC and Lkwungen peoples.
Preferred genres: literary, historical fiction, memoir, true crime, mystery, and stage plays.
Sadie Redden, Technical Editor
Sadie is a technical writer and editor who creates public-facing help content for a global commerce company. Passionate about clarity and consistency, she is meticulous in her editorial review. Sadie loves to work with words and play with language. She studied linguistics at the University of Victoria as well as East China Normal University in Shanghai. Sadie lives in a quiet river valley on southern Vancouver Island.
