EDITORIAL SERVICES BY
FORTITUDE LITERARY
HORROR / GOTHIC / DARK
Who is Ally Wilkes?
I’m a London-based writer who’s been passionate about books my entire life – particularly in horror, dark, and gothic fiction – and I have a very keen eye for detail, having spent 11 years as a criminal barrister.
My query package for my debut novel, ALL THE WHITE SPACES, was picked up off the slush pile by a major London literary agent, and the novel went on to sell both in the UK and (in a good two-book deal) to a sub-imprint of Simon & Schuster in the US. Since then, I’ve published two novels, one novella, and have had numerous short stories accepted at prestigious magazines like NIGHTMARE.
Perhaps more importantly, I also learned the dark art of querying as a student on Curtis Brown Creative’s 6-month novel-writing course in their London offices. If you haven’t checked out the Curtis Brown Creative blog, I encourage you to do so – it’s a treasure trove of query assistance! I also provide support and feedback for students of their online Writing Gothic & the Supernatural course.
Testimonials
Available Services
Manuscript services
Manuscript Assessment
A manuscript assessment will look at your whole manuscript and examine its use of style, structure, characterisation and plot. At the end, you’ll also get a detailed editorial letter with my specific recommendations to take your work to the next level, and then we can schedule a one-hour video call to discuss your work and my suggestions, or anything else related to genre or publishing!
Prices depend on length and complexity (approx £700-£900 for 80-90,000 words) – contact me for a quote and to discuss a sample edit so we can ensure we’re the best fit for each other!
Fixed-price Query
package services
Query letter critique. The art of the one-page query letter is mysterious, but it doesn’t have to be. Let me look at your letter and hone it, with a professional eye on your comp titles and agent choice. £50
Synopsis edit. Most agents want a one-page (gasp!) synopsis. This may seem impossible. I’ll help you cut and hone yours down to the pithiest version possible which still shows off your plot and the major beats of your novel. £50
Comments and edits on the first 10,000 words of your manuscript. I’m an experienced critiquer who’s helped people with sentence-level changes as well as more developmental issues. Let me know if you have any particular concerns. £75
Turn-around times may vary depending on the complexity and scope of the work, but I’ll always keep you updated – I’m great with deadlines!
Let's work together
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