Peter Midgley

I am an editor with more than thirty years’ experience editing poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature. My clients include indie authors, NGOs/NFPs, and publishers. I can edit in English and in Afrikaans and I enjoy working in cross-cultural contexts.

As the author of twelve books and with thirteen years’ experience working in publishing, I understand the craft of writing from many angles.

My Editorial Philosophy

Write ethically, edit ethically.

When it comes to writing stories, I say: the more bull, the better. Storytellers rely on bull. As a writer myself, I can help you shovel. (See my blog post on Meadow Muffins for more on the relationship between writing and bull***).

When it comes to editing, I say no bull: only honest assessments of your work. I put my award-winning knowledge and experience as a writer and as an editor to work for you.

Whatever your sheet of preference — papyrus, paper, or tablet, I can help make your work the best it can be.

Client Comments

Peter’s copy-edits are excellent … perceptive in ways that I’ve never encountered from a copy-editor.

Peter allowed a good working relationship to grow, and I must admit that this is something that few non-Inuit men have done with my work. He demonstrated respect for my words, and a curiosity and a hunger for understanding Inuit peoples. … It was his openness to other world views and his recognition that our worlds are not separate that I appreciated most.

Not only did Peter give me valuable tips to make my [poetry] manuscript sing by pointing out the false notes, but also and perhaps more importantly, he has the knack to reveal the strength of the piece in both content and structure that may be working below the writer’s conscious level.