Our Story
When I worked at Penguin, reading the slush pile late into the night, I saw many promising manuscripts declined because the work wasn’t ready, leaving the author unsure where to turn. So, in 1998 I launched Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, providing writers with editorial help and guidance, and helping authors to prepare for submission and publication.
For years Cornerstones has sustained the ranking of #1 literary consultancy in the UK, and we’ve since launched in America, making us the first transatlantic literary consultancy.
We have over 80 editors, all chosen for their agenting, publishing, or writing experience. Michele Rubin, our US Editorial Director; Monica, our UK Editorial Director and the head of our Scouting Programme; Kate Padiachy, our UK Managing Editor; Kyrie Roxby, our Editorial Assistant, and myself are all on hand to answer your queries and guide your progress. Kathryn Price, my former co-director, is now our course tutor.
We’re a skills-based company and we strongly believe that self-editing techniques can be taught. We regularly give lectures at universities, writer conferences and workshops. Check out our Twitter for upcoming events.
Yours, Helen Corner-Bryant
Our Book
Writing a novel is a magical but often difficult journey, and when your first draft is complete, that journey’s not over. As the editing process gets underway, authors often find themselves in unfamiliar territory. What does it mean to ‘map your plot’? How do you know if you’re ‘head-hopping’? When is your novel ready to send out to agents, and how do you make each submission count?
Written by the team behind one of the world’s most successful literary consultancies, On Editing will show you how to master the self-edit. You will learn to compose, draft, and edit while sharpening your writing and ensuring that your novel is structurally sound, authentic, well-written, and ready for submission.
On Editing will help you harness your creative potential, transform the way you think about your writing, and revolutionise your editorial process.
“Highly recommended: On Editing is indispensable reading for anyone who is or wants to be a writer. Written throughout in an engaging and easy to read style, the two parts explore first how to write and edit, and then how to get published. The advice from the authors is lucid and backed with plenty of helpful examples, giving writers a user-friendly treasure chest of gems to offset any challenge they might face. This is a generous, practical, and as you might expect, superbly written manual. Every writer’s desk should have a copy!”
– Dr Samantha J. Rayner, Director of the Centre for Publishing, UCL
On Editing is also the set text for our Edit Your Novel the Professional Way online course. For more information on the course, click here.
“On Editing is a feast with many courses. When you have finished this book, you will feel encouraged, empowered, and indomitable. If you are writing–or editing–a novel, you could do no better than to have this book by your side. Comprehensive, easily digestible, it is a classic in the making.”
– Shaye Areheart, Director of the Columbia Publishing Course
“Authoritative, encouraging and enthusiastic, On Editing is full of essential advice for all writers.”
– Writing Magazine
