Manuscript Doctor, Book Coach, Editor

Do you want to write a book but are struggling with how to begin? Do you have an unfinished manuscript that needs rescuing? Do you need a guide to help clarify, critique and encourage you as a writer? Do you want to learn tips and techniques to improve your writing skills?

What Leslie Does

Leslie analyzes and offers suggestions on writing style and self-editing. In addition to her command of language and extensive wordsmithery skills, she can provide tips on formatting, page and cover design, use of typefaces and other intricacies in creating a quality product.

Thanks to her experience in working with the media, Leslie keeps both readers and listeners in mind as she edits, ensuring that a title or phrase works for the ear as well as the eye. This is particularly important in media promotion. She can create tip sheets, quizzes, checklists, or self-tests for added reader interest or audience involvement.

Best of all, Leslie succeeds in maintaining the author’s voice throughout the work to achieve a consistent tone, which her clients fully appreciate.

How She Does It

Leslie will edit three pages of your manuscript free of charge, providing a sampling of her work so you can determine if the two of you are a good match. She has a talent for finding the right word, carving out a powerful phrase, or injecting humor for lightness and holding attention. She excels in soundbites and can tweak titles and headers into attention getters.

Leslie works onscreen, using MS Word’s “track changes” tool. As she is not a Word expert, you may find occasional spacing or other small errors, easy fixes for you. She likes to return edits a chapter at a time, so you can work on the changes while she forges ahead. An entire book can take six weeks to four months, depending on page count, Leslie’s schedule and the extent of editing required.

Qualifications

Leslie has appeared on all the major TV and cable networks, NPR and Bloomberg, and copious print publications including a USA Today cover story. She generously shares tips and tactics for appearing calm and authoritative during interviews despite nervousness.

She has had two books published by major houses and has self-published five
The motivational company Successories purchased partial rights to one of Leslie’s books
She has edited a dozen manuscripts plus one client’s proposal that sold immediately

What Authors Say

"I have recommended several clients to Leslie and they have been delighted with her quick mind and strategic ability to produce a quality non-fiction book in record time. Leslie captures your “voice,” has a get-it-done work ethic and is a joy to work with. Perhaps most importantly, you can trust her to keep deadlines and commitments (what a concept.) I only recommend consultants who have a sterling track record. Leslie is in that category."

"You are absolutely wonderful at being an editor. I am on page 19 of your revisions and I couldn’t agree with you more. You are cleaning up my work and making it so much more definite. This is a book I would buy, (when we get finished with it, that is). There are very few changes I disagree with. I did shorten where you said to shorten, and the content is cleaner. It all makes so much more sense. Thank you for your “cold hand and warm heart.” I love it!"

"Leslie Charles is without doubt the most gifted writer and editor I have had the good fortune to work with. She has a unique an ability to use words in a way that can turn a ho-hum manuscript into an excellent, interesting read. I will always have fond and lasting memories of how wonderful and exciting it was to work with Leslie. She is that good!"

"Leslie, I’m in the middle of revising chapter 2 based on your comments and I am so deeply touched at your care in crafting these rewrites. You’ve made this SUCH A BETTER BOOK, and me a BETTER STORYTELLER! I’m going through the dolphin story and am inspiring myself! Here I am again, reading and incorporating your edits and once again I am in awe of what you have done for me and for this book! As I read your changes, I realize how good you are at this editing thing. I couldn’t begin to fathom what you are able to see in between the lines. I love what you did here: “Once again I left the shoe store in tears, gazing resentfully at my size 10 ‘gunboats.’” Oh, that is so good! “Gazing resentfully,” perfect addition!"

"Leslie Charles is a patient and gentle critic with a keen eye for detail. She puts her entire heart and soul into every book project. A consummate professional, she can take even the most mundane paragraph and make it come alive! While working with her, I learned more about the process of writing than I could have ever learned in school. She was able to capture the essence of my thoughts and help me turn them into a body of work for which I am extremely proud."