Inkwell Consultants

Afric McGlinchey

An award-winning poet, reviewer and journalist, Afric McGlinchey has worked as a freelance editor for twenty years, in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ireland – for Longman, College Press, Struik, Juta, Macmillan, Wolfhound Press, The Writers’ Consultancy and Inkwell. Her particular areas of interest are literary, commercial, YA and crime fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry. She has also worked as a journalist and sub-editor for the Irish Examiner and for other papers and magazines. She is an experienced creative writing  and poetry workshop facilitator, offering courses throughout Co Cork and online.

I approach a manuscript holistically, assessing the quality of the writing, the structure, characterization, use of all five senses and visibility of setting. I look for glitches in terms of plot, the process of revelation, repetition, stylistic tics and writing that is a little loose – maybe it’s because of my training as a poet, but I like writing to be lean, with not a pick of extra flab. Depth of character and imagery are important aspects of a novel for me. Due to long experience, I can work fast too, and tend to proof-read as I go, fixing punctuation (I’m obsessed about correct use of the apostrophe, for example!) and copy-editing. I also write a Reader’s Report, which will be anything from 6 to 20 pages long, depending on the amount of work still needed to be done.

– Afric McGlinchey

Recommendations

Afric’s been a godsend in helping me from the ‘I hate this book’ stage of writing to that singing on the mountaintops stage. She helped me to see the big picture and to untangle every knot in the plot that I had tied for myself. Her fresh eyes and genius input were crucial in writing this novel and I already look forward to working with her again on the next.

Jax Miller author of Freedom’s Child

Afric has a talent for incisive and perceptive criticism. I find working with her a joy. She has a truly broad experience and a keen ear. She polishes the manuscript so it’s the best it can be, while the writer still retains their unique voice. Afric provides sound editorial advice that is reliable, prompt, honest and clear. Even more, she is encouraging, and when you look at her own output -– inspiring! Many thanks, Afric – I look forward to working with you on the next novel!

Geraldine Hogan, author of The Brotherhood, a crime novel (currently with an agent).

Afric McGlinchey’s editorial service was a great boost to my failing stamina for writing. She gave me sound advice about how to re-work things, use the characters to the story’s advantage, enhance plot-lines and learn how to throw away stuff I was clinging on to.  She is professional in her attitude yet approachable, and she can cut to the chase without damaging self-esteem. Now I take my work more seriously, my writing has progressed massively and I  know that publication is more likely rather than possible.
I’d recommend her and I’m sure I’ll be using her again for other projects.

Carole McWilliams, author of the children’s book, Derek’s Pink Feet.

Afric’s feedback on my poems was both insightful and rigorous. I have also attended a weekly workshop run by Afric, where she used innovative techniques, promoting close observation, making the link from the specific to the global to bring forth original poems. Afric has a lovely way of encouraging and challenging at the same time, aided by a great sense of humour. It’s a testament to her mentoring that I was invited to read as one of the Emerging Poets at the Cork Spring Poetry Festival 2014. One of the poems I read had been written during this workshop.

Laura McKenna (winner of the Edmund Spenser poetry prize)

Afric is a consummate professional and an inspiring editor. She displays a humility, sensitivity and level of engagement that I have never before experienced. She has a remarkable attention to detail and style. I gleaned so much from her editing input and am already adapting my approach to my work.

Sarah Byrne (accepted onto Oxford MA Creative Writing programme)

After scores of rejection letters from agents and publishers for my thriller, The Manhattan Project, I decided to take the advice of one publisher, and have the book professionally edited. After some searching, I was recommended to Afric McGlinchey. That was one lucky break! Afric did a full structural edit and recommended I delete 18,500 words! I took her advice, which led to a partial rewrite. Not only was Afric eagle-eyed in spotting errors, more importantly, she contributed lots of positive good ideas as to how I could improve the story and strengthen my characters. Several of those suggestions were incorporated in my next version.

Within a week of sending out the new version, two publishers were interested. I signed with Black and White Publishing from Edinburgh, and The Manhattan Project will be published in the UK and Ireland on the 10th of May, 2018. Amazingly, foreign rights have already been selling strongly to countries, including Germany.

Afric was a joy to work with and I have no doubt that her edit made the crucial difference in finally getting published. Thanks again, Afric.

Paul McNeive, author of The Manhattan Project

 

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