Kendra Olson
Fiction proofreader and editor
If you’ve revised your novel more than once but continue to struggle with tangled up plot lines, unruly characters, and/or an uncooperative story arc, I can help.
Or maybe you’re still writing your novel but need some guidance on how to move forward. I can help with that too.
Finally, if you’ve managed to tame your manuscript into a novel you’re proud of, undergone copyediting to ensure your prose is grammatical and (mostly) stylistically consistent, and now you just need a final quality check before publishing, that’s also something I can assist with.
I’m a professionally trained developmental editor, book coach, proofreader, and proof-editor. I have also undertaken some training in copyediting and have copyedited fiction for a small publisher.
As of November 2025, I’m predominantly working on cosies, whether that’s cosy mysteries or cosy romances. I also enjoy cosy fantasy novels, family sagas, historical fiction about everyday people, and so-called women’s fiction. However, as I’m familiar with fiction in general, if you write in another genre, we might still be a good fit. Although, please note that I won’t edit anything with gratuitous violence. I also don’t work on erotica, stories with an overtly religious message, or AI-generated stories.
To read a full list of the courses I’ve taken, click here:
As a developmental editor and book coach, I can help you strengthen your storytelling skills, ensuring your story is compelling and well-written, your characters realistic, and your narrative arc satisfying.
As a proofreader, I can help you make sure that your manuscript is ready for publishing, meaning it meets industry-standard guidelines for a professional, ready-to-publish book.
I hold an MLitt in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow, which included a module in Editing and Publishing. I have taken courses in the craft of developmental editing through the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and Club Ed. These courses included carrying out full developmental edits under the supervision of a qualified instructor, as well as completing smaller editing tasks focusing on specific craft elements. I have also taken a course in book coaching through Club Ed.
Additionally, I'm a PQB-qualified proofreader and graduated with merit from the Publishing Training Centre’s Essential Proofreading course here in the UK. I have also undertaken training in copyediting for proofreaders and copyediting fiction.
I regularly undertake new training and am always looking for professional development opportunities. This has included attending the annual conferences of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), of which I'm an intermediate-level member (prior to joining the CIEP, I was a member of the EFA).
More about me
I live in London with my husband and our two cats.
I started out helping indie authors strengthen their stories before I moved into proofreading and proof-editing (a combination of checking a manuscript for surface-level issues as well as carrying out a light copyedit). These days I mainly proofread and proof-edit for small publishing companies.
I was a proofreader for the online magazine The Publishing Post for two years. The Publishing Post is a platform for news and information about the publishing industry here in the UK and they work to make publishing more equitable and diverse.
Before I became an editor, I wrote a novel loosely based around the life of my great-great grandmother who emigrated from Sweden to America in the 19th century. It was published by Pilrig Press.
I used to run a book blog. You can find that here: https://kendraolson.wordpress.com/.