EDITING SERVICES
Irma has worked as an editor for over two decades, both freelance and in-house. She was Convener of Editing at the University of Canberra for a decade, and currently freelances as a book editor for Australian publishers like Hardie Grant, Penguin Random House, Walker Books and a range of smaller independents, as well as for cultural institutions and individual writers.
Irma edits fiction (literary and contemporary), a wide range of nonfiction, anthologies, and children’s books (picture books, middle grade and YA), many of which have won prestigious awards.
Formerly editor of Muse, Canberra’s former monthly arts magazine, Irma also has an ongoing interest in the arts, and has worked for many arts organisations. She has edited books, magazines, catalogues, exhibition panels, blogs and websites for many cultural institutions, including the National Museum of Australia, National Library of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy, National Archives of Australia, QUT Art Museum and William Robinson Gallery.
Irma also works with individual writers looking to prepare their manuscript for submission to traditional publishers, or indie writers looking to create a professional self-published book. As a published author of works for adults and children herself, Irma understands both sides of the editing and publishing process.
Irma is a professional member of the Canberra Society of Editors, and a member of the Australian Society of Authors, Children’s Book Council of Australia, Society of Book Writers and Illustrators, ACT Writers Centre and NSW Writers Centre.
Services
Editing services: Structural editing, copy editing, proofreading.
Other services: Project management, workshops on writing and editing, manuscript assessment and development, mentorships (including once-off phone or Zoom calls to provide advice on any aspect of the writing and/or publishing process).
Examples of work
Fiction: The Deed by Susannah Begbie (winner, Richell Prize), Inkflower by Suzy Zail (shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year); The Hidden Girl by Louise Bassett; We Ate the Road Like Vultures by Lynnette Lounsbury; Taken In by Simon Bryant, Wisdom Tree by Nick Earls, a series of five novellas: Gotham, Venice, Vancouver, Juneau, Noho (winner of Independent Publisher Book (IPPY) Award and winner of the People’s Choice Award at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards).
Middle grade: Strangers on Country by Kirsty Murray and Dave Hartley, illustrated by Dub Leffler (winner of the CBCA Awards); Amazing Grace by Stephanie Owen Reeder (winner of the NSW Premier’s Award); Midnight Burial by Pauline Deeves (winner of ACT Publishing Awards Children’s Book of the Year); The First Scientists by Corey Tutt, illustrated by Blak Douglas (winner of the CBCA Awards and the ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children).
Picture books: Sorry Day by Coral Vass, illus Dub Leffler (winner of the CBCA Awards, winner of Best Book for Language and Literacy Development and winner of the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards); Tea and Sugar Christmas by Jane Jolly, illus Robert Ingpen (winner of the CBCA Award and ABIA Children’s Book of the Year Award), The Flying Optometrist by Joanne Anderton, illus Karen Erasmus (Notable Book at the CBCA Awards and shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards); The Imagineer by Christopher Cheng, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo (Notable Book at the CBCA Awards); Born to Run by Cathy Freeman, illus Charmaine Ledden-Lewis; Back to Sleep by Zoë Foster Blake, illus Mike Jacobsen.
Nonfiction: Australia’s Wild Weather by Mark Tredinnick; William Robinson: A New Perspective by Nick Earls (Highly Commended in the MAPDA Awards); How to Write and Talk to Selection Criteria (5th ed) by Ann Villiers (winner of the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year); Bold Types: How Australia’s First Women Journalists Blazed a Trail by Patricia Clarke; Tent Life by Doron Francis.
Anthologies: The Invisible Thread: One Hundred Years of Words (official publication of the National Year of Reading and the Centenary of Canberra, and winner of the Canberra Critics Circle Award for Literature); The Sound of Silence: Journeys Through Miscarriage (winner of the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards Nonfiction Book of the Year and winner of the Canberra Critics Circle Award for Literature); Impact: Short Stories that Pack a Punch, an anthology of short fiction in association with the 2019 Flash Fiction Festival.
Contact
Email Irma to discuss your editing project: irmagoldATiimetro.com.au
Useful links
Read Irma’s post on what each stage of the editing process involves, how to find a freelance editor who is a good fit for you, and how much you can expect to pay.
Read Irma’s post on the collaborative process of working with an editor. She shares why it’s important to be open, let go of your ego, pick your battles and always be professional. Plus how to get the best out of the author–editor relationship.
Read Irma’s post on ‘What I wished I knew before I was published’, after appearing on a HARDCOPY panel with Omar Musa, Lucy Neave and moderator Nigel Featherstone. From expectations around book sales to why your heart is published along with your book.
Listen to Irma interviewed on The First Time podcast about publishing first times. She talks to Kate Mildenhall about wearing the dual hats of editor and author, and much else besides. You can find show notes here.
Listen to Irma interviewed on The Happy Book podcast about editing children’s books. She talks to Tania McCartney about how to edit your own work, how to work with an editor in a publishing house, and thoughts on hiring a freelance editor. You can find show notes here.
Publisher testimonials
Irma’s editorial work is exceptional; especially notable is her work with fiction authors. As a result of her experience with all stages of the book-making process, she has an outstanding sense of a book as a whole, which results in very intelligent and sensitive structural editing. She is extremely respectful of the authorial voice, forming valuable and collaborative connections with authors. She is also an excellent project editor. Working with Irma is a joy!
Susan Hall, Publisher, National Library of Australia Publishing
Irma is a joy to work with. She is incredibly skilled at shaping manuscripts and authors always respond well to her helpful feedback.
Melissa Kayser, Publisher, Hardie Grant
Gold is the perfect word for Irma. Her editorial insights are precious, her style is nothing but grace, her work with authors generous. She is wise, and thoughtful support to the publishers with whom she works, a meticulous copy editor, invaluable structural editor, and her ability to bring a project in on deadline commands my deepest respect.
Donna Ward, Publisher, Inkerman & Blunt