I’m Jamie Coleman, an editor and writer based in London. Doing whatever a book needs.
After seven years as an in-house editor, commissioning and editing titles that have sold more than a million copies in the UK, I know how to help books be the best version of themselves.
I now work with most of the major publishers in a variety of roles, including structural and line editing, book-doctoring, ghostwriting, project editing, concept/development editing and work that doesn’t quite fit into any one box.
Please tell me about your project and let’s work out how I can help.
Recent projects
The Rest is Quiz
Goalhanger podcasts
Pan Macmillan
Writer
Unlimited
Lewis Raymond Taylor
Penguin Life
Book Doctor
Always Winning
Ashley Walters
Transworld
Book Doctor
Minority Rule
Ash Sarkar
Bloomsbury
Book Doctor
Imitation Games
Darragh McGee
Bodley Head
Structural editor
You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here
Dr Benji Waterhouse
Jonathan Cape
Book Doctor
Doggy Positivity
Peggy the Hairless Pug
HarperNorth
Ghostwriter
On Cricket
Sir Trevor McDonald
Dialogue Books
Ghostwriter
Dogs
Noel Fitzpatrick
Gallery Books
Book Doctor
Truck It!
Bobby Bolton
Pan Macmillan
Book Doctor
How to Speak Oasis
HarperNorth
Writer
Take Nothing for Granted
Ross Kemp
Seven Dials
Ghostwriter
The Traitors Interactive Game Book
Century
Writer
Turdle
Blink
Writer
My Beautiful Sisters
John Murray
Book Doctor
I Was There
Alan Edwards
Simon & Schuster
Book Doctor
Sound Affects
Julian Treasure
Quercus
Book Doctor
Big Beacon
Alan Partridge
Seven Dials
Line Editor
Undoctored
Adam Kay
Trapeze Books
Line Editor
The Game Changers
Tim Clare
Canongate
Structural Editor
Across Mountains, Land & Sea
Arman Azadi
Trapeze Books
Book Doctor
Inside Parkhurst: The Final Stretch
David Berridge
Seven Dials
Book Doctor
If you don’t have the time to read testimonials
here are the important bits:
Testimonials
“Jamie’s input on edits has been transformational and I hugely value his expert editorial eye on my projects.”
Anna Valentine , MD Orion Publishing Group
“Eternally calm and brilliant.”
Adam Kay
“Jamie is a gift for any publisher during the editorial process. He has a total holistic understanding of what makes a book great, and is a naturally gifted writer. Authors love working with him, and he's an invaluable conduit between them their and publisher to ensure the very best book emerges. His background in commercial publishing and his enthusiasm for creating brilliant books make him an asset for any project.”
Holly Harris, Publishing Director, Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster
“What can I say, this man is a genius. No one works quicker or better than Jamie. When someone just gets it, there is nothing more to be said.”
Ashley Walters
“Without Jamie, Minority Rule would probably still be little more than a nervous breakdown spread across half a dozen Google Docs. He has a phenomenal sense of what a book can be, without foisting a compromise on an author’s voice or vision. He knows how to get the best out of your writing, and absorb all manner of neuroses along the way. I couldn’t have done it without him!"”
Ash Sarkar
“Jamie stepped in mid-editorial process on a book project where we decided that working with a writer would be the best way to support our author. From their very first chemistry meeting Jamie was thoughtful, sensitive and attuned to the author's needs. He built a relationship of trust with the author, who was delighted with the revised draft, as were we. His skilful writing kept the author's distinctive voice while delivering structure and a strong narrative arc. I wouldn't hesitate to work with him in the future.”
Pippa Wright, Publisher, Penguin Life
“‘Jamie is like an editorial Swiss army knife. He has such brilliant instincts, and can always see a way through problems. Working with him is effortless and I have really come to value his judgements, as well as his speed, his sensitivity and his ability to adapt to the particular needs of a project or author.’ Henry Vines, Editorial Director, Transworld
“‘It has been an absolute joy to work with Jamie. He tightropes the high-tension wire between author and publisher with grace, skill and dexterity. Fully-supportive when required, frankly-questioning when needed. Talked me down off the ledge more than once. I could not think of a better colleague to have in my corner during the editorial wrestling of my book into submission.”
Greg Wise
“Jamie found a way of capturing my voice on the page that was really special and was wonderful to work with.”
Ross Kemp
“Brilliant. Thank you for his trust, guidance, ingenuity and infinite patience in herding an obstinate barrister through the contours of the literary world, an exercise akin to shepherding kittens up the Travelator on Gladiators.”
The Secret Barrister
“Jamie's a total delight to work with and always brings lots of ideas and energy to a project. With The Rest Is Quiz he supplied funny, clever text, met the (very tight) deadline and applied his creative brain to helping me solve a few problems that cropped up along the way. He's a team player who is always supportive and positive. I am hoping to find many more books he can write for me!
Ingrid Connell, Publishing Director, Pan Non Fiction
“Working with Jamie was a dream from start to finish, his quick understanding of the assignment, impeccable author care and incredible ability to capture the subjects voice was a masterclass in publishing professionalism and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again and highly recommend him to other publishers and writers widely’
Sharmaine Lovegrove, former MD, Dialogue Books
“I was initially hesitant working with a writer, as I had never done so before, but Jamie made the process a delight and I’m am so proud of the book we made together.”
Sir Trevor McDonald
“Jamie is a book wizard. He’s a master of structure and can somehow hold all the strands of an early manuscript in his head and help to weave them into something more coherent. On top of that’s he’s a good egg with a solid joke in him too. I feel very lucky to have had his help”
Benji Waterhouse, author of You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here
“Jamie is a fantastic writer and editor. He completely transforms projects, bringing bags of creativity, energy and insight. I couldn't recommend him highly enough.”
Lydia Ramah, Commissioning Editor, Pan Macmillan
“Jamie is a joy to work with on projects of all stripes – astute, flexible, funny and super efficient. He brings creativity, market knowledge, pragmatism and nuance in equal measures, and will always bring some extra to the table in conversations with teams, talent, writers and more.”
Genevieve Pegg, Publisher HarperNorth
'“Jamie’s great to work with. He has an intuitive grasp of editorial collaboration and brings a seriousness of focus to the work as well as real creative flair. I’d have no hesitation recommending him.”
Francis Bickmore, Publisher at Large, Canongate Books
“Jamie has the skill and dexterity to shape structure and hone words until they shine, along with the ability to guide authors with great confidence and care. It’s a winning combination.”
Jenny Dean, Associate Publisher, Jonathan Cape
“‘Jamie is a brilliant editor and writer. He is able to manage complex projects with tight schedules without ever compromising quality or creativity. He’s also a pleasure to work with and excellent at working with stakeholders.’”
Zennor Compton, former Editorial Director, Century
“Jamie has a hugely impressive mix of creativity and practicality and this proved to be a very powerful partnership. Jamie’s deft handling of the material brought out the best out of Alan’s extraordinary career. He also perfectly captures Alan’s personality and sensitivities in all his work on the book. Which is why the book has become the excellent piece of work that it is.”
Ian Chapman, former CEO and Publisher Simon & Schuster UK
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But who am I really?
Prior to becoming an editor I worked for seven years as a literary agent, with multiple prize-winning and Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling authors of fiction and non-fiction. Before that I worked as an assistant at a literary agency where a big part of my job was printing out my boss’s emails and then transcribing his replies. However on my first day I didn’t realise that part of that role was translating his one-swearword replies into more acceptable business communication. That was a fun first day.
Over my years as an editor at Pan Macmillan, Penguin Random House and then Orion Publishing Group, I was lucky enough to commission and edit bestsellers in multiple languages from authors across a wide range of non-fiction including number one bestsellers Adam Kay, The Secret Barrister, The Supervet, Scarlett Moffatt, Tom Marcus, author of Soldier, Spy, and top ten bestsellers Tony Bellew, neuroscientist Dean Burnett and mental health activist Joe Tracini.
I’ve also worked succesfully with a diverse range of shows and brands over the years, including Goalhanger Podcasts, Traitors, Stranger Things, Doctor Who, Roald Dahl, Schitt's Creek, Doug the Pug and Peggy the Hairless Pugese. The Ordnance Survey and Gogglebox.
Since autumn 2022, as a freelance editor and writer, I have been lucky enough to work on multiple bestsellers and even a prize-winner.
I am also the author of 'What I Lick Before Your Face...And Other Haikus By Dogs' and 'Please Stop Touching Me...And Other Haikus By Cats'. I could only think of about three funny ones for hamsters and one for goldfish, so the franchise ended there.
Jamie_coleman329@hotmail.com