Freelance Services

As an experienced author, editor, and communications specialist, I’m pleased to offer a range of editorial and freelance services.

Short fiction critique and editing:

  • Providing general feedback and developmental edits (minimum half page), identifying what’s working well, areas for improvement, and genre-specific feedback for SFF and horror, including on prose, pacing, dialogue, character, and story development. Cost: £0.01 per word (£10 per 1,000 words), up to 20,000 words. Minimum £20.
  • General feedback (as above) plus line and copyedits. Cost: £0.02 per word (£20 per 1,000 words), up to 20,000 words. Minimum £20.
  • Turnaround: Generally 2 weeks for short fiction. This may be dependent on availability/what I already have booked in, but I will be clear on the timeframe I can offer when you get in touch.
  • For longer works, multiple stories, collection feedback, or longer-term mentoring, please contact me on lyndseycroal[at]gmail.com to discuss rates.

Writing workshops: I’m available to run writing workshops online or in person in Scotland. I have run workshops on a range of topics including Building Unease and Tension, Putting Together a Short Story Collection, Writing Isolated Settings, Finding Inspiration in Folklore, and Writing Prompts and Story Ideas. I regularly run workshops for Elegant Lit, and have also run workshops at Cymera Fest and other one-off events. I’m also on the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Database.

Events: I have been a panelist or chair at a number of events, including for Cymera Fest, Dundee Book Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, WorldCon, and Aye Write. I’m always happy to be contacted about online and in-person (UK) events.

Copywriting and communications support: I have a professional background in supporting policy and communications in the NGO and non-profit sector, with a decade of experience working on climate, energy, and nature-related issues. I have experience in content development and planning, creating communications strategies, providing campaign and policy support, writing blogs, press releases, and newsletters, and social media and website management. If you think I can help you or your organisation with this work, please contact me.

Writing commissions: If you are looking to commission a story or piece of creative writing, please either contact me directly or my agent via mike[@]inkwellmanagement.com

Previous Clients

Testimonials

Eris Young, author and Editor of Shoreline of Infinity Magazine

“Lyndsey Croal is a master of short fiction with a keen instinct for the dark and the macabre, but without ever losing the emotional core that makes a story really sing. As a science fiction writer she is totally unafraid to explore the darkest permutations of our relationships with technology, the environment, and each other, and knows how to wade deep into a topic to get at its core. These finely-honed instincts make her an editor of sound judgment and firm command of the structure of a short story, from microfiction to novelette. A joy to work with and a consummate professional. “

Andrew H.

“Lyndsey gave me critique feedback on a speculative short story about a rock club in Manchester. Her feedback helped me improve the tension, highlighted a cliched trope that needed some work, and clarified some confusion linked to the story ending. She also gave me tips on what was working well. Highly recommend and I would hire her without a doubt for any future critiques!”

L. Jewels

“Lyndsey is a must for your sensitivity reading/authenticity consulting needs! Not only was she patient, insightful, and observant in the story notes and drafts, but she kept me up to date and wrote back in a timely manner. I can’t recommend her enough!”