Our Story
Welcome to Cornerstones US! I am the Managing Editor, and am thrilled that you have found us. Formerly, I was an agent at Writers House for almost 25 years, and am now bringing my 30 years of publishing and agenting experience to our authors. We are proud to be part of the Cornerstones family, the long-standing No. 1 literary consultancy in the UK.
Cornerstones is bringing its unique and extensive range of editorial services to the American corner of the world. Every character has an origin story, and while we originally hail from the UK, the Cornerstones US team is an outstanding group of experienced home-based story editors, with a sharp knowledge of what American agents and publishers are looking for.
We are the writer’s friend, and are here to help writers work to the best of their creativity and energy. Our principles are rooted in respect for the remarkable creativity it takes to write a book—any book, about any story, told in any voice. Cornerstones US looks at every client personally and individually, customizing our editorial packages for each particular project. We bring insight, expertise, and above all, our creative passion to each and every story.
We assess every submission, and review your work to ensure that you are at the right stage to work productively with an editor. Whether you are ready for a detailed editorial letter, a full line edit, or workshopping, we will match you with the right service and editor. Cornerstones’ services are designed to give every writer the tailored editorial guidance they need to move their projects forward. We aim to provide our writers with powerful editorial tools that will help them as they continue to work on their writing. Cornerstones works at the speed of writing culture—always bringing up-to-the-minute editorial expertise and knowledge to every project we edit, workshop, and polish.
I am here as an added resource to our clients and am always available to answer your questions, and help you figure out what your best next steps should be!
Check out our services and pricing tiers on our rates card. Follow us on Twitter, and check the website for blog posts and our newsletter. We hope to be reading your work soon!
Michele Rubin
Editorial Director, Cornerstones US
Our Book
Writing a novel is a magical but often difficult journey; and when your first draft is complete, that journey’s not over. As the editing process gets underway, authors often find themselves in unfamiliar territory. What does it mean to ‘map your plot’? How do you know if you’re ‘head-hopping’? When is your novel ready to send out to agents, and how do you make each submission count?
Written by the team behind one of the world’s most successful literary consultancies, On Editing will show you how to master the self-edit. You will learn to compose, draft, and edit while sharpening your writing and ensuring that your novel is structurally sound, authentic, well-written, and ready for submission.
On Editing will help you harness your creative potential, transform the way you think about your writing, and revolutionise your editorial process.
“Highly recommended: On Editing is indispensable reading for anyone who is or wants to be a writer. Written throughout in an engaging and easy to read style, the two parts explore first how to write and edit, and then how to get published. The advice from the authors is lucid and backed with plenty of helpful examples, giving writers a user-friendly treasure chest of gems to offset any challenge they might face. This is a generous, practical, and as you might expect, superbly written manual. Every writer’s desk should have a copy!”
– Dr Samantha J. Rayner, Director of the Centre for Publishing, UCL
On Editing is also the set text for our Edit Your Novel the Professional Way online course. For more information on the course, click here.
“On Editing is a feast with many courses. When you have finished this book, you will feel encouraged, empowered, and indomitable. If you are writing–or editing–a novel, you could do no better than to have this book by your side. Comprehensive, easily digestible, it is a classic in the making.”
– Shaye Areheart, Director of the Columbia Publishing Course
“Authoritative, encouraging and enthusiastic, On Editing is full of essential advice for all writers.”
– Writing Magazine
