Helen Lane - Editor
As an agent, Helen is very hands on developmentally, and works with her clients to perfect their manuscripts before submission, encouraging her authors to push their writing to new levels. Before becoming an agent, she spent years producing developmental edit reports for the agents she interned under. Her strengths lie particularly in identifying plot holes and pacing, world building, and character development.
Reading is Helen’s superpower, and she averages about 200 books a year (not including manuscripts for work). This has helped her develop an excellent understanding of the market.
Helen presently carries out agent 121s with authors and has taken part in various panel events in her role as an agent. Helen also offers writing advice as both an agent and an author on Twitter, trying to make the writing process more transparent for authors. You can find Helen at @HFLane_writing
Testimonials
K.C. (Kelly) Harper
Caitlin Foley (121 via Jericho)
Caroline J. Trussell (Agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency)
WHY WE LOVE HELEN
Helen’s desire to help as many writers as she can shines through in every element of her work. Her insights on marketability are invaluable, and her ability to strengthen a manuscript with pointers on plot, character, world-building and more make her a formidable editor to have in your corner.
WHAT HELEN SAYS ABOUT EDITING
I’m a Junior Literary Agent at the Booker Albert Literary Agency. I started at Booker Albert as an intern/ assistant, having previously interned at other agencies where my focus was on assessing manuscripts for potential representation. I am also a writer of YA and adult fantasy and horror.
As a writer, I personally knows the value of having other people look at my manuscripts. My aim is to help writers grow in their craft. I consider recognising strengths to be as important as identifying what is missing from your work.
As an agent I represent: (YA, NA, and Adult), Action and Adventure, Fantasy, Sci Fi, LGBTQ+ Romance, Paranormal Romance, Horror, and Thrillers (although I am not a good fit for Psychological Thrillers). I enjoy almost every genre, but Fantasy is the best fit for me. I am not a good fit for manuscripts with abuse or cheating.
