AJ Collins Professional Book Editor
“Creativity has always been in my soul. Words and music have been a part of my life from a young age.
I have a firm belief that you should be able to continue doing what you love until the day you die.”
I am Managing Editor of AJC Publishing, established in 2014. I am an Accredited Editor of the Institute of Professional Editors with an Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing, RMIT. I have taken part in many writing masterclasses and workshops since.
My previous roles have included Chief Editor and Writer for Go Festival Magazine and Proofreader for the Victorian Writer.
I am experienced in editing fiction and creative non-fiction (memoir) and am a published author myself.
I was thrilled to be offered a placement in the Hardcopy professional development program for writers in 2018, specialising in fiction, and was fortunate to take part in intensive writing masterclasses; meet with industry professionals, publishers and agents; and network with many talented peers.
One of my novels was shortlisted for the QWC Publishable program in 2022, for which I won a mentorship and pitch opportunity with agents/publishers. I was also longlisted for the QWC Adaptable film and television program. I have been published in magazines and short story anthologies, and have won first prize and several high commendations in the Monash Short Story Writing Competition. My short stories have been read on Radio Queensland and Melbourne community radio.
As an editor, I love helping everyday people with their writing projects. This might be:
– a fledgling author’s first attempt at writing a thriller, sci-fi, romance
– an experienced writer’s manuscript that needs a polish before publishing
– a personal project, meant for friends and family, which has become unwieldy
– a self-help book written to make the world a better place, or for promotional purposes
– a memoir to shed light on a life-changing event
Whichever the case, I provide the same supportive guidance and editing service each project requires to bring it to completion.
As a writer, I enjoy sneaking away to create my own stories and workshopping with my writers group. I’m also constantly reading up on the self-publishing industry, when I’m not writing resource blogs for my website.
My background of thirty years working in the entertainment, corporate, legal and finance sectors have given me a wealth of experience in attention to detail, professionalism and time management.
Work or play, I always have an empathetic ear for authors and their stories.
What do I dislike? Talking on the phone, so be prepared by thorough email communication.
You can read some of my published works here:
Ongoing professional development
For editors to stay abreast of changing trends and styles in the writing, editing and publishing landscape, it’s important to keep our skills and knowledge updated. This is called professional development and is a requirement to retain our accreditation.
Below is a list of recent courses and training workshops I have participated in.
| Date | Organisation | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 31/10/2023 | IPEd | Small Press Network presentation |
| 18/10/2023 | AWC | Audiobook Course for Authors |
| 18/08/2023 | Udemy | Certificate in ACX Audiobook Production |
| 24/05/2023 | Taradale | Writers retreat |
| 02/05/2023 | IPEd | Structural Editing - Nicola O'Shea |
| 30/03/2023 | QWC | Simply Synopsis - Michelle Somers |
| 18/03/2023 | IPEd | (Host) Accredited Skills Workshop |
| 08/03/2023 | ASA | Writing Crime with Jack Rony |
| 18/08/2022 | QWC | Publishable - define your genre - Lori-Jay Ellis |
| 11/08/2022 | QWC | Publishable - story structure - Laurel Cohn |
| 04/08/2022 | QWC | Publishable - ask an agent - Jacinta di Mase |
| 29/07/22 | Dr Gillian Polack | Masterclass - story matrices |
| 07/07/22 | IPEd | Copyright - online presenting and training |
| 27/07/22 | ACT Writers Centre | Between the lines - six-month facilitated literary book group |
| 12/06/22 | Writers Vic | Masterclass - pitches - Nadine Davidoff |
| 15/05/22 | Writers Vic | Masterclass - publisher submission package - Nadine Davidoff |
| 08/05/22 | Writers Vic | Masterclass - synopsis - Nadine Davidoff |
| 28/04/22 | IPEd | Fiction - finding bloopers |
| 26/04/22 | AJC Publishing | Masterclass - memoir part 2 (hosted by AJC) |
| 14/04/22 | IPEd | Booktube and the publishing industry |
| 06/04/22 | AJC Publishing | Masterclass: memoir part 1 (hosted by AJC) |
| 31/03/22 | IPEd | Self-publishing for freelance editors - Rebecca Freeman |
| 01/03/22 | IPEd | Fiction world building |
| 15/02/22 | Wheeler Centre | Author talk - Salman Rushdie |
| 02/02/22 | IPEd | Editing in and for online environments |
| 27/10/21 | Readings | Author talk: Hannah Kent |
| 07/10/21 | AJC Publishing | Presentation - introduction to memoir (hosted by AJC) |
| 06/10/21 | IPEd | Editing crime writing - Meg Vann |
| 23/09/21 | IPEd | Copyright and permissions |
| 07/09/21 | Udemy | Masterclass: memoir |
| 03/09/21 | IPEd | Co-host - working with indie authors |
| 27/08/21 | EditBoost | EditBoost mastermind group |
| 24/08/21 | IPEd | Dialogue in fiction (hosted by AJC) |
| 11/08/21 | ASA | Zoom school appearances for authors |
| 04/08/21 | IPEd | Great comma debate |
| 16/07/21 | Writers Vic | Predatory publishers - Kate Cuthbert |
| 28/06/21 | IPEd conference | Memoir masterclass - Pamela Hewitt |
| 23/06/21 | IPEd | National e-deposit scheme presentation |
| 26/11/20 | IPEd | Louise Harnby - How to make your website better |
| 07/10/20 | IPEd | Editing fanfiction and adaptation |
| 16/09/20 | IPEd | Publishability - disability equality training |
| 15/08/20 | MWF | Author talk - Elizabeth Strout |
| 31/07/20 | Sisters in Crime | Panel on crime writing |
| 26/07/20 | ACES | Advanced PerfectIt |
| 25/07/20 | ACES | Immersive copyediting for sci-fi & fantasy |
| 22/07/20 | Stonnington | Getting published in the US vs Au |
| 10/06/20 | IPEd | Working with a graphic designer |
| 25/02/20 | MWF | Author talk with Neil Gaiman |
| 23/02/20 | MWF | Author talk with Margaret Attwood |
| 12/10/19 | IPEd | Editing diverse voices |
| 01/09/19 | MWF | Author talk: Don Walker and Paul Kelly |
| 21/08/19 | IPEd | Membership and listing |
| 28/06/19 | EFA | Masterclass - developmental editing |
| 26/05/19 | Storywise | Live storytelling session |
| 09/05/19 | IPEd | IPEd Melbourne conference |
| 02/05/19 | MasterClass | Masterclass series for writers - Attwood et al |
| 23/02/19 | Writers Victoria | Ellie Marnie: self publishing masterclass (2 days) |
| 22/11/18 | State Library | 2019 YA Showcase |
| 15/10/18 | Wheeler Centre | Author talk - Anne Summers |
| 11/10/18 | Hilary Cadman | Advanced PerfectIt |
| 09/10/18 | Ed Vic | What publishers want |
| 02/09/18 | Melbourne Writers Festival | Author talk - Judith Lucy |
| 17/07/18 | Wheeler Centre | Author talk - Veronica Roth |
| 14/06/18 | Editors Vic | Contracts for editors |
| 07/05/18 | Wheeler Centre | Author talk: - Jesse Andrews & Patrick Ness |
| 01/05/18 | Hardcopy | Hardcopy placement - masterclasses fiction writing & publishing industry |
| 22/04/18 | Nicole Hayes | Character masterclass |
| 18/04/18 | Editors Vic | Tax advice & planning for editors |
| 01/03/18 | IPEd | Exam preparation talk to new candidates (by AJC) |
| 22/02/18 | Editors Vic | Finding work for editors |
| 16/11/17 | Small Press Network | Independent publishing conference |
| 13/09/17 | IPEd | IPEd Brisbane conference |
| 12/07/17 | Writers Victoria | Authorpreneurship - Hazel Edwards |
| 09/07/17 | RMIT | Mentor talk to RMIT students - establishing an editing business (hosted by AJC) |
| 05/11/16 | Writers Victoria | Masterclass - Advanced YA |
| 25/10/16 | Writers Victoria | Freelance life |
| 14/10/16 | Nadine Davidoff | Masterclass - structural editing |
| 01/10/16 | IPEd | Mentorship - academic editing |
| 27/09/16 | Writers Victoria | Memoir salon |
| 11/05/16 | Euan Mitchell | Masterclass: self publishing |