Laura Portwood-Stacer

Laura Portwood-Stacer

Manuscript Works

Laura Portwood-Stacer is a developmental editor, author and founder of Manuscipt Works. Her books include Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Authors (Princeton University Press, 2025) and The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Authors (PUP, 2021).

Featured Resources

Podcast graphic featuring Laura Portwood-Stacer

Campus Talks: The essential skill of self-editing for academics

Are the argument, evidence, structure and style working in your scholarly book? Or are you stuck in a cycle of ‘directionless tinkering’? Find out why developmental editing is crucial to addressing big-picture issues and ensuring a manuscript connects with its target readership

Laura Portwood-Stacer, Eliza Compton

Manuscript Works, Campus

An academic works on a document on a laptop

What is developmental editing, and why does your scholarly manuscript need it?

Academics might find it hard to see the flaws in their work, but to be a writer is to be edited – embrace it. Laura Portwood-Stacer outlines the importance of developmental editing

Laura Portwood-Stacer

Manuscript Works