The Fine-toothed Comb – because words matter.
Whether we’re writing fact or fiction, we all have a story to tell. I know how hard it can be to evoke the right feelings, to communicate the right message, to carry your readers with you. It is my job – and my pleasure – to help elevate your work. My name is Dion Winton-Polak. Here’s what my clients think of me:
George Sandison – Publisher – Unsung Stories
“Dion proves himself very thorough and accurate in his work with us, and has shown a particular sensitivity to and respect for the author’s work. His enthusiasm for the project is coupled with his professional manner and reliability with deadlines.”
Graeme Reynolds – Publisher – Horrific Tales Publishing
“Dion is my go-to editor for UK novels. He has a great eye for detail and a tireless work ethic. He’s a joy to work with.”
Steve J. Shaw – Publisher – Black Shuck Books
“The thing with Dion is that his passion and enthusiasm shows through in every project he works on. From conception to final proof, his level of dedication is second to none.”
Ross Warren – Publisher – Dark Minds Press
“The Fine-toothed Comb isn’t just Dion’s business name, it’s his mission statement too. The editing work he undertook on our behalf was insightful, comprehensive and assured. Turnaround times were fantastic and the whole process worked like a dream.”
K.T. Davies – The Red Knight
“Dion gave me valuable, comprehensive and thorough structural insights on a project I’m working on. It was a worthy investment, and I would certainly recommend him.”
Paul Kane–The Rot
“I found Dion professional to work with and the book was all the better for his edits. I’d definitely recommend him.”
Malcolm Devlin – You Will Grow Into Them
“Dion is a fine editor. Excellent attention to detail. I feel very lucky to have had him on my side.”
Allen Stroud – Fearless / Phoenix Point: The Briefing)
“Dion was a diligent and important contributor in the development of my novel from draft to draft. He picked up a few crucial mistakes, and also asked important and challenging questions, with a view to strengthening the story and how it was being delivered.”
Angeline Trevena – Silkwash / Steadyard / Sunny, with a Chance of Zombies
“I must say that the biggest thing for me has been how personable and approachable you are. You feel like a real person, rather than a red pen! I found your editing both sympathetic and strict, which is exactly the balance it needs to be. You helped me improve my story, particularly in ranking up the emotion.”
Stephen Aryan – The Coward
“Dion was very thorough, and his attention to detail was excellent. I would heartily recommend him to those seeking an editor.”
Kit Power – A Warning about Your Future Enslavement that You Will Dismiss as a Collection of Short Stories and Essays
“Courteous, professional, thorough – Dion seems to instinctively grasp that the role of a good editor is to help shape and hone the text into the best it can possibly be. Unafraid to make bold suggestions, he’s also deeply responsive to a writer’s vision and voice.”
Stuart R. Brogan–Wild Hunters
“Professional, with a great eye for detail. I was very impressed and will be using Dion for future projects.”
Penny Jones – Matryoshka
“Dion is a passionate and professional editor with a keen eye for detail. His enthusiasm and approachability made all the difference. I felt secure in the knowledge that any changes he suggested would ensure that my novella was the best it could be.”
Joseph Elliott-Coleman – The Frostfeld Saga
“Easily the most comprehensive and forensic feedback I’ve ever received. Proximity sometimes breeds blindness and you’ve pointed out many issues that I was oblivious to. It was a lot to swallow, but I immediately saw the truth in it. You’ve done more for me with a simple essay on my manuscript’s strengths and faults than all the years of ghosting, radio silence, and form rejections. I cannot put into words how much this means to me. Thank you.”
Eric Nash – Along the Corpse Road / Sex Death & Moonbeams
“Dion is a dedicated editor who works with the writer to make their story sing. His respect for both the work and the authorial style, combined with his skill and professionalism, have made him my first call for future projects.”
Zachary Ashford – When the Cicadas Stop Singing
“Working with Dion was a pleasure. From the initial overview via Zoom to the final pass, he was dedicated to bringing out the best in my work. He was challenging when he needed to be, knowledgeable about the genre, personable and professional to work with. I found myself bouncing ideas off Dion during our discussions about the book, which was a huge benefit to me. I would recommend him to anyone, and would happily return myself. He is a gentleman, a scholar, and a damned fine editor.”
Cristina Mîrzoi – The Headsman
“Dion was very thorough and patient. Although he put a lot of work into my initial text, I could still read it in my voice and feel that it’s still my story and my intention. I can tell that he loves doing this; all the guidance and recommendations improved the story in ways I didn’t even think possible and drew me out of my comfort zone. English is not my first language so I was rather anxious about releasing a story for an English-speaking market at first. I now believe that an excellent editor like Dion will give any non-native English speaker enough confidence to take a chance.”
Barry Nugent – Trail of the Cursed Cobras
“My story was all the better for his input. Any challenging advice or questions were always tempered with kindness, patience and humour. It was a fantastic collaborative experience, and I would use him again in a heartbeat.”
Mike Garley – The Night Before / The Return of the Samurai Slasher
“Dion’s feedback was clear, concise, and extremely helpful. I wouldn’t think twice about using him again!”
Mike Chinn – This Twisted Earth (Vol.1)
“It was fun. Glad to say, it wasn’t too traumatic. I knew there were likely to be a few tweaks to help continuity (since I was submitting to a shared world book that was evolving all the time) but you also made suggestions that strengthened the story on its own merits.”
Nikki Tanner – Sunny, with a Chance of Zombies
“This was my first experience with an editor, and you made it a pleasant one. I was worried that things would be changed without my permission, I wouldn’t get a final say in things, etc. I am anxious by nature, but the process was a lot less stressful that I thought it would be. And I genuinely believe that you helped make my story better.”
C.C. Adams – There Goes Pretty / Downwind Alice
“He brings the open mind and patience to see what the creator is trying to convey, and work with them to deliver that vision – never losing sight of the fact that it’s the author’s story to tell. A consummate professional. I have no qualms in recommending his services to anyone looking to tighten and polish their work.”
Rich Hawkins – The Cold
“Dion kicked my arse, editing-wise, but in a polite and really helpful way. Easily one of the best editors I’ve worked with. He’s so thorough he’ll probably edit this testimonial for me.”
Paul Melhuish – High Cross
“Dion has an eye for details, picking up on small facts and inconsistencies to make it all the more believable. He balances the need to change parts with a sensitive approach – a testament to his skills as a negotiator. He encouraged me to think through changes myself, and any suggestions he made were well thought-out. He never forgets that this is your book, and his support and patience make the editing experience a rewarding process.”
David Baume – Cat’s Eyes / Road Safety / With All My Love / Dry Stone Wall
“You need your writing to be as good as it can possibly be, while still being yours, in your voice. You need a suggestion on how to make that difficult and vital paragraph a lot clearer than it is now. You need to know that you’ve got the psychology of your characters straight – or properly crooked! You need Dion. He’s there for you. You’ll thank me.”
Hereward L. M. Proops – The Degeneration of Hortensia Phrigg / This Twisted Earth (Vol.1)
“I hate editing – I tend to put it off for ages. I’ve had other edits done on short stories I’ve published but they have largely been cosmetic changes and have certainly not been such a collaborative process. I was worried that I’d feel a bit ‘precious’ about making changes but your comments were so constructive that it didn’t feel like I was tearing the heart out of my story.”
Andrew Coulthard – This Twisted Earth (Vol.1)
“Dion is possessed of a keen eye for detail tempered with a loving grasp of the narrative whole. His passionate editorial approach is driven by the uncompromising desire to facilitate a finished work that is both as accomplished and complete as possible.”
Chris Bauer – Sunny, with a Chance of Zombies
“I’m amazed this is your first go as an editor. I’ve been impressed by the speed and precision of your responses, the organizational abilities displayed thus far and the excitement for the project you convey to all participants. I can honestly not think of a single interaction which could’ve been improved upon.”
Jacob Prytherch – This Twisted Earth (Vol.1)
“You went into a level of detail that I hadn’t experienced before, which was difficult for me as my confidence is paper thin, but you dealt with it in such a way that I wanted to improve, and kept coming back for more! You were also far less dictatorial than it seems a lot of editors are. You explain the reasons for your suggestions, accept it when there is a (valid) reason not to change something, and also accept when you thought you made a mistake, which shows a great strength of character.”
Marc Kadushin – Sunny, with a Chance of Zombies
“This was my first time working with an editor and you made it a very pleasant experience. I thought the editing process would be a bit overwhelming, but you made it manageable and relatively stress free.”
Matt Lewis – This Twisted Earth (Vol.1) / Karmic Chicken
“There was never a change without a valid justification and you were open to a dialogue which ended in a mutually approved draft. The enthusiasm counted for a lot and eased the sting of any criticisms or change requests. All your changes seemed well-informed and came from a place with an eye to improve the story. There was no feeling that you wished to stamp your influence on it or were heading off on the wrong path. It all seemed to be good-hearted, effective prose-polishing and I got a general sense of the writing getting tighter and dead wood being shaved. Which is exactly what a person would pay for.”
Clay Harmon
Cristina Mîrzoi
Barry Nugent
Stephen Aryan
Angeline Trevena
Jane Burnard
Stuart R. Brogan
C.C. Adams
Penny Jones
Hereward L.M. Proops
Angeline Trevena
Mike Garley
Rich Hawkins
Allen Stroud
Jonas Kyratzes & Allen Stroud
Joseph D'Lacey
C.C. Adams
Paul Melhuish
Thana Niveau
Paul Kane
Malcolm Devlin
Joseph D'Lacey
Kit Power
Dion Winton-Polak
Dion Winton-Polak
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