Anna Barrett

I am a book editor and former literary agent with the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, one of the most prestigious agencies in London. With fourteen years’ experience in the publishing industry, I work with writers at all stages of their career: from discussing ideas and assessing projects in progress, to structural editing and providing help with developing that all-important pitch.

My mission is to help bring beautiful books to life

I love helping writers get to the heart of what they’re trying to say. The bulk of my experience has been in commercial adult fiction and non-fiction, and I continue to work in these areas:

  • Book-club, upmarket, literary/commercial crossover fiction

  • Psychological thrillers, suspense, crime and mystery

  • Romance, rom-com, historical fiction

  • Stories with a touch of magic

  • Wellbeing, ideas for living, yoga, meditation

  • Upmarket narrative non-fiction, memoir, nature and travel writing

I am a qualified yoga teacher and this is a special interest of mine. I have represented writers such as Katherine May, Mimi Kuo-Deemer and James Reeves on their publishing journeys, and I continue to work with many voices in this space.

While I am British, I have been globally based for the past six years. The Writer’s Space is currently located in Singapore and welcomes English-speaking voices from Asia, Australasia and beyond who would like to tap into a wider readership for their work.

In case it is helpful, I don’t work on children’s books, young adult, sci-fi, fantasy, poetry, or more specialised forms of non-fiction.

Professional experience

I have worked for the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency for much of my publishing career, as in-house editor, part-time literary agent, and now as a freelance editor. During this time, I have edited many of their biggest debuts. I’ve worked with a wide range of authors on their concepts and ideas, and have assessed manuscripts on submission for other agents as well as for myself.

Prior to this I worked at some of the UK’s top publishing houses including Penguin, John Murray, Hodder & Stoughton, Headline and Atlantic Books. As an editor, I have seen a variety of titles through from acquisition to print, from bestselling fiction to illustrated books.

As a freelance editor, I have worked additionally with United Agents, HarperCollins/HQ, Macmillan, Little, Brown Book Group and Constable & Robinson, as well as with many successfully self-published writers. I have been an editor for The Faber Academy, a ‘book doctor’ and editor for Jericho Writers, and I am professionally trained in a wide range of publishing skills.

I am a graduate of the Faber Academy’s flagship novel-writing course, and have studied creative writing at City University and City Lit.

‘Anna’s insightful and intelligent feedback has helped many of our authors shape their work into manuscripts that have gone on to sell to publishers all over the world at auction and are translated into over forty languages.’

— Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency