Introducing Ellie

Welcome to The Concise Quill! I am Ellie Lucas, a recovering academic. For over 15 years, I have worked in the world of academia. I hold a PhD in philosophy and politics, with a focus on Celtic landscapes and stories. I also hold a TEFL (teaching English) qualification and certificates in ‘Teaching for Success’, ‘Teaching Writing’, and ‘Understanding Language Systems’ from the British Council.

Armed with a love of the written word and a passion for precision, I specialized in teaching academic writing and critical thinking. I have worked as an editor and editorial consultant, collaborating with researchers, faculty, grad students, and academic journal publishers from California to China, helping writers of rigorous research papers to navigate the complexities of language, structure, and publishing.

Now, I am turning my attention back to my first love: the art of storytelling.

While I remain passionate about lifelong learning, and about research and rigour, my perspective has changed. I have turned away from journal metrics and towards the magic of stories, to that luminous liminal place where the focus shifts from the facts and figures in our minds to the truths and wisdom in our souls. It is about genuine connection, with ourselves, with each other, with the land and the universe and the irresistible breathtaking beauty of all that we have not yet seen.

My main focus over the past year has been on completing my debut full-length novel, a historical cozy fantasy set in the 17th-century Scottish Highlands. I have also continued to work with clients in both fiction and narrative non-fiction. Recent project highlights include editing a major full-length book on the history of capitalism in China, and landing a book deal with a major publisher for a client’s narrative non-fiction based on Indigenous history and lore.

I am currently open to commissions and creative partnerships. Whether you are seeking a developmental editor for your literary fiction or narrative non-fiction, a line editor for your completed manuscript, or a mentor to help adapt your research into a more accessible work of non-fiction, I would love to collaborate with you. I have a great deal of experience supporting authors for whom English is an additional language, so please do not hesitate to reach out for help with translated works or if this is your first foray into writing in English.

Above all, I remain committed to building professional, mindful, and respectful relationships with all my clients. I look forward to working with you to make your work-in-progress the very best story it can be!

Education, publications and awards
(Ellie is the professional pseudonym of Michelle Beauchamp)