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Writing services

Editing and Story Consulting

I help writers with the prickly parts of their writing process. I’m very good at what I call ‘surface editing’ which essentially is all that final-stage stuff, where you need an obsessively sharp eye to pick up on minute details—the bits that beta readers just don’t see. And please don’t get me started on AI.

Also, I’m skilled, and always thrilled to assist in very early stages of a work, where artists need support and nurturing to tease out the threads of their idea and their story. To question, to explore, to go deep, and to ensure that they are staying true to the reasons why they sought to use their voice in the first place.

Creative Consulting

Idea generation and synthesis, and limited copywriting and editing services too! If you or your agency need a creative consultant who’s great at naming things, writing lyrics for jingles, creating snappy verse or stretching boundaries with the written and spoken word, if you’re temporarily stuck and simply need someone to riff off, a hand to hold or a tiny seed of an idea to steal—something to make your very own, then I’m your gal.

Get in touch

  • "Sara Pensalfini has a brilliant mind for storytelling. When I work with Sara on building a story, I feel a sense of ease and I also have a lot of fun. She actively listens and really hears what you are saying. All those times I’ve rambled (probably after too much coffee) about some plot or a character, she unpacks the minute details and finds something to explore that I would have otherwise missed, which in turn helps me to see the bigger picture. Sara is fearless and ready to tell stories that aren’t always the easiest to tell. Her ability to feel what a character is feeling will make whatever project you are working on more authentic. Sara has an active mind, she is quick, funny and honest. When you work with her it won’t feel like work but you will laugh, cry and you will find your story."

    Rob – Writer, Director, Comedian (Nipaluna/Hobart, Australia)

  • “I am a writer very much in need of an editor and Sara’s input to my recent work has been significant. Her attention to detail is remarkable. While she strives to get the very best out of your script, she is always checking in, to make sure that your ideas are reflected accurately and are in line with the ethos of the work. Sara’s passion and dedication to find the very essence of a character has made her an invaluable asset as a script consultant. At this stage, I want her involved in every future creative project I embark on”

    Matt – Writer, Actor (Garamilla/Darwin, Australia)

  • “Getting to know Sara has been such a joy. Her incredibly generous feedback on my writing has been a constant source of happiness and encouragement for me. She has a unique eye for detail and a special way of understanding the patterns between the words. During our first call, I was wonderfully anxious. Hearing her lovely accent for the first time was a delightful experience where I found myself completely charmed, hanging on every word. There is a kind of lyrical, almost rhythmic quality to her notes that is so captivating and I remain happily suspended between enjoying the beautiful sound of her voice and absorbing the kindness and the clarity in what she is actually saying.”

    Nour – Writer/Philosopher (Byblos, Lebanon)