Elaina Ellis, Editor

I love to edit novels, creative nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid genres. From 2012-2022 I worked at Copper Canyon Press, a Pulitzer Prize-winning book publisher dedicated to poetry, where I acquired phenomenal books like Ocean Vuong’s Night Sky with Exit Wounds, and Akwaeke Emezi’s Content Warning: Everything. Over the years as an in-house and freelance editor across genres, I’ve worked with brilliant writers—some of the most important voices of our time—and it’s felt like magic.

Photo of a smiling white woman against a yellow wall, in a salmon-colored shirt, bare arms, and dark curly hair.

My Approach

My approach to editing your book will be specific to who you are as a writer. I will go in curious, and notice where the work strays from your unique true north. I’m also a certifiable weirdo—a queer Jewish west coast poet gemini—so I promise I will never try to squeeze your gorgeous flamboyant writing into an ill-fitting, conventional suit to wear at your cousin’s wedding.

I approach this work with sensitivity because I know how vulnerable it is to hand a rough draft to a reader. When the work is raw and still finding its shape in the world, a careless reader can do real damage. On the other hand, I know it feels like pure gold to make a connection with an editor who sees what the work is up to. That’s who I want to be for any author I work with.

Let’s connect

Though I work with clients all over the world (recently in Japan, New Orleans, and Los Angeles) my home office is in Bellingham, Washington. I live with my partner Heather, my pup Delilah, and my cat Marigold. Marigold often assists in my editorial work. If we work together on Zoom, you’ll likely meet the animal children.

I named my freelance business “A Trusted Reader” because that’s what every writer needs. But I know it’s hard to trust a stranger. I invite you to read my testimonials, or schedule a free consultation to see if we’re a fit.