I edit books.
“Your tone, your succinctness, your vision…. A real editor, that dying breed.”
—Forrest Gander, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and translator
I welcome novels, poetry and short story collections, creative nonfiction, and hybrid genres. My focus is on stylistic quality. Is your book a pleasure to read? Is your story clear and compelling? Is your language engaging? Do I feel awake and alive as a reader? Is your book meeting your goals?
With a decade experience as an in-house editor and fifteen years in the literary sphere, I bring a high degree of professionalism and a creative, collaborative approach to each of the following services:
Manuscript Therapy
Manuscript therapy is for you if you’re working on a book manuscript (brava!) and want ongoing, in-depth support in the next phase of revision. Whether your book has received a fat stack of rejection letters or has never left your laptop, we’ll work collaboratively to improve the work and get it ready for its day in the sun. I will obsessively read and revisit what you’ve written, learn about your goals and stuck points, and suggest edits accordingly. We will talk it out at every stage. You’ll leave Manuscript Therapy with a new relationship to your writing, and a plan for how to move this book into its final, glorious, publishable form.
Over the course of 6-10 weeks, we’ll work on several levels:
Weekly 1:1 Zoom calls to discuss your book and process
At least one round of detailed line edits (with a second round as needed)
Bigger-picture developmental suggestions, writing prompts, revision assignments, and collaborative brainstorming
Rates:
My fee for manuscript therapy is dependent on word count (prose) or page count (poetry) + hours spent consulting. Please get in touch for more information on rates.
Interested in Manuscript Therapy?
Schedule a free 30-minute Zoom call to tell me about your project.
Line Edit
A line edit is your next step if you feel that you’ve taken this book as far as you can on your own. You’re nearing a final draft, but too close to the work to see it clearly. I will take the book off of your hands, closely read it with fresh perspective, and annotate the manuscript with editorial suggestions.
A line edit will include:
Suggested edits and comments annotated throughout your manuscript
An editorial letter to address big-picture issues and questions
Insight into your unique brilliance as a writer
Rates:
My fee for line editing is dependent on word count (prose) or page count (poetry). Please get in touch for more information on rates.
Is your book ready for a line edit?
Schedule a free 15-minute Zoom call to tell me about your project.
Manuscript Consultation
If you’ve drafted a book (huzzah!) and simply want an honest, professional opinion on the quality of the manuscript, Manuscript Consultation is what you’re looking for. You’ll come away with a sense of direction, motivated to revise with renewed focus.
Here’s what to expect if you book a Manuscript Consultation:
An author questionnaire (your homework) to articulate your goals
A close reading of your manuscript followed by one 45-minute video chat, in which I’ll verbally deliver my observations about your book, and answer questions. You may opt to record this session.
Please note, a Manuscript Consultation does not include my written edits. If you want the convenience of my suggestions and comments written directly on your manuscript, please consider a line edit.
Rates:
My fee for manuscript consultation is dependent on word count (prose) or page count (poetry) plus a flat fee for our video call. Please get in touch for more information on rates.