As a writer and a former literary agent, I’ve experienced the publishing process from both ends. I worked in the book industry for 6 years, with stints at literary agencies including Writers House, Folio Literary, and, most recently, the Transatlantic Agency. I represented clients across adult fiction and nonfiction and sold to publishers including Sourcebooks, Alcove Press, and Little, Brown.
My favorite part of being an agent was the hands-on revising I got to do with my clients–though a close second was that moment when the manuscript was done and I could throw my whole creative soul into creating an inventive, splashy, phenomenal pitch.
I’m a highly invested editor, engaged with what you’re trying to do and excited to brainstorm all the ways we can make that happen. My editorial process begins with macro feedback (addressing structure, stakes, concept, style) and gradually narrows down until we’re working on the line level, tuning up every adjective and every line of dialogue so it all works in perfect harmony.
My style of feedback draws from my own experiences as a writer. I know what it feels like for someone to casually suggest that you axe a main character. I know what it feels like to have a copyeditor stampede through your carefully placed punctuation marks. I never lose sight of the hours you’ve put into your manuscript, and I always operate with the assumption of intent.
My short stories have appeared in Ploughshares, One Story, Idaho Review, West Branch, Pushcart Prize Anthology, and elsewhere. I know what it takes to get work published, and I know how to help get you there. It’s a lonely experience being edited by someone who doesn’t seem to “get” your work. I have a track record of getting it–and as we work together on your manuscript, I’ll make sure that as we polish and perfect, we still preserve all the parts of your story that are important to you.
Whether you need support, advice, a fresh eye, a hot take, or simply an outside assessment of where you stand and where you need to go, I’m ready to pitch in.
Here are some things you can send me:
- Short stories (flash, standard, long, novella)
- Short story collections
- Novels
- Book proposals
- Essay collections
- Narrative & creative nonfiction
- Query letters
And here are some things you can ask me to do with them:
- Structural edit – you’ll get a detailed, multi-page editorial letter with concrete suggestions on how to lean into your manuscript’s strengths, how to understand and transform its weaknesses, and how to protect the parts of your story that matter most to you
- Line edit – you’ll get thorough, some might say obsessive marginal comments and in-text tweaks throughout the whole of your manuscript, ranging from typo fixes to suggested improvements in flow, style, and tone
- Quick assessment – you’ll get an email weighing in on the marketability of your project, anticipating any obstacles you might face, and suggesting ideal next steps
And here are some other things I do:
- Consultation (on submissions, tricky situations, competing opportunities, etc.)
- Contract review
- Book pitch (send me your manuscript, I’ll read & draft the pitch)
- Topic-based presentation/Q&A
- Freelance writing
If you’re interested in engaging me for any of these services, please reach out using the form below. Tell me what you’re looking for, what your timeline is, and what your target outcome is for the project.
I average a 2-week turnaround for developmental edits, and longer for line edits. My rates are consistent and based off word count. I’m happy to send over a standard rates sheet on request.