Editorial services

A published author with 20 years’ editing experience, I work directly with clients on their fiction and nonfiction book projects. 

Novels: I look at plot structure, character development, voice, believability, pacing, and the quality of the writing itself, jotting notes directly on the manuscript and offering overview observations and suggestions in a developmental memo or phone consultation. Many novels go through several drafts; I’m always available for guidance and moral support during the rewrite process. 

Memoir and narrative nonfiction: As the SF Chronicle Book Review has noted, “Reading America just can’t get enough of true stories that entertain us like novels.” I approach narrative nonfiction in much the same way as fiction, while also addressing the unique challenges of true accounts. Each detail in an creative-nonfiction manuscript should contribute to the story, develop a character, or illuminate a theme; the crucial question isn’t “Did it happen?” but “Does it work?” 

Practical nonfiction:  I often consult on works of practical nonfiction at an earlier stage than creative works. Many nonfiction authors know their material backward and forward, but are daunted by the prospect of organizing the information into a cohesive whole. If this is your genre, I can help you clarify your book’s message and create a logical, well-structured outline, then keep you on track through the writing process.

The book business: Whatever your project—novel, memoir, nonfiction—I can help guide you through the labyrinth of writing a query and proposal, finding an agent or publisher, and marketing your book once it’s in production. 

Self-publication: In today’s rapidly changing publishing world, self-publication has become a viable option, and many successful self-launched books have gone on to be picked up by mainstream houses. I’ve helped clients become not just authors but publishers—obtaining an ISBN, making design decisions, writing jacket copy, choosing a POD printer—and in a much swifter time frame than with traditional publication. Here are the covers of some books I helped clients to self-publish.

Feel free to contact me to tell me about your project, and to learn more about how we might work together.

Office assistant Barracuda