Literary Services

Every writer needs an editor and even extraordinary material will reach new levels with skillful vision.

The kind of work I do with writers varies as each writer and piece of writing is unique.

Whether you need:

• Guidance and support for material you’re writing or you’ve already created 

• Someone to collaborate with you from idea to final product

• Support to keep you on track while you’re creating 

I will get you where you need to be.

Behind every great book is a strong editor.  

I am a writer’s editor—a true collaborative partner with both literary sensibility and a strong understanding of the craft of editing at a story level. I truly enjoy working with writers with different views, levels of experience, and skill sets, and know how to establish a rhythm with my writers as we shape a manuscript for the intended audience.  

I have a comprehensive vision, an eye for detail and stylistic opportunities, and will sweat every ingredient with my writers. I always look for the unique beauty in a writer’s work and have the skills, experience and passion to be true to the writer’s vision and help the writer fulfill it.  I will not change what makes a book original in order to force it into a mold.

As a critical, informed writer, editor, publisher, and voracious reader, I understand the process of writing and the many challenges it creates. I’ve evaluated thousands of manuscripts from aspiring and published writers and am able to provide you with detailed commentary and hands-on assistance to bring your manuscript to its highest level.   

Not only do I have extensive experience with developmental editing and script doctoring, as a ghostwriter and coach, I have the interest and ability to work with writers from initial concept to bound book.  I love to collaborate with a writer to bring a book to life and make it soar.  

Let me help you create original and memorable storytelling that will change the way your readers look at the world.  

Whether you write:

• Epic, weighty novels that make you think

• Quirky contemporary stories

• Accessible literary fiction 

• Life-affirming, emotional narratives and non-fiction titles

• Cross-over mysteries

• Classics that could change your life

• Provocative novels or memoirs that aren’t afraid to expose something different

• Feature length films or series 

I want to help you find the authenticity, integrity and originality at your core.

Passion is important in writing. Talent must be cultivated.  

Literary SERVICES

An overview of my services will give you a general idea of what we can accomplish together, but please contact me so we can discuss your project and needs in detail.  

If we seem a potential fit, I will read a sample of the work in question so that I can get a sense of your writing and determine which services best suit your manuscript.  The preliminary reading is complimentary.

After this initial review, we'll have a second conversation. If we decide to proceed, we'll define exactly what I will do for you and I will quote you an estimate of the project’s cost based on the work to be done.

Manuscript Evaluation 

A conceptual and pragmatic review that will evaluate how the work has or has not come to life, guide you on how to improve your readers' experience of your story world and enhance the project's commercial viability.  

I analyze elements of the manuscript in areas of both content and style to assess your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses such as structure, pace and flow; narrative arc and plot; cohesiveness, character development; central messages and themes; style and voice; quality of the writing; and the book’s readability.  

I will help you devise a revision strategy to elevate the execution of your idea and optimally unfold your story or non-fiction title.  

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing provides a deeper review of your entire manuscript to improve structure and content so it best translates your vision to an audience.  

You will receive a comprehensive manuscript evaluation, as well as a scene by scene or even a line by line examination of the creative and technical aspects of your work.

For non-fiction, I will also evaluate the book’s premise and thesis and help you frame and develop the narrative for the intended audience. 

Developmental editing often involves significant structuring and restructuring and can lead to major changes in the narrative design. 

At the end of a substantive edit, you will not only have constructive feedback but also a detailed blueprint for the revision process.  

The mechanics of the book are what matter in developmental editing, not the mechanics of punctuation, grammar and spelling.  I do not copyedit or proof manuscripts.  

Ghostwriting

If you need help with the stylistic interventions from your developmental edit (moving and rearranging content, composing whole passages, creating characters, generating content) from big picture to small details, I can execute the blueprint for your revision.  

I also collaborate with creatives from initial concept, outline or draft or some combination through any number of subsequent drafts.  If you’ve outlined your idea in a rough draft but need someone to rewrite or refine the material or have a story you want to tell but don’t know how to write it yourself, I  will work with you from the initial planning stages (strategizing and outlining) through developing and finalizing the draft.  

Developing a high quality book will take hundreds of hours of work and this level of collaboration involves continuous consultation and the exchange of pages as the work progresses.  Throughout the process, I stay true to your original vision and words and will be your dedicated ghostwriter, editor and professional consultant.

Script Analysis

I am a story analyst, script consultant and script doctor.  I evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your script,  provide line by line script notes with concerns and suggestions on core concept, structure, theme, plot, characters, dialogue, writing style and formatting as well as revise scripts so that they are ready to pitch or produce.  

I also write feature and series scripts from initial idea to shooting script.

Literary Coaching 

I love to nurture and champion my writers and can facilitate both process and product.   

I work individually with writers to help them develop their writing and writing life as well as guide them on the development of a project that is not yet ready for evaluation.  As a reliable, long-term mentor and coach, I offer support for any issues that arise during the process of writing and building a project.

Our goal is to address emotional or life constraints that impact the creative process as well as help shape and strengthen the actual work.  To this end, the mentoring may include the review of actual pages.

I also work with writers with completed works who have marketplace concerns and need coaching on growing their professional life.  

You can make use of your coaching hours however you would like. You determine the pace with intervals between sessions being either set (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly) or open.  Sessions can be via email or phone.

Packages can be constructed to address your particular needs.