The next step is to hack it up with your red pen. Edit, refine, and polish until you’re confident it’s the best piece of work it can be. This editing process is nearly impossible to do alone. Family and friends are wonderful cheerleaders. Their declarations that “It’ll be a bestseller for sure!” are great for your self-esteem. But to move past the 1st draft stage, it’s important to find people who will give you thorough and honest feedback (without breaking your heart).
What I do:
My critiques have two parts. First, I give detailed, in-text comments. I read through your work and give my first reactions as a reader, my impressions of the writing style, the things I find confusing, the passages that make me want to read more, etcetera. This is not a copy edit or a line edit. If I find grammatical errors or awkward sentence structures, I will point them out. But my focus is on substantive issues: identifying the problems, highlighting the strengths, and asking questions. The second part is the “Big Pic.” This is essentially an editorial letter that gives a holistic assessment of the work. I focus primarily on plot development, character growth, and world-building, but can examine other points by request. I do not make changes to your work. I’ll make suggestions, but I strongly believe that you have full creative control and are the final arbiter of what is right for your book.
I want to see you succeed. I joined this industry to be help writers and I’ve centered my career on advocating for diversity and equity. If I can help remove an obstacle from your path to publication, I will do so with tireless enthusiasm.
I can only work on one manuscript at a time, so space is limited. If you’d like me to critique your work, complete the form below to get a quote.
Please note, to maintain professional boundaries between my editorial services and my work as a literary agent, I will not offer representation to or accept queries from writers who have paid for my editorial services. Do not inquire about editorial services if you would like to query me as an agent.
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