“Martha, I’m just half way through the [editorial] letter, and I wanted to take a moment and say, ‘Wow. Wow. Wow.’ The thought and effort you put into your work is astounding. Thank you so much. My head is already spinning with new ideas.”
— Kevin Ferguson
Have you been revising your literary fiction manuscript for so long that you’ve lost all sense of perspective? You can’t tell what’s strong or weak in the book — or whether it’s done, only half-baked, or overdone. You’re getting conflicting or incomplete advice from your peers. You want more feedback but feel reluctant or embarrassed to ask colleagues or mentors for more help. Maybe you’ve even considered giving up on the manuscript once and for all. It’s just not good enough. It’s just not working.
Wait. As a developmental editor, I’ve helped many writers facing the same situation. My training and experience enable me to read your work deeply — and —
- identify those aspects of your plot, characterization, and style that are compelling, and those that need more attention
- pay close attention to your writing, from its overall structure down to individual sentences and words
- articulate why something in the text is not working — and then suggest specific options for working through the issue
- encourage you to see any “problems” as opportunities to do something more exciting in your work
If you long for clarity, specific suggestions, and supportive insights, let’s talk about your manuscript. Let me put my experience as an editor, a writer, and a teacher to work for you. My goal is to serve your voice and vision, even in those moments when you feel you’ve lost your way.
See my Editing Services page to learn more.
Contact me — I look forward to hearing about your book.