An Honest Editor.
Writing Reviews, Editing Services, and Publishing Help.
Honestly.
About
Me
WhO am I?
I’ve worked on the editorial side of publishing for nearly a decade at this point. I’ve edited New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling books from big-name authors and books that sold five hundred copies and everything in between. I’ve worked in a wide array of genres—from political nonfiction to literary fiction, from sci-fi, fantasy, and horror to children’s picture books, from humor to self-help, from cookbooks to business guides, and much more.
Why am
I doing this?
Across all of these books, and all of these genres, I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of submissions from agents and prospective authors, and spoken to many hopeful writers, and I can tell you now—most of these submissions are rejected almost immediately. As in, within five to ten pages of reading, if not five to ten paragraphs, if not simply by reading the query letter itself. And most editors and agents treat these submissions exactly as I do. If they’re not special, not impressive immediately, they’re rejected—or, worse, ignored, because writing a rejection note takes time.
That’s a damn shame. Those submissions are rejected for a number of reasons, for a number of red flags, for a number of tiny, all-but-imperceptible flaws. But most of them are rejected because, when you read as many submissions as I do, you can just tell immediately when a submission isn’t polished enough, or an idea isn’t refined enough to be published, or a writer hasn’t mastered their craft. You can tell when a submission doesn’t have that special quality that will capture attention and an audience and, most importantly, a publisher.
And when you’re rejecting that many books, it’s difficult to offer real, constructive feedback that agents can pass along and that authors can use to improve their work. There just isn’t enough time.
That has always frustrated me.
So I created this site to help authors. And, to some degree, to help myself. Authors, you deserve more—you deserve honest answers, honest feedback. You deserve to know how a publishing professional will see your submissions, how we will evaluate your writing and judge your potential. You deserve to know whether your projects have a real chance of being published. You deserve to know if your dreams are realistic, or if you need to go back to the drawing board, hone your craft, improve your language, and try again. You deserve to know if your book will be rejected simply because a sales or marketing department will be skeptical of its chances. You deserve a chance to have your work edited thoroughly, critically, and honestly to give it the best chance of being published.
In short, authors, you deserve a chance to hear from someone who’s looking out for your, for your work. You deserve to hear honestly, openly, if you have a chance to be published or if you need to work harder. You deserve to have someone work with you, and try as hard as you do, to help get your work published. And I want to do that for you.
I’m doing this anonymously because I’m still an editor, and I want to make sure people can still approach me with their books. I want to be able to do the work of this website without opening myself up for personal criticism or attack. I want to be as objective and as critical and as honest as possible. I want people to be able to trust that I’m responding as an editor—as an honest editor—without personal interest or anything at stake but my sincere opinion.
What Can I Do
For You?
I want to be able to tell you: if I, as an editor, received your submission or query, I’d write it off within minutes as not being good enough, and that you should rework it, try another idea, or just keep practicing. Or, hopefully, ideally, that it does have a chance, that it does have potential, that you will get it published if you keep trying.
And, just as much, I want you to have someone you can contact, someone you can ask for advice, for input. Someone you can trust to give you an honest opinion, to edit your work with an objective critical eye. I want you to be able to know, without all the games and oblique answers, without the lengthy waits with a gradually fading hope, whether your work has a chance. I want to help you improve your work and give it, and you, the absolute best chance of success possible.
I want you to hear honest answers, from an honest editor.
Honestly.
What
I
Offer
Writing Review
Let me review your writing—whether it be just a few pages or a full manuscript or literally anything in between—and I'll give you an honest opinion. I can offer advice for what to improve and how to do it, or I can help you feel more confident that it's ready to be submitted for publication. I can tell you how an agent or editor might respond to your work and guide you in how to make a good impression.
I will also tell you honestly if I don't think your idea is right or your writing strong enough. And I can help you go back to the drawing board with confidence and a clear idea of where to go next.
Query Review
Have you been querying authors and agents with no luck, or negative responses? I can help.
Let me review your query letter and I'll tell you how publishing professionals might receive it. I can help you edit it and improve it to meet whatever submission requirements you're aiming for and to stand out from the crowd in the slush pile. I'll help you craft your communications to stand out to particular editors and agents, and will guide you through the nuances of querying as best I can.
Editing Services
If you want more than just a review, more than just advice, I can help with that, too. I offer thorough, complete editing services of whatever kind you may want—from structural notes to start-to-finish line edits, from copyediting to proofreading, and much more.
I'll be critical. I'll be honest. And I will help you make your work better.
Support
for marginalized Writers
I am committed to helping, supporting, and uplifting marginalized voices—BIPOC writers, LGBTQ+ writers, and more. (Even if the only issue you face is that you can't afford my normal fees!)
If that's you, or if you think it even might be you, please—please!—don't hesitate to contact me. I will do whatever I can to help.
General
Publishing
advice
Do you just need advice? Do you wish you had someone to ask general publishing questions? Look no further. Please feel free to reach out and I will lend my experienced and informed perspective to solving whatever it is that you're wondering about.
Why
Me?
Wide Publishing Knowledge
I've worked on just about every genre under the sun, and I know how to help all sorts of projects succeed. Whatever it is that you're working on, I can help you improve it. I can help you better understand how to get it published. I can help you understand market forces, agent and editor querying, even marketing and publicity efforts. If you decide to self-publish, I can help with manuscript preparation, cover art, search keywords, and self-promotion.
If you're not sure what you need or how I could help, please contact me and I'll answer any questions you might have.
Years of Experience
My journey into and through publishing has been long, meandering and, in many ways, lucky. But here I am, nearly a decade later, full of knowledge I wish I'd had when I started, and ready to share it with you.
Let me help you avoid my mistakes, and the mistakes many prospective authors make. Let me help you approach the world of publishing from an informed perspective, with clear goals and expectations, and with a critical eye toward every step of the process—from drafting a manuscript to submitting to agents and editors to handling edits to launching and promoting the final product.
It doesn't have to be trial-and-error, shots in the dark, darts chucked at an invisible dartboard. I can help it all make sense and be as easy as possible.
I Genuinely
Want to Help
In the end, this is all about a love for books and for working with writers. This is me trying to help more hopeful authors publish more great books. This is, I hope, a way to break down some of the barriers to entry into the publishing world—to reveal doors where now there are none, or, at the very least, to open windows where once there were only walls.
Nothing will make me happier than to help you succeed. Honestly.