Manuscript Consultation / Beta Reading
Big-picture feedback and beta reading on short stories, essays, excerpts, or full manuscripts. I provide written notes and comments focused on structure, clarity, pacing, and revision direction, often as a first or exploratory pass. This is typically more diagnostic than prescriptive, and reflects my response as an informed, professional reader.
Manuscript Editing
In-depth editorial work on short stories, novels, and nonfiction, including structural guidance and detailed margin and line-level edits. The scope and intensity of feedback are shaped by the time devoted to the manuscript and your revision goals. This is more time intensive than beta reading and involves more directive, hands-on guidance, from big-picture structure to sentence-level detail.
Writing Coaching
One-on-one Zoom or phone sessions focused on craft, process, and accountability. Sessions may include goal setting and tracking, identifying areas for growth, discussing craft questions, and recommending or working through specific books and resources. I’m also very good at helping writers understand the strengths of their work, which builds confidence in the writing itself.
Submission & Query Consultation
Focused review and feedback on cover letters, query letters, synopses, and book proposals, with attention to clarity, positioning, and alignment with publishing expectations. I can help you identify appropriate journals or contests, and develop a submission strategy. This can include market research, manuscript readiness, and practical advice about managing submissions.
Indie Publishing Support
Practical guidance on self-publishing ebooks across major publishing platforms, including hands-on Vellum formatting.
Author Websites
Creation and revision of author websites (Wix), including editing and organizing site copy, publication lists, and portfolios for writers.
Editing & Consulting Services
I work one-on-one with writers, offering direct, practical feedback and guidance at all stages of the writing process.
Experience and Skillset
I’m a writer, editor, and web developer with decades of experience. I studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College, the Whidbey Island MFA program, Hugo House, and Grub Street. My background includes professional writing and editing for print and online publications. I’ve managed and edited individual writers and teams for websites, and worked in large publishing houses in both editorial and subsidiary rights departments. I’ve edited literary magazines and reviewed incoming submissions. I’ve published my fiction and nonfiction in print and online magazines, and self-published my short stories as ebooks.
I’ve provided feedback on hundreds of stories and manuscript excerpts through professional work, as well as workshops, classes, and individual consultations. I’ve also worked closely with many editors on my own writing, giving me a clear sense of what kinds of feedback are most useful.
Rates and Packages
My hourly rate is $100. Projects typically begin with a two to four-hour engagement, which includes manuscript review and written notes, followed by a one-hour Zoom or phone consultation to discuss feedback in depth. For book-length manuscripts, this process can be repeated as needed, and I can spend more or less time depending on your goals. I’m able to provide substantial, focused feedback on a long manuscript in a relatively short amount of time, or to work more deeply on a short story when that’s useful. I’m comfortable working within budgets and time constraints.
If you're interested, we can talk for fifteen minutes by phone or Zoom, at no charge, to see whether it’s a good fit.