Reading and Editorial Services

I love making books, stories, and poems. When I’m not writing, I offer editorial services to authors of both poetry and fiction. My goal is to help writers, especially those early in their experience, make their novel, story, or poetry better. I will work with you to provide a sample edit and custom quote. If you are unsure what type of editing you need, simply contact me.

Novel Editorial

Since 2019, I’ve been helping authors through Beta Reading and First Reader services. I also copyedit short stories and novelettes.

Novel Beta Reading:

Beta Reading can happen at any stage of a novel’s creation. Beta Reading differs from a developmental edit in that it reports what an experienced reader feels as they read. How a book is performing for the reader. Rather than only providing a report at the end of reading, I have often been asked to provide periodic responses as I read, listing what I expect next, what I know and don’t know. Beta Reading looks for significant gaps or problems and often deals with an author’s specific questions. It is not uncommon for authors to request a Beta Read to help when they are stuck in a manuscript. All Beta Readings come with a complete response letter.

Beta Reading Genres: General Fiction, Literary, Speculative, Magical Realism, and crossovers.

Novel and Story First Reads:

Sometimes a writer just wants another pair of eyes to review a piece before submitting to an agent, editor, or pressing the Publish button. My First Read service provides a summary response to reading the entire work as though it is a complete, ready for market book. think of it as a pre-ARC final check. This is not copyediting or proofreading, but a read through as an experienced reader.

First Read Genres: Beta Reading Genres: General Fiction, Literary, Speculative, Magical Realism, and crossovers.

Novelette & Short Story Copyediting or Proofreading:

For novelettes (under 20,000 words) and short stories (under 7,000 words) I offer copyediting focused on spelling, grammar, sentence variation, paragraph structure, and overall prose. This is the final step before submitting or sending to a proofreader. I can also proofread your story or novelette.

Any genre.

I am a Poynter ACES Certified Editor

Poetry Editorial

I provide two areas of poetry editing. I can give a critical, close reading to a selection of poems, helping the poet bring forward their intentions on the page without imposing my own choices. This is a collaborative effort based on asking questions regarding the poet’s choices. I cover aspects such as line-breaks, word choice, meaning, voice, diction, and metaphor.

I also can assist with assembling a manuscript. Finding the best sequence for poems in a collection is not as straightforward as it might seem. Building theme and resonance through locating poems within a book requires multiple close readings and deliberate choices.

For both efforts, I also offer reference resources on deepening poetry craft, reading selections, and guidance on the submission process.