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HIRE ME

NOVEL EDITING/REVISION

          The novel you dream up in the shower never survives first contact with the page. It becomes raw material on paper, now capable of being shaped and polished into a final product. All stages of this process carry their own challenges, but one thing holds true across them all:* you never want the only set of eyes on a draft to be your own. All the best writers have blind spots, particularly when it comes to their own work.

          I am a flexible and attentive editor who takes pride in helping your story find the best version of itself. My critiques are exacting without undue harshness, and always a dialogue in which the author’s vision is paramount. All editors are on the lookout for mistakes, but I keep my eyes open for opportunities: places to add to a story, deepen a character, or accomplish multiple goals within the same scene.


*More than one thing, but this is the one that’s important to the sales pitch.

To make sure we’re a good fit for each other, please don’t submit manuscripts to be sanded or polished before they’re ready. I will reject projects I feel aren’t far enough along for my feedback to be effective.

I take jobs in the following categories: 

  • IDEA PHASE - A guided conversation intended to solidify your concept before you begin—more of a consult than an edit. One hour at the beginning can save dozens later.   

  • OUTLINE PHASE - a deep examination of your outline intended to reveal structural weaknesses, plot holes, and underdeveloped concepts. Not all authors use outlines, but the more detailed an outliner you are, the more help I can be at this stage.   

  • EXPLORATORY PHASE - a top-level look at a first or second draft. I’ll track plot, character arcs, setting, tone, theme, etc., and explore the story’s potential.   

  • SANDING PHASE - an in-depth look at a polished work. I’ll tell you what is and isn’t working, provide targeted suggestions, and examine more technical aspects of the work such as pacing, sentence structure, and flow.   

  • POLISHING PHASE - For works nearing their final state. No feedback (unless requested) on any subjective aspect of the story. Focus is given to spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. This round of edits will remove any distracting errors, allowing readers to focus only on what you’ve created.

TUTORING

          The best writing breaks the rules—but you have to know the rules before you can break them.

       The writing classes/workshops/clinics I’ve attended have always emphasized the creative process and the generation of material. That’s not an incorrect approach (the most important thing a writer can do is write), but as I was learning my craft, I often found myself wishing I could take a class that covered more fundamental principles. What ingredients make a good story? How do I make a helpful outline? What separates compelling dialogue from dialogue that falls flat?

       Now I have the opportunity to offer others the very same lessons I wish I’d been offered. I don’t know how common that wish is among new writers, but I’ve made myself available on the assumption that it’s widespread. Whether you’re a hobbyist or aspiring professional, whether you’ve hit a wall in your writing or never written a single sentence, I’d love to hear from you. My lessons are individually tailored, flexible, and responsive to your needs.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

          The arrival of new consumer-level artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney has disrupted an already fragile ecosystem of artists, writers, and other creatives. In my discussions with friends and peers within the writing community, I have heard skepticism (“AI can never truly mimic the creative process that makes art special”), anger (“AI is stealing and repurposing my work without my consent”), and fear (“What if my clients start using AI instead of hiring me?”). I’ve felt these things myself.

          More recently, this conversation has become impossible to ignore. The months-long writer’s/SAG strike in Hollywood was just one of many battles being fought over the role of artificial intelligence in humanity’s story—and countless more battles will come. This is no longer in the realm of philosophical thought experiments. AI is here, impacting not just lives but multi-billion dollar industries.

          You may be a proponent of the AI revolution, eager to see society transform around it. You may be curious about its capabilities, testing these new tools to see how they can make a difference in your life. You may boycott anything AI-generated, hoping to spark a larger movement that holds the line and says we don’t want this. Regardless of your position, the same holds true: the most important action you can take in service of your goal is to accumulate education. Misinformation and misconceptions about AI are everywhere, distorting otherwise valuable conversations and hampering our collective ability to respond to this new paradigm.

          As a greenhorn author staring down a future where humans are too slow and inefficient to make a living off of writing, I’ve thought about these issues a lot. I’ve done research. I’ve participated in conversations with leading AI experts and Hollywood writers/producers coming to the table to look for common ground. And I’d like to share what I’ve learned with you.

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