Why hire an editor?
You want to get your manuscript in shape for an agent or publisher.
You've finished writing your book to self-publish, but want professional help before starting the process.
You've written your book, but you know it’s too long in some places and is missing some information, and you aren’t sure what to do next.
Behind Every Great Book
I'm a book editor and ghostwriter based in Los Angeles with over twenty-five years of experience at major publishing houses. I specialize in developmental editing, copyediting, and ghostwriting nonfiction books, particularly memoirs and business books.
I've worked with hundreds of award-winning authors at major publishing houses including W. W. Norton, Wiley, Macmillan, and HMH, as well as other independent and university publishers. Many of the books I've edited have been New York Times bestsellers and have been featured in publications like The New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, New York, Forbes, Fortune, and others.
Over my career I’ve edited books in several subjects and genres—fiction, poetry, history, religion, psychology, business, accounting, science, and engineering—as well as trade books, textbooks, and academic books and journals. I know what goes into making a great book, and I’d love to help you.
What I Do
You might have a few sections of your book that feel out of place, or a couple chapters that need stronger openers. Or maybe you don’t know what you need—you know you have a great draft, but you’re having trouble unburying your ideas from all the language you keep adding. Or your book feels really strong, but you want a second opinion. I help authors shape their books into what you see on your shelves. I’ve been editing books for over twenty-five years, working with a lot of the authors you have read. My primary area of work is developmental editing and copyediting.
Developmental editing is a hands-on edit that covers the bigger picture. I read through your entire manuscript and make broad-level changes to find the right structure for your book. Sections might be moved around, sections might be cut, new sections might be written, and I ask a lot of questions to help find ways to get your points across clearly and fully.
Copyediting is a strong line edit that makes your language stronger, more polished, and in line with publishing guidelines. This happens once you are comfortable with the structure of your book. You might already have your structure in place, and you only want copyediting for your manuscript. In this edit I help you think through how you saying what you are saying. This edit helps you raise the level of your storytelling.
My work is tailored to what you and your book need, because each books has its own path to being published.
“Very professional. Very thorough. Very accommodating. Very detail oriented. Very personable. Very reassuring to know that my work would meet the expectations of critical reviewers.”
About Me
I've been editing and writing professionally at major publishing houses for over twenty-five years.