Editing Services

I am a professionally trained editor working in poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. I love projects big and small, from essays and short stories to novels and full-length poetry collections. I’m particularly interested in works that push the boundaries of genre. (Think: romance novels with ghost narrators, short stories exploring gender identity through body horror and magical realism, and essay collections on fairy tales and rock and roll.) I’m also interested in vulnerable, transgressive, or emotionally charged texts. As a former clinical social worker, I offer specialized edits for trauma, mental health, or neurodivergence.

See my Editorial Resume or Artistic CV, and contact me to schedule a free consultation.

  • I deliver comprehensive feedback on theme, craft, titles, poem order, and possible revisions. I can also help polish your book blurb and submission cover letter.

    Deliverables: Annotated manuscript using margin comments and in-line edits (Track Changes); editorial letter explaining my feedback and recommendations.

    Rates: $180 for chapbooks; $325 for full-lengths

  • In a “dev edit,” I deliver comprehensive feedback on the big-picture mechanics of your manuscript, including structure, plot, point of view, character, theme, pacing, and voice.

    A developmental edit can be done at any stage of the writing process, from early ideas to completed drafts.

    Deliverables: Annotated manuscript using margin comments and in-line edits (Track Changes); editorial letter explaining my feedback and recommendations.

    Rates: starting at $0.03 per word

  • I review your manuscript line by line to assess clarity, flow, tone, and word usage, all while keeping your unique voice intact. You can expect to receive a red-lined manuscript that suggests ways to revise awkward passages, shows you how to rearrange sentences for a smoother narrative, and offers new phrasing to avoid confusion or repetition.

    Deliverables: Annotated manuscript using Track Changes; editorial letter explaining my feedback and recommendations.

    Rates: $0.03 per word

  • With my background in hospital-based clinical social work (including ER and NICU settings) and my lived experience as a neurodivergent woman, this specialized developmental edit will focus on accuracy, consistency, and clarity for:

    • Characters with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, or schizophrenia

    • Characters experiencing medical emergencies or trauma, including new diagnoses, pregnancy loss, premature delivery, or medical emergencies

    • Neurodivergent characters (including Autism, ADHD, and AuDHD)

    Rates vary. Please contact me to discuss the specifics of your work.

Client Reviews

“After working with other editors who made my manuscript feel more confusing and overwhelming, Amanda’s developmental edits clarified the weak points in my [110,000-word post-apocalyptic] novel and helped me work through the flaws in my characters experiencing trauma and PTSD. Amanda’s input was not only helpful, it was encouraging and kind. That’s a rare gift when handing someone a copy of your work that feels so painfully vulnerable.”

“When doing a developmental edit for my [lyrical prose] novel, Amanda caught some seriously niche and layered shit. All I wanted was someone ‘in this’ with me who loves this story and pays it the reverence and attention I think it deserves. And Amanda did. I’m so grateful.”

“When working with Amanda [on a developmental edit of my debut poetry collection], I felt a sense of trust from the start. It takes a lot of vulnerability to share new work with someone, but Amanda made me feel comfortable throughout the process.”

“My experience with Amanda has been a genuine delight as she challenges me to refine and further define my meaning and intent, leaving my [11,000-word fairy tale] truer and more certain of its own worth. I am continually grateful for her insight.”

"Amanda’s warmth, kindness, and thoughtfulness made the editing process so much less intimidating that I thought it would be. She gave me helpful and genuine feedback on my poetry manuscript when I was feeling stuck and uncertain. Her insight and encouragement were invaluable.”

“I’m just so happy Amanda edited this [body horror short story]! It's rare for me to work with someone who's really sharp and can locate the weak spots of a piece while understanding its ultimate story goal. It’s truly better and stronger than when I sent it to her.”