As a freelance editor, I work with independent and first-time authors on everything from poetry and essays to short stories and novels. I also lead monthly critique workshops, serve as an editorial panelist for literary journals and indie publishers, and have edited two anthologies. For more information on my background, see my Editorial Resume or Artistic CV.

Poetry Manuscript Consultations

Includes 1-3 pages of feedback on theme, craft, titles, and poem order. In-line edits for word choice, line breaks, meter, and possible revisions are also included.

Developmental Editing

Includes generous and constructive margin comments on structure, character, theme, pacing, and plot (if applicable). In addition, notes will be summarized in a 2-4 page cover letter. Can be done at any stage of the writing process, from early ideas to completed drafts.

Line Editing

Sentence-level edits on flow, clarity, tone, and word usage. Can be completed alongside a developmental or copy edit.

Copy Editing

Editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style usage.

Trauma, Mental Health, and Neurodivergent Character Edits

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 experiencing trauma, PTSD, and/or suicidality

  • Characters experiencing mental health issues related to depression, anxiety, OCD, and schizophrenia

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

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

Editorial Services

Creative nonfiction: poetry, braided essays, and memoir of any length

Character-driven genre fiction: horror, magical realism, and fairy tales

Anything considered weird, hybrid, or genre-defying

Narratives rooted in lived experience and emotional nuance, including trauma and mental health issues

Editorial Specialties

  • "Amanda is outstanding. After working with publishing companies and other editors who made my manuscript feel more confusing and overwhelming, Amanda read through the fourth draft of my [110,000-word post-apocalyptic] novel and took detailed notes that clarified the weak points in my story and helped me work through the flaws in my character's 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."

    Joe Feuille

  • "Working with Amanda was a wonderful experience. Her 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. I greatly appreciated her promptness and not leaving me hanging when I was feeling nervous about having someone read my work. Her insight and encouragement were invaluable and I’m so grateful I was able to work with her. I would work with Amanda again, in a heartbeat."

    Heather C. Krueger

  • “When working with Amanda [on a developmental edit of my debut poetry collection], I felt a sense of trust from the start. As a writer, it takes a lot of vulnerability to share new work with someone. But Amanda makes you feel comfortable throughout the process. She provides an insightful perspective that has made me become a better writer. I would recommend her to a friend and will be hiring her again for future projects.”

    Amber Michele Giangregorio, author of Seasons of Sobriety

  • “Amanda is a warm-hearted and generous collaborator with a finely-tuned ear for language. As a developmental editor, she is continuously interested in the author’s vision and point of view. My experience with her services 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.”

    Michael A. Smith, playwright and Editor in Chief of The Object