Ways to Work Together
Please reach out by email if you are interested in working together. I will be in touch in 48-72 hours.
Please note, I have a narrow list of things I do, based on where I think I can offer the most value. I won’t be able to say yes to work outside this scope.
Manuscript Evaluations
For writers looking for feedback on their book-length manuscripts, I offer thorough readings of manuscripts and provide writers with a detailed, multi-page editorial letter as well as line edits on the book’s first pages. The editorial letter offers my big-picture review of what’s working and how I think the manuscript can be made stronger.
My intention with this process is to help writers see their work and their writing more clearly and to increase their knowledge and confidence with craft. People often seek manuscript evaluations after they’ve worked with critique partners, but are still looking for a bit more.
Many of the writers I’ve worked with have gone on to have success publishing their books, but I think it’s important to say upfront that that doesn’t always happen and isn’t a guaranteed outcome of the review process.
Rate: 1 cent per manuscript word, flat fee of $500 for works under 50,000 words.
One-on-Ones
For writers who want to talk things out, ask questions, and think about next steps for their writing, I do one-hour and 90-minute one-on-one meetings over Zoom. One-on-ones tend to best serve writers who are stuck, or at a crossroads, and feel like they would benefit from some guided brain-storming and advice.
Rate: $95 for one hour, $125 for 90 minutes
Writing Reviews
For writers looking to get feedback on single essays or stories, I will read your work and provide feedback about strengths as well as where I think you can develop, as well as any craft lessons I think might be helpful for you as a writer.
Writers find this process useful for pieces they are trying to place in journals, when they’re developing a portfolio, or just for the satisfaction of personal growth!
Rate: The cost of a writing review is based on an hourly rate of $50, and I work with writers to set a budget. Usually a single essay or story will take at least an hour and a half to provide feedback for.
What Writers Have Said
“Elizabeth always inspires and challenges me with her incomparable analytic capacity and gentle editing. She has an uncanny ability to get into the mind of the author, enriching your voice without imposing her own. She is a true gem!”
— Gul Ozyegin, author of New Desires, New Selves, NYU Press
“Elizabeth has helped me re-imagine everything I thought I knew about the editing process. What was once a painful and dreaded ordeal to be unhappily but necessarily endured, Elizabeth has transformed into an inexplicably beautiful and exciting process full of surprise and discovery…. Some women want to birth additional babies in order to maintain their relationship with their beloved midwives. Elizabeth makes me want to write more manuscripts.”
— Valley Haggard, author of Surrender Your Weapons, and founder of Life in 10 Minutes
“Elizabeth is not only incredibly meticulous in her editing and proofreading, she also encourages you to dig deep into your work to bring out the kind of writing that she knows you are capable of. She is part cheerleader, part coach, and full-time teammate alongside you on your journey to become the best writer that you can be.”
— Shelley Briggs Callahan, author of The House of Life, Chop Suey Books
“Elizabeth is an editor extraordinaire. She is gifted with the ability to step alongside each of your characters and prod them for their truths, all by gently pushing the author, offering encouragement, clarity, and suggestion. I would not have discovered the story inside the story of my novel without Elizabeth's editing. She helped me look at it with new eyes and to find the heart of the story. By doing so, she taught my words to fly.”
— Lee Sowder, author of Family Weave, Torchflame Books
Things I Don’t Do
I can’t whistle, or wink with my left eye. There are also a few writing services that I don’t consider myself a good fit for: Long-term coaching, proofreading, line-editing, query letter writing, synopsis writing, ghost writing, or tutoring. I wish you the best of luck finding someone to help you with these needs. You may find James River Writers list of editors a useful resource in your search.