Editing and Manuscript Consultation
"Sarah rescued my floundering novel with her exquisite mastery of form, voice, and perspective, not to mention taste and verve. What an education! She also salvaged my flagging confidence with her big-hearted encouragement." ---author Barbara Feldon
Sometimes you don't want an on-going workshop; sometimes, you just need to bring a fresh look to a manuscript before continuing with it or before submitting it to agents or publishers. And here, you'll get that fresh look from an experienced editor.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING will give you an over-arching perspective on the project. I'll point out areas that need fleshing out, or where some trimming could be done. We'll discuss big questions, like whether you need all the characters in a novel, or whether plot lines need to be developed differently. On non-fiction, I'll help you focus your ideas and shape them into a proposal you'll be proud to send to agents.
With LINE EDITING, I'll go through the manuscript line by line, cleaning up grammar, tightening phrasing, offering ideas snapping the language to attention.
Usually, an author will send a complete manuscript; I'll mark up the pages and write a lengthy letter with our impressions. I will also help with looking for and submitting to agents and publishers.
I also work on developing and editing book proposals.
Please contact me for rates and other details, by emailing sva@together.net
“Boy, did you do one hell of an editing job on ONLY THE LONELY. I sensed I
was lucky when you were editing it, but now I know how lucky I am
that the novel was passed on to you. The changes you suggested made the
novel, in each case, small and big, a lot better. Many, many, many thanks!"
---author Gary Zebrun, author of Only The Lonely (Alyson Books, 2008)