My main goal in developmental editing is to shy away from one-size-fits-all cures and focus on the project as its own entity with its personal strengths and weaknesses. From there I’ll determine what the manuscript does really well and think of ways to entice these parts out even more, using them as examples for places that need help. This brings out the best of the author through their own voice, making the work individual, while still leaving room to focus on reinforcing the holes and lose ends in the story. I’ve developed this philosophy in opposition to the trend in editing for marketability that seems to be taking over the publishing world. If you want me to edit your manuscript into a cookie-cutter bestseller, I’m not the one for you. I edit for excellency in art because I want the authors I work with to feel pride in their craft, because great art sells, and because great art outlasts any publishing trends.
My notes range from 10-25 single-spaced pages depending on the manuscript and include three major sections “Narrative,” “Structure,” and “Language.” Narrative deals with things like plot and characters, Structure with the form of the story (title, chapter order, setting, perspective, etc.), and Language deals with the tone, theme and more grammatical parts of the manuscript. Most of my experience has been with Memoir, Short Stories, Creative Nonfiction, Literary Fiction, and Romance, but even if your manuscript doesn’t quite fall into these categories, send it my way. We’ll collaborate until your piece has achieved its highest potential. I pride my notes on the quality and the thoughtful delivery of my advice, coupled with my attention to detail and continued contact with the author, answering questions and helping to work out the kinks. Each project is different and I treat it so.
See below for more details about past work. Contact me for more information, scheduling a consultation, for references, or rates (rates in compliance with the Editorial Freelancers Association).
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copyediting
From Conflict to Community: Transforming Conflicts without Authorities
by Gwendolyn Olton
Release date: December 2022
Genre: Business / Personal Growth / Relationships / Friendship
Published by Microcosm Publishing
Learn more about this book here
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Punk USA: The Rise & Fall of Lookout! Records
by Kevin Prested
Release date: September 2022
Genre: History / Music / Punk / Scene History
Published by Microcosm Publishing
Learn more about this book here
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S P E K T R U M
by Nick Jaina
Release date: September 2022
Genre: Fiction
Published by Modern Mythographer
Learn more about this book here
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From Big Idea to Book: Create a Writing Practice that Brings You Joy
by Jessie L. Kwak
Release date: April 12, 2022
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines / Writing / Self-Help / Creativity
Published by Microcosm Publishing
Learn more about this book here
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Creative, Not Famous: The Small Potato Manifesto
by Ayun Halliday
Release date: May 10, 2022
Genre: Self-Help / Creativity / Business / Personal Growth / Success
Published by Microcosm Publishing
Learn more about this book here
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Woke Parenting: Raising Intersectional Feminist, Empathic, Engaged, and Generally Non-Shitty Kids while Still Having a Life
by Faith G. Harper, PhD & Bonnie Scott MA, MS, LPC
Release date: October 5, 2021
Genre: Family & Relationships / Parenting
Published by Microcosm Publishing
Learn more about this book here
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Loaners: The Making of a Street Library
by Laura Moulton and Ben Hodgson
Release date: October 5, 2021
Genre: Memoir / DIY / Portland, OR
Published by Perfect Day Publishing
Learn more about this book here
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(the other house)
by Rocío Carlos
Release date: February 15, 2019
Genre: Poetry / Bilingual / Memoir / Ghosts
Published by Civil Coping Mechanisms
Learn more about this book here
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Losing Miami
by Gabriel Ojeda-Sagué
Release date: February 15, 2019
Genre: Poetry / Bilingual / Environmental
Published by Civil Coping Mechanisms
Learn more about this book here
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American Symphony: Other White Lies
by Suiyi Tang
Release date: October 7, 2019
Genre: Experimental Fiction / Hybrid Nonfiction / Speculative Memoir / Asian-American
Published by The Accomplices
Learn more about this book here
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Ghosts Are Just Strangers Who Know How To Knock
by Hillary Leftwich
Release date: October 7, 2019
Genre: Hybrid / Fiction / Experimental Fiction / Creative Nonfiction / Memoir
Published by The Accomplices
Learn more about this book here
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Breaking Cadence: one woman’s war against the war
by Rosa del Duca
Release date: May 21, 2019
Genre: Memoir
Published by Ooligan Press
Learn more about this book here
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The Gifts We Keep
by Katie Grindeland
Release date: April 16, 2019
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Published by Ooligan Press
Learn more about this book here
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Odsburg
by Matt Tompkins
Release date: October 29, 2019
Genre: Surrealist Fiction
Published by Ooligan Press
Learn more about this book here
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developmental editing
Elephant Speak: A Devoted Keeper’s Life Among the Herd
by Melissa Crandall
Release date: March 3, 2020
Published by Ooligan Press
Learn more about this book here
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Psychopomps
by Alex DiFrancesco
Release date: February 15, 2019
Published by Civil Coping Mechanisms
Learn more about this book here
“Esa was a delight to work with on Psychopomps—always positive, professional, and critically engaged in the process. Esa’s work with the book strengthened it and made it flow much more smoothly from one essay to the next, and her questions and comments were unfailingly insightful, forcing me to grapple with my own work in a deeper way. I’d highly recommend her sharp eye, kind corrections, and thoughtful participation in any editing process.”
—Alex DiFrancesco, (Author of Psychopomps and All City: A Novel)
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Other Testimonials
“Esa is thoughtful, balanced editor with the eye for the smallest details and the ability to contextualize the bigger picture. Her personalized approach has a sense of ease to it as she chooses her words with care and comfort in order to forge meaningful, personal relationships. Her eyes on our latest developmental
— Monique Vieu, (Ooligan Press Project Team Manager)
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“Esa is fantastic. She is thoughtful and thorough as an editor, always considering how details work in the context of the larger structure and the author’s own style and aesthetic. She brings great questions to the table and is open to conversation around various elements, and is compassionate in her approach. She’s also reliable, responsible, and detail-oriented. I can’t speak highly enough of her work.”
—Janice Lee, (writer, editor, co-publisher at The Accomplices)
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“Esa perfectly understood where I wanted to go with my project and what needed to happen. Her developmental insight was invaluable, and her tone on pulling out the points to make a story better is incredible. I trust her to do amazing work.”
—Ari Mathae (Ooligan Press Acquisitions Manager)
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Editorial Note Sample (password protected)
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