nourish
imagine that your story has that certain something.
It’s true: Writing is a lonely profession. It is done in closed rooms and behind earbuds. Without fresh air and fresh perspective, good ideas stagnate, calcify and then expire.
A manuscript is fertile ground. It is full of seeds, bulbs, nutrients, promises. But it is also full of weeds, rocks, aphids, dead ends.
As a developmental editor or beta-reader for fiction and poetry, I provide the fresh perspective you need to weed out the deadweight and nourish that certain something into a flourishing work of art.
books that exist in a vacuum
run out of oxygen quickly.
strategic imagining is the art and science of seeing the destination and devising a plan to get there.
functions
developmental edit // critical commentary // partial edit // beta read // proofing
genres
contemporary romance // romantic suspense // erotica // women’s fiction // cozy mystery // magical realism // poetry // short stories
services
My services fall into three categories: developmental edits, beta reads and proofing.
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A developmental editor offers constructive and holistic criticism on the structure, themes, characters and prose of a written work. As your developmental editor, I provide the following:
In-margin comments | Detailed comments in the margin of the text interrogating the choices you make on the page
Big-picture commentary | A 3–5 page document detailing my thoughts on themes, characters, motivations, and more, and where I think the book needs to go
One-hour consultation | A 60-minute in-person or virtual session for you to ask questions or float new ideas
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A beta reader reads a draft of your book and provides their thoughts, feelings, likes and dislikes. Unbiased perspective from a professional stranger is critical to growing a strong narrative. As a beta reader, I provide the following:
Chapter-by-chapter | Detailed notes at the end of each chapter about what’s working for me, with predictions about where the story will go
Big picture | A 3–5 page document detailing what I liked, what I disliked, what I wish had been different, and what it would take for me to fall in love with your book
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Whether you’re writing a novel, a poetry anthology, a website or a one-pager, a meticulous proofreader can mean the difference between existing and exiting.
I can read for spelling and grammar, but also for style and consistency, ensuring your finished product will shine.
“I have true gratitude
for Ariel’s
Attention to details
work ethic
Organization
sense of concern
purpose and
responsibility.
George Kleiber
Artist and writer