Eric Bell - Editor

I am the traditionally published middle grade author of ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD and ALAN COLE DOESN'T DANCE (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins). My work has also appeared in the middle grade LGBTQ+ short story anthology THIS IS OUR RAINBOW (Knopf).

I am a regular mentor in Pitch Wars, an online mentoring program in which unpublished authors work with mentors through intensive revision and coaching with the eventual goal of acquiring an agent. This includes a full manuscript, a pitch, and a query letter. Several of my mentees have not only gone on to become agented, they have also sold the manuscripts we worked on together to major publishing houses. I also regularly run writing classes and workshops in which participants are subjected to my helpful developmental feedback and terrible jokes.

I believe in building up writers through honest and supportive feedback, discussing what's working about your manuscript, and engaging in a dialogue about what could be stronger.

I am skilled in all areas of craft, though if I had to pick one specialization, it would be character. I love bringing out the voices and personalities of characters and working on characterization exercises with my writers. However, I'm also good at picking apart a plot and peering into the innards to see what's working and what needs extra attention. Past writers I've worked with can tell you I'm adaptable to the needs of whatever story I'm working on.

Though I specialize in middle grade, I also have experience working with young adult fiction and picture books.

In addition to editing services, I also offer:
- Coaching that can be tailored to fit your needs
- Brainstorming help for story starts and snags

Testimonials:
“Eric helped me sharpen my characters, strengthen my climax and improve my middle grade manuscript in more ways than I can count. Beyond his keen insight, I appreciated his encouragement, his humour, and his willingness to be a sounding board in the stressful moments. Eric was a mentor in the very best sense of the word—he didn’t just help me write a better book, he helped prepare me for everything that came next. He was a pleasure to work with.” -Chad Lucas

“Eric provided such lovingly detailed, meticulous, and well-rounded feedback in his edit letters that gave me the tools to recraft and fine tune my manuscript. He invested far more time and care into helping my book become a better story than I ever could have imagined. In the most challenging of times, Eric’s knack for understanding the ins and outs of storytelling kept me inspired and gave me the confidence to make major changes in my writing. Ultimately, working with Eric gave me a clearer vision for my book and sharpened my skills as a writer in ways I’m still uncovering. His patience, knowledge of the industry, and passion for writing made him an invaluable part of my writing education.” -Jesse James Keitel

“Eric is such a thoughtful and thorough reader, and provides feedback for you to help clarify the ideas you care about and gain confidence in your story. From the beginning, he proved that he “got” my book and gave it such incredible attention, care and passion. He really helped strengthen my manuscript in areas I particularly struggle, such as tightening focus, heightening stakes and tying my plot lines together. He also reminded me how important it is to put the main message of the story front and center, and helped me reinforce the message of my novel in revisions. All of Eric’s edits made sense, and were very clear and concrete, so I found the editing process to not be as difficult as I feared. He’s also an incredible cheerleader; his encouragement helped me believe in my writing again. I can’t recommend working with Eric enough!” -Meg Kuyatt