Caroline Macon Fleischer - Editor

I am a Chicago-based writer and editor with a passion for literature across many genres.

I am a compassionate editor who guides writers through their manuscript from the conceptual stages to the finished product. My working style is intuitive and idiosyncratic to whatever project is at hand. Working with an editor is a vulnerable act, so I do whatever I can to help the author feel confident and shine. My working relationships are always warm, but I seek to challenge my authors to reach their full potential.

Once hired, we will have a conversation about goals for your manuscript and create a plan to meet those goals. That said, I'm flexible in my working style and can accommodate the needs of the project. All in all, we are a team and I am most interested in pulling through the best story possible.

My taste varies, but I especially love character-driven stories, literary fiction, women's fiction, and work that has a genre that is hard to define. I am riveted by blunt language, unusual synopses, and stories that make me laugh and cry at the same time. If you are an odd duck, we'll probably get along great. I like strange, smart writing that leaves me confused and inspired at once.

My own writing has been published in American Theatre Magazine, L.A. Review of Books, The Rumpus, Time Out, and more. I am a longtime member of Chicago's "Poems While You Wait," a team of poets and our typewriters that offers typewritten, one of a kind poetry on demand. Editorially, I worked with Rose Metal Press, which specializes in hybrid-work, and Curbside Splendor Publishing, a Midwestern publisher of a diverse array of titles and authors. My plays have been produced around Chicago, and I have experience in new play development. I formerly managed the new play development program for Lookingglass, a Tony Award-winning theatre company.

***

"Caroline brings precisely the kind of generous but critical eye to writing and editing projects that every piece needs—she polishes up the gleaming parts to best advantage and makes the dull bits shine. Well-read, funny, and personable, Caroline is astute, energetic, and punctual with a deadline. Any author or editor should count themselves lucky to get to work with her." - Kathleen Rooney, NYT Bestselling Author

"Caroline demonstrates a clear passion for writing and editing. She has a real depth of understanding characters and a keen ear for dialogue. She is a deeply gifted, dedicated writer with a singular voice, she is one of the most hardworking people I know, and I have no doubt that she will make quite an impact as her career progresses." - Carlos Murillo, Playwright

"Working alongside Caroline for 6 years and counting, I trust her with my writing projects in any and all genres. She has an innate ability to question, cut, and shift—necessary for honing the direction and allowing projects to flow seamlessly. Her combination of raw talent and hard work, plus both academic and professional training, makes her an invaluable reader and editor." - Becky Wills, Writer

"Sharp-witted and forthright with emotional intelligence, Caroline always gives fresh and vital notes to my fiction." - Julianna Hurtado, Author

"Caroline is an exemplary editor and writer who is careful and through in her research and reading. A true joy to work with!" - Catherine Eves, Senior Editor, Cancer Wellness

"Caroline is a fantastic resource for our editing needs. The biggest issue in this business is getting it right the first time and being on time, every time. Caroline excels at both. 10/10 would hire again." - Jon Schickedanz, President of The Alliance Labs