Chersti Nieveen - Editor
15+ yrs experience editing SciFi/Fantasy/YA and more with NY Times best-selling authors such as Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells.
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Overview
PLEASE NOTE: For those interested in working with me, I encourage you to snag your spot in advance. I am currently booked out a few months in advance. I also DO NOT currently offer copyediting or proofreading services.
ABOUT CHERSTI NIEVEEN (share-stee neh-vene)
I'm a professional freelance editor with over 15 years of experience. I have worked with New York Times Bestselling authors such as Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Sarah B. Larson, Liesl Shurtliff, and others (I am mentioned in the acknowledgements). Because of my experience, I understand both the traditional and indie marketplace and help you create the strongest story. I also teach at several writing conferences each year and have been a guest lecturer at college and high school writing classes. My job is to help you create the strongest story by finding the best solutions that feel organic to your story.
I do this job because I love it and I bring that same enthusiasm to your edit as I help you learn how to elevate your craft.
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MY PREFERENCES AND EXPERIENCE
At this point in my career, I have worked with thousands of stories. While I do have a special emphasis in adult science fiction and fantasy, and all genres of young adult, I have years of experience working with Romance, Mystery and Crime, Thriller and Suspense, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, and more. I choose to work on projects that I feel have great potential and that I feel passionate about.
At this time, I prefer NOT to work with non-fiction, Christian fiction, or erotica fiction (though I do work with romance fiction).
I have advanced specialization with Fantasy, Science Fiction, and all genres of Young Adult. That includes coming of age stories, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, magical realism, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, space opera, steam punk, time travel, and more. I also consult on plays and screenplays, including a few live productions with the goal of going to Broadway.
I’ve been trained in the Farmer System of Narrative Analysis, which is a ground-breaking system of analysis that helps “code” out a story. The Farmer System of Narrative Analysis is based on over 35 years of research, builds off established literary theory, and has years of refinement in college classrooms and real-world applications. This process gives insights into your stories that you won't find anywhere else. This gives me key insights into what makes a story successful.
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BOOKS I LOVE AND RECOMMEND
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - Plot Twists & Character Backstory
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson - Story Structure (pay special attention to plot twists and building to the climactic moment at the end of the novel and within each scene--added bonus: notice how descriptions are interwoven with character)
Nation by Terry Pratchett - Theme (also pay attention to characterization, dialogue, setting and description, and writing POC and female characters)
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo or Saving Francesca by Melena Marchetta - Theme
Guards, Guards or Witches Abroad or Night Watch by Terry Pratchett - Dialogue
Shutter or Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda - Pacing/tension
The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith - Voice, Style, and Point of View
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie or Feed by M.T. Anderson - Voice
Red Rising by Pierce Brown - World Building (pay special attention to setting descriptions)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller or Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda - Polished Prose
Notes:
(1) Some of these books may take 50-100 pages to get into, but it is worth it.
(2) To gain the most out of a book, read it at least 3 times. The first time for plot. The second time with a highlighter and pen to mark good sentences and examples of writing well done. The third time to really deconstruct and analyze what the author has done: for the plot as a whole, for each scene, and with each line.
(3) You can also dissect every one of these books as a good example for characters, prose, and plot.
ABOUT CHERSTI NIEVEEN (share-stee neh-vene)
I'm a professional freelance editor with over 15 years of experience. I have worked with New York Times Bestselling authors such as Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Sarah B. Larson, Liesl Shurtliff, and others (I am mentioned in the acknowledgements). Because of my experience, I understand both the traditional and indie marketplace and help you create the strongest story. I also teach at several writing conferences each year and have been a guest lecturer at college and high school writing classes. My job is to help you create the strongest story by finding the best solutions that feel organic to your story.
I do this job because I love it and I bring that same enthusiasm to your edit as I help you learn how to elevate your craft.
**********************************************************************************************************
MY PREFERENCES AND EXPERIENCE
At this point in my career, I have worked with thousands of stories. While I do have a special emphasis in adult science fiction and fantasy, and all genres of young adult, I have years of experience working with Romance, Mystery and Crime, Thriller and Suspense, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, and more. I choose to work on projects that I feel have great potential and that I feel passionate about.
At this time, I prefer NOT to work with non-fiction, Christian fiction, or erotica fiction (though I do work with romance fiction).
I have advanced specialization with Fantasy, Science Fiction, and all genres of Young Adult. That includes coming of age stories, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, magical realism, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, space opera, steam punk, time travel, and more. I also consult on plays and screenplays, including a few live productions with the goal of going to Broadway.
I’ve been trained in the Farmer System of Narrative Analysis, which is a ground-breaking system of analysis that helps “code” out a story. The Farmer System of Narrative Analysis is based on over 35 years of research, builds off established literary theory, and has years of refinement in college classrooms and real-world applications. This process gives insights into your stories that you won't find anywhere else. This gives me key insights into what makes a story successful.
**********************************************************************************************************
BOOKS I LOVE AND RECOMMEND
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - Plot Twists & Character Backstory
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson - Story Structure (pay special attention to plot twists and building to the climactic moment at the end of the novel and within each scene--added bonus: notice how descriptions are interwoven with character)
Nation by Terry Pratchett - Theme (also pay attention to characterization, dialogue, setting and description, and writing POC and female characters)
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo or Saving Francesca by Melena Marchetta - Theme
Guards, Guards or Witches Abroad or Night Watch by Terry Pratchett - Dialogue
Shutter or Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda - Pacing/tension
The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith - Voice, Style, and Point of View
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie or Feed by M.T. Anderson - Voice
Red Rising by Pierce Brown - World Building (pay special attention to setting descriptions)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller or Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda - Polished Prose
Notes:
(1) Some of these books may take 50-100 pages to get into, but it is worth it.
(2) To gain the most out of a book, read it at least 3 times. The first time for plot. The second time with a highlighter and pen to mark good sentences and examples of writing well done. The third time to really deconstruct and analyze what the author has done: for the plot as a whole, for each scene, and with each line.
(3) You can also dissect every one of these books as a good example for characters, prose, and plot.
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Children's
Contemporary Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Plays & Screenplays
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Young Adult
Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Minor in editing
Work experience
Acquisitions Editor
Cedar Fort
December, 2008
–
February, 2009
(2 months)
-Reviewed queries and sorted through the slush pile
-Prepared prospective projects for acquisitions meetings
-Handled copyedits and proofing
I decided to leave the company to focus on my freelance career.
Editor
Self-employed
September, 2005
–
Present
(almost 16 years)
I work with a team of Story Analysts who consult on film, television, books, and plays to help create the strongest stories.
Acquisitions/Managing Editor
Leading Edge
September, 2005
–
June, 2008
(over 2 years)
Editor at LEADING EDGE, a science fiction and fantasy magazine publisher. Once a manuscript was acquired, I oversaw the whole editing process, running editorial teams and doing all final edits myself, until the manuscript went to print.
- Reviewed queries and sorted through the slush pile
- Prepared prospective projects to pitch the head editor
- Worked developmentally with the manuscript
- Worked in all Science Fiction and Fantasy genres and sub-genres
- Ran trainings to educate on the nuances in the sub-genre fields
Portfolio (40 selected works)
Mistborn: The Final Empire (Book No. 1)
Brandon Sanderson
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinel... read more
Seven Deadly Shadows
Courtney Alameda, Valynne E. Maetani
This thrilling YA retelling of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai features a girl tasked with saving the world from eternal darkness. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Marie Lu.Seventeen-year-old Kira Fujikawa has never had it easy. She’s bullied by the popular girls in school. Her parents ignore her. And she’s also plagued with a secret: She can see yokai, the ghosts and demons that haunt the street... read more
Heir of Ra (Blood of Ra Book One)
M. Sasinowski
#1 Amazon New Release (Ancient Civilizations)Winner of the 2018 International Beverly Hills Book Award (Action/Adventure)"fast-paced and enthralling... marvelous plot... thought-provoking and ingenious... well-written and engaging story... Heir of Ra is most highly recommended." -Readers' Favorite (5/5 Stars)"Sasinowski creates captivating action and an empowered central character... engaging ... read more
Daughter of the Siren Queen
Tricia Levenseller
The capable, confident, and occasionally ruthless heroine of Daughter of the Pirate King is back in this action-packed sequel that promises rousing high seas adventures and the perfect dash of magic.Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ... read more
Oceanworlds
J.P. Landau
If you were in awe of books like The Martian and 2001: A Space Odyssey or movies like Interstellar and Apollo 13, get ready for a story destined to become a Sci-Fi classic – one with the potential to leap from fiction into reality and become the greatest adventure on which humankind has ever embarked.September 7 2030. Mission Day 1179. Late at night inside the two-person Dragon spacecraft rest... read more
Zero G (The Zero Chronicles Book 1)
Wells, Dan
Shutter
Courtney Alameda
Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat -- a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts ... read more
Daughter of the Pirate King
Tricia Levenseller
There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I've gotten what I came for. Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has onl... read more
Pitch Dark
Courtney Alameda
From Courtney Alameda, the author of Shutter, this thrilling, sci-fi horror and space adventure will be sure to stay with readers long after the last pages.Lost to time, Tuck Morgan and his crew have slept in stasis aboard the USS John Muir for centuries. Their ship harbors a chunk of Earth, which unbeknownst to them, is the last hope for the failing human race.Laura Cruz is a shipraider searc... read more
Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood
Liesl Shurtliff
Beauty and the Beast fans: satisfy your fairy tale cravings with the New York Times bestseller RED, a spellbinding adventure that features a brave heroine, plenty of pixies, a beast like no other, and a beauty too! Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic. But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is f... read more
The Unhappening of Genesis Lee
Shallee McArthur
What would it feel like to never forget? Or to have a memory stolen?Seventeen-year-old Genesis Lee has never forgotten anything. As one of the Mementi--a small group of genetically enhanced humans--Gena remembers everything with the help of her Link bracelets, which preserve memories perfectly. But Links can be stolen, and six people have already lost their lives to a memory thief, including G... read more
Over Your Dead Body (John Cleaver)
Dan Wells
New York Times bestselling author Dan Wells continues his popular John Wayne Cleaver series in Over Your Dead Body.John and Brooke are on their own, hitchhiking from town to town as they hunt the last of the Withered through the midwest--but the Withered are hunting them back, and the FBI is close behind. With each new town, each new truck stop, each new highway, they get closer to a vicious k... read more
Next of Kin: A John Cleaver Novella
Dan Wells
We call them demons, for lack of a better word, but the truth is something much more mysterious. In the I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER trilogy, the young sociopath John Cleaver killed three of them, trying to protect his family, but he has no idea what horrors he's stirred up. . . . Elijah Sexton was a god of the ancient world, but now he drives a hearse in a Midwest town, keeping his head down, avo... read more
The Devil's Only Friend (John Cleaver)
Dan Wells
John Wayne Cleaver hunts demons: they've killed his neighbors, his family, and the girl he loves, but in the end he's always won. Now he works for a secret government kill team, using his gift to hunt and kill as many monsters as he can . . .. . . but the monsters have noticed, and the quiet game of cat and mouse is about to erupt into a full scale supernatural war.John doesn't want the life h... read more
Wrongly imprisoned, Frederick Whithers is desperate to commit the crime he's already being punished for: defrauding the bank out of a vast inheritance. He fakes his death to escape, but when he's seen climbing out of a coffin everyone assumes he's a vampire; when he shows none of the traditional vampire weaknesses, they decide he must be the most powerful vampire in the history of the world.Ha... read more
Just when Fredrick Whithers thought his life couldn't get any more complicated, he is asked to arrange a funeral for a man who is very much not dead. In the companion to A Night of Blacker Darkness, Frederick must balance the arts of necromancy and magic while managing to run a funeral home.
Bluescreen (Mirador)
Dan Wells
“Bluescreen is a stunning deluge of imagination, filled with suspense and twists and unforgettable characters. This book is just plain awesome.”—James Dashner, bestselling author of The Maze RunnerFrom Dan Wells, author of the New York Times bestselling Partials Sequence, comes the first book in a new sci-fi-noir series. Los Angeles in 2050 is a city of open doors, as long as you have the righ... read more
Fragments (Partials Sequence)
Dan Wells
Author Dan Wells is back with the sequel to the sci-fi blockbuster Partials, which Pittacus Lore called a "thrilling sci-fi adrenaline rush, with one of the most compelling and frightening visions of Earth's future I've seen yet."After discovering the cure for RM, Kira Walker sets off on a terrifying journey into the ruins of postapocalyptic America and the darkest desires of her heart in orde... read more
Ruins (Partials Sequence)
Dan Wells
New York Times BestsellerKira, Samm, and Marcus fight to prevent a final war between Partials and humans in the gripping final installment in the Partials Sequence, a series that combines the thrilling action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Blade Runner and The Stand.There is no avoiding it—the war to decide the fate of both humans and Partials is at hand. Both sides hold in... read more
Altered Perceptions is the anthology put together for the IndieGoGo campaign to benefit Robison Wells, who was crippled by debt caused by his mental illnesses. Sales of this ebook edition will go to charity, with 90% of the net proceeds benefiting Bring Change 2 Mind. This anthology contains original stories, deleted scenes, and essays from the contributors about how mental illness has affecte... read more
Timestorm: A Tempest Novel (The Tempest Trilogy)
Julie Cross
"Cross's zippy writing and fresh plot are an exhilarating combination." ―Publishers WeeklyThe battle between the Tempest Division and Eyewall comes to a shocking conclusion in Timestorm―the final installment of Julie Cross's Tempest trilogy, where the need for survival stretches the boundaries of history, both past and future, and the world Jackson Meyer once knew is a place forever marked by ... read more
Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea Book 1)
Lani Woodland, Melonie Piper
Sentenced to death by the man she loves . . .Jade has no control over her future. She is the Emmía, the girl whose magical blood keeps her kingdom’s cursed soil fertile and ensures the survival of her people. But her destiny is ruined when pirates take her magical medallion, the loss of which is treasonous, and the prince she loves is honor-bound to sentence her to death. Forced to flee to the... read more
A new paranormal urban fantasy romance thriller from thebestselling authors of The Divinicus Nex Chronicles! Dark and twisted, and full of action,adventure, suspense, humor, and crazy fun characters! Perfect for fans of Bella Forrest, Sarah J. Maas, and Jaymin Eve. - No Memory. No Mind. No Mercy.Kiara Blackwood has a few problems.She's older thanshe looks - by several centuries. She can't reme... read more
Sisters of Sorrow #1
Kurt Sutter, Courtney Alameda
Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy, Mayans MC) brings this all-new original tale of revenge and recovery to comics with novelist Courtney Alameda (Shutter) and breakthrough artist Hyeonjin Kim. By day, Dominique, Greta, Misha, and Sarah run a nonprofit women's shelter. At night, they each don a nun's habit and move through Los Angeles hunting down violent abusers who have escaped justice. Their incr... read more
Eloy's Discovery (The Eloy Trilogy Book 1)
Kara Timmins
When the fragile balance of his world is shattered by an invading horde, Eloy must flee for his life into a world he has only heard about in stories. Armed only with courage, his wits, and the dream of something better, Eloy embarks on a quest into the unknown to find the sister he lost and discover the future destined for him.
Beyond the Code
Kelsey Rae Barthel
To the common world, Aurora Falon is merely the pampered daughter of a rich and influential family. But to the secret world of The Order, she is Luna, the powerful and formidable warrior knight, under the rule of her master, Cole Iver. Together, they strive to bring down Damon Lexus, a wicked master who uses her knights in cowardly and dishonourable ways for her own selfish desires. But when t... read more
City of Shards (Spellgiver Book 1)
Steve Rodgers
“A unique and exciting dark fantasy…” —Readers’ Favorite (5 star)Larin’s got big problems. His tendency to shout nonsense words at random has turned him into a pariah in the gang-infested Wormpile district, where he’s protected only by his drug-addicted but deadly uncle. Confined to his uncle’s 4-block zone, where no gang member dares to tread, his only friends are an outcast thief and an alco... read more
In the Claws of the Indigen (Spellgiver Book 2)
Steve Rodgers
The Old Gods have seized control of the capital in an orgy of executions and murder. Now, Larin and the others flee for their lives, as the High Wizard’s creatures fall upon them like a steel rain. Thus begins Book 2 of Spellgiver, a tale of heroism, hatred, wonder and betrayal. A tale in which Larin will meet his Master, Akul will reconcile with one horrible mistake from the past, and nothing... read more
Through a Forest of Stars
David C. Jeffrey
Year 2217. Earth’s biosphere is dying, Mars’s terraforming projects are in ruin, resource wars are brewing, and even the discovery of voidoids—eerie neo-quantum portals into nearby star systems—has failed to yield other habitable worlds in Bound Space. But that’s about to change. Aiden Macallan, Terra Corp’s maverick planetologist aboard the survey ship Argo, is plunged to the center of a dead... read more
One Nation Under Gods
Reeshi Ray
The war raged for five years.When the smoke cleared the United States was a memory, conquered by a race unlike the world had ever seen.They are the Specials—a godlike race gifted with powers so cataclysmic that the human survivors of the war had no choice but to surrender to their invincible overlords.But Houston Holt doesn't surrender.A war veteran turned underworld fixer, Houston spends his ... read more
Eloy's Legacy (The Eloy Trilogy Book 3)
Timmins, Kara
Eloy's Challenge (The Eloy Trilogy)
Timmins, Kara
Eloy's Discovery (The Eloy Trilogy Book 1)
Timmins, Kara
Chaos Rising (The Lemurian Chronicles Book 2)
Morris, Perry
Stronger
Woodland, Lani
The Traveler's Cup
Baldwin, AC
The Slave Prince
Grace, Jeyna
The Call of Dust: Book One of the Arat Series
Saint, M. R.
The Last Faoii: Book 1 of the Faoii Chronicles
Nelson, Tahani
Chersti has 108 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Chersti's work is impeccable and thorough. She was able to pinpoint my issues and simplify what I was doing wrong. The materials that she provided with the editorial assessment have changed my perspective on writing as well. The experience was very enjoyable and I would recommend to anyone!
Claire Drake, July 2021
Prior to seeking professional help with my manuscript, I had worked on my novel for close to six years. I had gone through multiple rewrites and had close to forty beta readers. I was hesitant to spend a significant amount of money on an editor, thinking I was aware of all the existing issues, but I figured after all this time the money was worth it just in case.
Chersti was able to identify a ...
Read more
Michael Anderson, July 2021
Working with Chersti was amazing!
Right from the start, she was clear and concise about what she needed from me in order for her to do the best job possible. Chersti had me answer some very thought-provoking questions that helped me understand my own story on a deeper level.
Can't say enough good things about my experience, a friendly and down-to-earth professional.
Daniel Lloyd, July 2021
Professional, accurate, kind. Highly recommend.
Brittany Krysinski, July 2021
I had both a delightful and insightful collaboration with Chersti, and I will be working with her again.
I did a Developmental Assessment with her. The report she handed back was very long and detailed. And that's a good thing, as it gives me lots of room for improvement. I definitely felt I received a good return on investment for the price paid.
Greg McIntire, July 2021
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