Christine Stewart

Christine Stewart – Editor

Manuscript editor for 15 yrs; Editor-in-Chief, Del Sol Press; Faculty, Algonkian Novel Workshop and Retreat; award-winning writer and poet.

Overview

I'm a manuscript editor who cuts through the myths and delusions about the writing process, while honoring a writer's unique vision and voice. I edit fiction (all genres), nonfiction, and poetry. I have often been called a guru of plot, structure, and character. I run a small press as well and teach at conferences.

I love working with writers and poets, especially calls to discuss the editing work where we brainstorm and rev you, the writer, up for revision. So many great ideas come out of those conversations and it's rewarding to hear my clients excited about their work. Besides that call to discuss the work, my services include a free reread of up to 25 revised pages and unlimited follow up questions by email. You can email me four years later and I will remember you and your writing project.

I offer developmental editing and editorial assessment services for writers of fiction, nonfiction/creative nonfiction, and poetry. The ideal client is one who is passionate about writing and learning how to improve his/her/their skills and who is ready for constructive critique/edits to move to the next level. My work is thorough and insightful, but also includes as much instruction on craft as I can squeeze in, while honoring your voice and vision for the manuscript. My goal is to provide you with the tools and skills to empower and inspire you as you revise your current work and begin future projects.

Through my residencies, teaching experience, the conferences I attend, and my contacts, I stay up to date on what agents and editors are looking for and can point you in the direction of some fantastic resources that will get you face time with editors from leading publishing houses and hot new agents.

As a former arts and grants administrator at a state arts agency for 11 years running programs, grants, competitions, and residencies for students and writers of all ages all over the state, and working with national and federal organizations and agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts, I can also point you in the direction of resources for grants, residencies, fellowships, online communities, and contests, as well as make suggestions for publications to subscribe to and keep informed on the latest news and opportunities in the writing world. I will make the appropriate suggestions after working with you on your book, as appropriate or consult.

I am happy to advise you on writing and revising your pitch, query letter, or synopsis--documents that are required during the agent and publishing submission process, so you're ready to showcase your book.

About me: I have an MFA in poetry (Univ of MD) and MA in creative writing (Hollins University), have led workshops for more than 15 years (most recently in the Johns Hopkins Odyssey program), and am a Pushcart Prize nominee, a Ruth Lilly Fellow, and first runner up for the 2012 Maureen Egen Award from Poets & Writers magazine. Some of my publications include Poetry, Ploughshares, Five Points, Blackbird, and Smartish Pace. My most recent residency was at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. I am faculty for the Algonkian Writing Retreat and Novel Workshop in Virginia and Editor in Chief for Del Sol Press. My novel THE HERESY OF SILENCE will be released in 2020 from Serving House Books.
Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Fantasy Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Poetry Science Fiction Short Story Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Health & Wellbeing Self-Help & Self-Improvement Travel
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship, The Poetry Foundation and Poetry Magazine
  • First Runner Up, Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, Poets & Writers
  • Individual Artist Award in Fiction, Maryland State Arts Council
  • Lizette Woodworth Reese Poetry Prize, Goucher College
  • Patterson Residency, Creative Alliance
  • Creative Fellowship (Fiction), Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
  • Tuition Scholarship, A Room of Her Own Foundation Conference
Certifications
  • M.A. in Creative Writing, Hollins University
  • M.F.A in Poetry, University of Maryland College Park

Work experience

Maryland State Arts Council

Mar, 2008 — Present

Administer grants and provide technical support to Maryland writers and literary arts organizations. Partner for projects such as Literary Arts Week, literary arts summits, and literary arts/book festivals with local, regional, and national writers and organizations. Administer the Maryland Poetry Out Loud program for the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation. POL is a national recitation competition for high school students that teaches them about their literary heritage and builds their confidence and public speaking skills. The Maryland program was the fifth highest in the country in 2015 (tenth anniversary of the program), with 16,000 students participating.

Self-employed

Mar, 2005 — Present

I'm a manuscript editor who cuts through the myths and delusions about the writing process, while honoring a writer's unique vision and voice. I edit fiction (all genres), nonfiction, and poetry. I have often been called a guru of plot, structure, and character. I work with writers of prose and poetry, all genres, proving critique and developmental editing services.

Portfolio

SOMEBODY'S ALWAYS HUNGRY is a collection of essays about life raising kids from birth to age five years old. Not the orderly, glossy parenting magazine view, but the bumpy-road perspective: how life slams from sixty m.p.h. to zero in those five to six pushes d... read more
Swiss Vendetta, Tracee de Hahn's mesmerizing debut, is an emotionally complex, brilliantly plotted mystery set against the beautiful but harsh backdrop of a Swiss winter.Inspector Agnes Lüthi, a Swiss-American police officer in Lausanne, Switzerland, has just ... read more
The Tide King

Jen Michalski

Stanley Polensky and Calvin Johnson serve in Germany during World War II. Calvin, near death after being shelled, is given a bewitched herb by Stanley but then left for dead. Each soldier returns from the war and years pass. Calvin, discovering that he cannot ... read more
MALL

Pattie Palmer-Baker

Set in an alternate world, MALL is a place where everyone is beautiful, and everyone is employed so they have enough income to consume and to experience a myriad of pleasures-drugs, gambling, theater, holographic adventures. No poverty and little or no crime. ... read more
The Singing Ship

Rebecca Winterer

Two teenage sisters--Bernadette, the explorer and skeptic; and Jane, the Christian optimist--engage in an unorthodox battle for the truth of their attack in the Australian bush. As they grow up, each seeks refuge in their own world: Bernadette in the maps and ... read more

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