#348 What Makes Us Human? with Susan Chang

This week, we're running a takeover in collaboration with Reedsy freelancer Susan Chang! The winner of this contest will not only be awarded $250 — they’ll also receive personal feedback from Susan herself. For your chance to get insight from one of Reedsy’s very own professionals, read on!

Hello, all! I’m Susan Chang, a developmental editor based in New York City with nearly thirty years of experience acquiring and editing mostly children’s and YA books for publishers such as HarperCollins, Disney, and Tor Books/Macmillan. Now, as a Reedsy professional and an independent freelance editor, I’ve had the opportunity to branch out into other kinds of literature, from adult fiction to narrative nonfiction.

In working on such a diverse range of projects, I’ve discovered that my approach to developmental editing remains the same: I always try to lead with empathy. Because I understand that, as authors, you are putting yourselves out there, and that this takes courage. And I honor the important work you are doing — not only to enlighten and entertain, but to engender the empathy that, ultimately, makes us human.

With that in mind, this week’s contest asks the all-important question: What makes us human? Stories can be of any genre, whether that be science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, alternate history, supernatural, horror, magical realism… you name it! I look forward to your creativity and insight!

Special Update: The Results 🏆

The top pick for this takeover was "Iteration #458" by Ariel Sanchez. Here's what guest judge Susan Chang had to say about it:

This story instantly grabbed me with its opening lines. It pulls the reader into the awakening consciousness of Iteration #458, who doesn’t know who she is or what has happened to her. We learn, at the same time as the unnamed iteration does, what the horrifying situation is (spoiler alert!): humanity is on the brink of extinction and only manages to survive by reviving and repurposing dead people. The prompt was to “Start or end your story with the sound of a heartbeat,” and not only did the author both start and end their story with a heartbeat, but they also made us sympathize with both characters and ask the question: Who is the human, and who is the monster? A captivating new take on the Frankenstein story.

Congratulations to contest winner Ariel Sanchez and the runners-up, Dawn Undead and Sophie Fawley!