Dawn Raffel

Dawn Raffel – Editor

Experienced, dedicated editor specializing in memoir and literary fiction, with a shelf full of clients' published books.

Overview

I enjoy working with writers at all levels, from debut authors to seasoned pros. When I edit, I pay very close attention to language, structure, pacing, and logic. I really try to get inside the DNA of the book to make it the best it can be on its own terms. You can expect lots of line notes and comments, and I'm always happy to answer questions. I try to make the process as painless as possible! Yes, it can even be fun.

In addition to editing, I teach creative writing and serve as an emerging writer mentor at AWP and the Center for Fiction. I'm also a writer myself, so I know how it feels to be on the other side of the desk. I'm interested in literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir, and am always delighted to see my clients' books make their way into the world.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Buddhism Entertainment History Judaism Writing & Publishing
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Literary Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Two National Magazine Awards
  • Client long-listed for 2019 National Book Award
  • Client won short story collection contest and 2020 publication

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

Fast, meticulous developmental and copy editing for individuals and creative organizations.

Self-employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

I work with individuals, publishers, and organizations to develop books and other creative content.

The Literarian

Dec, 2010 — Jan, 2014 (about 3 years)

Launched and edited a literary magazine for the Center for Fiction in New York, working with a wide variety of well-established and debut authors.

Reader's Digest

Feb, 2010 — Nov, 2014 (over 4 years)

Assessing, acquiring, editing and shaping substantial book excerpts for Reader's Digest magazine, covering the full book market, and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the marketplace. In this position, I also acquired and edited original content, working with everyone from Pulitzer Prize winners to novices.

More Magazine

Dec, 2006 — Feb, 2010 (about 3 years)

Acquired and edited articles and book excerpts and covered the whole book market for a mass circulation women's magazines with one-million plus circulation.

O, The Oprah Magazine

Oct, 1999 — Nov, 2006 (about 7 years)

Helped launch the magazine and create its architecture. Extensively acquired and edited articles and book excerpts for seven years.

Portfolio

We Refuse to Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time

Rehman, Sabeeha

It's Not What You Think: An American Woman in Saudi Arabia

Rehman, Sabeeha

Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America

David S. Cohen

Come As You Are: A Novel

Haupt, Jennifer

Opting Back In: What Really Happens When Mothers Go Back to Work

Stone, Pamela

Losing the Atmosphere, A Memoir: A Baffling Disorder, a Search for Help, and the Therapist Who Understood

Conan, Vivian

Hap and Hazard and the End of the World

Diane DeSanders

Faith Is a Verb: It Always Precedes the Miracle

Ferebee, Lorraine

Hiro's War

Taniguchi, Rebecca

The Daily Miracle- A Memoir of Newspapering

C. Fraser Smith

Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery

Murphy Marshall, Linda

This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story

Hollis, Jackie Shannon

Dancing with Elephants: Mindfulness Training For Those Living With Dementia, Chronic Illness or an Aging Brain (How to Die Smiling Book 1)

Jarem Sawatsky

Praise for Dancing with Elephants:"If you need some encouragement in living with joy, read this book. It will change your perspective on everything." —Lana Philips "Sawatsky beautifully models a way to dance in the gale of full catastrophe, to celebrate life, ... read more
A Wilder Time: Notes from a Geologist at the Edge of the Greenland Ice

William E. Glassley

"Very few people have spent as much time as William E. Glassley in such deep wilderness. So it would behoove us to pay attention even if he had not brought back such a fascinating, lovely, and useful set of observations. This is a remarkable book." ―Bill McKib... read more
Cry Sanctuary

Kulikowski, Carole

Gofers: On the Front Lines of Film and Television

Scarpati, Daniel

As Time Goes By

Adams, W Royce

The Claw of the Magnolia

Navab, Pedram

Hamlet's Mirror

Kanefield, Elma Linz

Because the World is Round

Saginaw, Jane

Nothing To Fear: Alfred Hitchcock And The Wrong Men

Isralowitz BS, Jason

The Other Side of Success

Sawa, Martin

Tuscan Son

Berne, Robert

Chorus of Eternal Spring

Anonymous

Necessary Mourning: Healing the Loss of a Parent through Jewish Ritual

Abraham-Klein, Dahlia

The Mating Game: How Gender Still Shapes How We Date

Lamont, Ellen

Origins of the Universe and What It All Means: A Memoir

Carole Firstman

In her debut memoir, Carole Firstman traces her strained relationship with her eccentric and distant father, a gifted biology professor whose research on scorpions may have contributed to the evolutionary theories of Stephen Jay Gould. Through unexpected forms... read more
Loreena's Gift

Colleen M. Story

** WINNER: 1st Place Idaho Author Awards (2016 Fiction) ** ** SOLO MEDALIST: New Apple Book Awards (2016 Cross Genre)**** WINNER: Foreword Indies Book Awards (Silver, 2016 Fantasy) **** HONORABLE MENTION: Reader Views Literary Awards (2016 General Fiction)** F... read more
Devil Doll: A friendship gone awry

Bonnie Friedman

Two young Americans meet en route to studying in Spain and forge an unusually close friendship. Once back in the United States, one of the women, who is married, invites the younger to come live with her and her husband. Over time a ménage à trois develops. Bu... read more
Model Behavior: Friends for life

Susannah Bianchi

Camille, Rosanna, and Joanne are three former models who’ve been the best of friends since their runway days. They may have gained a little cellulite, but they’ve also packed on a whole lot of wit and savvy. Their Sex and the City–like escapades in Manhattan’s... read more
Guesswork: Essays on forgetting and remembering who we are

Marion Winik

Funny, thought-provoking, and always entertaining, personal essayist Marion Winik is known for decades of storytelling on NPR and the stunning memoir First Comes Love. Memory and identity are the focus of this new collection, Guesswork, drawn from a column tha... read more
The End of the World as We Know It: Essays about motherhood

Marion Winik

Winner of Child magazine’s Book of the Year award for her hilarious and candid book on single motherhood, The Lunch-Box Chronicles, Marion Winik returns to the topic of parenting in these nine essays. Beginning with the story of her second wedding and her move... read more
On the Whole: A story of mothering and disability

Ona Gritz

Ona Gritz has had cerebral palsy all her life, but until she gave birth to her son, she didn’t really understand what it meant to be disabled. Her cerebral palsy affects her coordination and balance but not enough to have ever truly hindered her. “For the most... read more
Nest. Flight. Sky.: On love and loss, one wing at a time

Beth Kephart

In Nest. Flight. Sky: On Love and Loss, One Wing at a Time, award-winning memoirist Beth Kephart returns to the form for the first time in years to reckon with the loss of her mother and a slow-growing but soon inescapable obsession with birds and flight. Keph... read more

Dawn has 21 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Janet G.

Janet G.

Feb, 2024

Dawn’s comments on the manuscript were detailed, and her memo reflected her insight into what I needed. She focused on shaping the memoir to give my journey more dramatic effect and to enhance the storytelling. Her comments were actionable and revealed her understanding of my themes. She also edited sentences that needed improvement. There is no doubt that she added to the book's value and I w...
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Dawn R.
Thank you! It was a pleasure to work with you.
Patricia M.

Patricia M.

Dec, 2023

Dawn provided a thorough and thoughtful edit of my manuscript. She was accessible for any questions regarding the work. I highly recommend her, and hope to work with her again on a future project.
Dawn R.
Thank you, Patricia. It was a pleasure to work with you!
Amy G. L.

Amy G. L.

Nov, 2023

I chose to collaborate with Dawn not only because of her decades of editorial experience and impressive portfolio, but because I read excerpts of two of her books and was awed by her prose. Once we started working together, I was pleased to discover that she is at least as good a reader as she is a writer. Dawn read the first draft of my novel three times, asking questions I hadn't thought to a...
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Dawn R.
Thank you for your review, Amy! It was a pleasure to work with you.
Shara L.

Shara L.

Oct, 2023

It was a pleasure to work with Dawn, and I greatly appreciate her help and expertise on my manuscript. She gave feedback that matched the voice of my work, offered beneficial insight, and even saw the depth and meaning in my unfinished work. I highly recommend her!
Dawn R.
Thank you, Shara! It's a pleasure to work with you.
Byron S.

Byron S.

May, 2023

Excellent once again!

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