Elisa Faison – Editor

Hi!

I am an author and freelance editor with academic training and publishing industry experience! I have a passion for working closely with fiction writers and I specialize in developmental/conceptual editing, line editing, and evaluating query letters and submissions.

In my academic and professional roles, I have edited a wide range of written works, from scholarly nonfiction to works of popular cultural criticism, from memoirs to short story collections. In the realm of fiction, I love working with literary and upmarket fiction, women's fiction, and speculative fiction. In the realm of nonfiction, I particularly like editing cultural critiques, reviews, and personal essays. I also evaluate scholarly writing such as academic books, dissertations, and journal articles.

Working at Algonquin Books offered me practical experience in the publishing industry. I had the opportunity to read and evaluate hundreds of pitch letters and manuscripts. I assisted acquiring editors in offering editorial feedback and line revisions to new authors. I also participated in editorial meetings, learning first-hand what editors are looking for when they consider acquiring new works. I understand what will sell and what trends are developing in both fiction and nonfiction.

As a fellow author with a debut novel forthcoming from Hachette/Sceptre Books in 2026, I will offer you solidarity and compassion as you work to make your text the best it can be! I understand the frustrations that come along with querying agents and submitting manuscripts; I will be able to draw on my experience as I help you craft the best possible documents!

I'm friendly, thoughtful, and candid with my recommendations. When I work with authors, I set up a collaborative, open working relationship because I believe that the stronger the author/editor relationship, the better the finished product.

Testimonials:

"Elisa approaches editorial evaluations with keen insight, precise attention, and energizing enthusiasm. Her advice is thoughtful, clear-eyed, and actionable. She also reads incredibly widely, positioning her well to understand what your book is and how it fits into the publishing landscape." -- Abby Muller, Editor at Abrams Books.

"I have sought out Elisa’s help for multiple writing projects over the last few years. I keep coming back because she has provided invaluable expertise when it comes to providing both clarification on big picture issues and close attention to detail. I trust her keen insights to help me sort through early drafts that haven’t yet found their voice, and I appreciate her reliability when it comes to more developed projects that require a quick turn around in order to bring them to completion. I strongly recommend Elisa for editorial work, no matter the project’s genre or stage of development."-- Sean DiLeonardi, Professor in English at the Georgia Institute of Technology, author of Improbable Realism: The Postwar American Novel and the Digital Aesthetic (forthcoming from Post-45).