Erik Hane

Erik Hane – Editor

Editor with years of in-house experience. Founder of a literary agency. Writer. Host of Print Run Podcast.

Overview

I'm a literary agent, editor, and writer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since graduating from the Knox College Writing Program and the Denver Publishing Institute in 2012, I've served as a book editor for Oxford University Press as well as The Overlook Press. I am the Founder of Headwater Literary Management, and a host of the award-winning Print Run Podcast. I've worked on books of many different genres and profiles, a range that includes everything from commercial and literary novels to upmarket and even academic nonfiction. This variety is now represented in my client list as a freelance editor.I now edit for many publishers around the country, as well as for individual authors looking to get a manuscript ready to submit to agents or publishers. I'd love to talk about editing or ghostwriting a project for you or your company.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Career Guides History Life Sciences Nature Sports & Outdoors
Fiction
Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Middle Grade
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Edited a 2016 New York Times Editor's Choice book (Abba Eban, by Asaf Siniver)
  • Winner of Digital Book World's 2019 Award for "Best Use of Podcasting in Publishing"
  • 2019 Publishers Weekly reader's choice for "Person of the Year"
Certifications
  • Publishing Certificate, Denver Publishing Institute
  • Graduation with Honors, Knox College Creative Writing Program

Work experience

Headwater Literary Management

Sep, 2019 — Present
I am the Founder of Headwater Literary Management, a boutique literary agency in Minneapolis. At Headwater I represent writers working as novelists, journalists, historians, political commentators, essayists, art critics, and much more, and I sell their books to the largest commercial houses, the most well-regarded independent and university presses, and everywhere in between.

Red Sofa Literary Agency

Jan, 2016 — Sep, 2019 (over 3 years)
I represented both fiction and nonfiction authors, working with them and selling their projects to editors and publishers around the country.

Self-employed

Sep, 2015 — Present
I edit projects across a variety of genres and profiles, and am hired by both individual authors and publishing houses.

The Overlook Press

Jan, 2015 — Oct, 2015 (9 months)

Oxford University Press

Dec, 2012 — Jan, 2015 (about 2 years)
I assisted in the acquiring and editing for the OUP academic and trade science list, working on both popular science books and academic monographs ranging across a variety of scientific disciplines.

Portfolio

The vibrant retelling of the central Greek myths by acclaimed novelist John Spurling, author of The Ten Thousand Things, winner of the 2015 Walter Scott Prize for Historical FictionThe classical Greek intellectual tradition pervades nearly every aspect of our ... read more
Mallory's new neighbors, the Goldmans, have twin five-year-old boys who need babysitters. Mrs. Goldman hires Mallory and her friend Chloe Jennifer to watch the boys while she works from home. Mallory can't wait! The boys are adorable, so this job will be tons ... read more
Chris Dombrowski was playing a numbers game: two passions—poetry and fly-fishing; two children, one of them in utero; and an income hovering perilously close to zero. Enter, at this particularly challenging moment, a miraculous email: can’t go, it’s all paid f... read more
In today's job market, only a quarter of college graduates have jobs that are related to their major. Add to that massive amounts of student debt and economic uncertainty, and graduation can feel more like a time of panic than of hope. In the face of this adve... read more
Rob Spillman—the award-winning, charismatic cofounding editor of the legendary Tin House magazine—has devoted his life to the rebellious pursuit of artistic authenticity. Born in Germany to two driven musicians, his childhood was spent among the West Berlin co... read more
In this vivid and compelling novel, Tim Murphy follows a diverse set of characters whose fates intertwine in an iconic building in Manhattan’s East Village, the Christodora. The Christodora is home to Milly and Jared, a privileged young couple with artistic am... read more
Renowned Irish historian Diarmaid Ferriter presents a new look at the Irish revolutionary period from 1913-1923, drawing from newly available historical sources as well as the testimonies of the people who lived and fought through this extraordinary period. Pa... read more
In the hard sciences, which can often feel out of grasp for many lay readers, there are "great thinkers" who go far beyond the equations, formulas, and research. Minds such as Stephen Hawking philosophize about the functions and nature of the universe, the imp... read more
In 1905, eight men from the California Academy of Sciences set sail from San Francisco for a scientific collection expedition in the Galapagos Islands, and by the time they were finished in 1906, they had completed one of the most important expeditions in the ... read more
Fermentation is all the rage in health and fitness circles, but can a person live for one year on nothing but fermented foods? One brave homebrewer tries to find out.On January 1, 2014, homebrewer and writer Derek Dellinger began a journey that would change ne... read more
A New York Times Book Review Holiday Gift PickThe spirited and detailed account of the first 20 years of Major League Soccer, the visionaries who believed Americans would finally embrace soccer, and the fans who fulfilled that vision.In 1988, FIFA decreed that... read more
The definitive biography of Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat often revered by every nation except the one he represented. The book draws from a wide range of primary sources to create a complex portrait of a man who left an indelible mark on the quest for peace ... read more

Erik has 67 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Chris R.

Chris R.

Dec, 2025

Thorough and professional work.
Victor R.

Victor R.

Oct, 2025

Erik was professional, helpful, and good at assisting with questions. I would use him again and recommend him to others.
Beth H.

Beth H.

Oct, 2025

It was a pleasure working with Erik. He was very friendly, professional, and I feel we worked well together. The result is not complete on the publishing end, but I am excited to see it once the book is out of publication and on the bookshelves.
Leonora M.

Leonora M.

Oct, 2025

Erik provided a developmental edit for my nonfiction book, and his work was exceptional. As a first-time author, I needed clear, actionable feedback—and that's precisely what Erik delivered. His comments were specific and easy to understand, identifying core structural patterns rather than overwh...
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Michael P.

Michael P.

Oct, 2025

Erik was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. He provided exceptional service, professional insight, and helped me tweak my manuscript in a meaningful direction. Will definitely use his expertise in the future. Thank you!

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