From the minutiae of copy editing to the employment of craft and the development of style, I will help take your writing to the next level.
As a writer, I have published stories and essays in a variety of literary journals, including New England Review, Slippery Elm, Summerset Review, Yemassee, and many more, and I have been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes. I have a novella forthcoming from Buttonhook Press.
As an editor, I have worked with dozens of professional writers, including Erin Rose Belair (Glimmer Train, Narrative, Greensboro Review), Becky Tuch (McSweeney's, Virginia Quarterly Review, Salt Hill, Best of the Net), and Dominica Phetteplace (Zyzzyva, Copper Nickel, Ecotone, multiple Pushcart Prizes). Stories and essays I've edited have been published in scores of literary journals, including Southern Indian Review, Chicago Literary Review, The Summerset Review, Rappahannock Review, and tons more (see Gallery below).
How do I edit?
Yes, of course, I’m concerned with plot. And yes, of course, characters. Yes, of course structure and scene and action and point of view and tension and resolution. These things are important. Your writing must “work.” (And needless to say, it must be grammatically impeccable, following the standard usage rules of the English language.) All good editors must consider these things.
But, when I edit, I like to go beyond these fundamental elements of your writing and focus on what we writers call “craft.” I want to scrutinize your language. I want to listen to the sound of your prose. I want to push you in the direction of beauty. Different writers will employ craft in different ways, for example with vivid descriptions, figurative language, narrative thickness, variety of sentence structure, interesting use of vocabulary, formal experimentation, subtlety (minimalism), and more.
The extension of craft is “style.” Every writer, I believe, is on a lifelong journey to find a style. Style encompasses the textures of your writing voice, the play of your words, the melodies of your language. It is the poetry in your prose—sometimes (often) quiet and barely noticeable, sometimes conspicuous. It is your linguistic fingerprint.
From the minutiae of copy editing, to broader topics such as character, language, and voice, to the use of craft and the development of style, I will help you take your writing to the next level. I look forward to working with you.
Testimonials:
"Erik brings kindness, wisdom and deep knowledge to the editing and submission process.” —Dominica Phetteplace (Pushcart Prize, Zyzzyva, Copper Nickel, Ecotone, and others)
"Erik was prompt, responsive, cordial, and a pleasure to work with. His comments and suggestions improved my essays and stories immensely. And he placed all three of my pieces [in literary journals] within three months. He totally knows his stuff!" —Dvora Wolff Rabino (The Ignatian Literary Magazine, Linden Avenue Literary Journal, The Lascaux Review, and others)
"Getting published in a literary journal was a lifelong dream of mine. After years of rejections, Erik helped me get there! His sensitive and thoughtful editing and comments made my stories better. I’m deeply thankful and urge writers to give him a try.” —Jane Van Cantfort (Fiction on the Web, and others)
I've been working with writers for years as an editor and consultant. Everything from flash fiction to novels. My goal is help get their work ready to be published, especially in literary journals. I also help my clients target the journals that will likely accept their work. And the results are in: 66% of the stories I receive find a home in a literary journal.
I've been working with students on college essays and SAT/ACT writing prompts for years. All the rules of good grammar and proper usage apply.
TK Haines, February 2023
Reply from Erik Klass
HQD HQD, December 2022
Cherie Magnus, December 2022
Reply from Erik Klass
Tony Covatta, October 2022
Reply from Erik Klass
Gaurav Bhalla, October 2022
Reply from Erik Klass
Reedsy is a community of top publishing professionals. Join Reedsy today to browse 1000+ profiles.
Passionate about bringing your best words to life. Specialities in nonfiction (history, cookbooks), poetry, children's. 10+ yrs experience.
Seattle, WA, USA
Feminist editor for Routledge Press, House of Anansi Press and others. Empowering women+ authors from first draft to pitch-ready manuscript.
Montreal, QC, Canada