Holly Welker – Editor

I have an MFA and a PhD in literary nonfiction (memoir, essay, autobiography) from the University of Iowa. If you want to write a memoir, I will help you do it. If you've written a memoir, I will help you make it better.

I spent more than three decades studying and teaching literature at the college level. I'm automatically attentive to the traditional elements of good literature, including character development, plot, pacing, dramatic tension, scene, dialogue, etc., but I'm also not put off by unusual or experimental approaches. I have an excellent command of the foundations of good prose (and poetry), and can quickly assess a work's strengths and weaknesses on the sentence, paragraph, chapter, and manuscript level.

My favorite type of writer to work with, regardless of genre, topic, or stage of career, is someone whose life experiences have given them a hard-won wisdom they hope to share with the world.

I'm always delighted to work on a book about a topic a bit outside my comfort zone (I learn so much that way!), but I'm especially interested in projects dealing with family relationships, trauma and recovery, gender, illness, caregiving, history, politics, and religion. Although I left the faith of my childhood and haven't adopted another, I remain interested in religion and both the good and the harm it can do.

I know what it takes to produce publishable work: I’ve published poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, opinion, journalism, book reviews, blog posts, and scholarly essays in a variety of venues, including "Best American Essays," "The Iowa Review," the "New York Times" Modern Love column, "Slate," "TriQuarterly," etc. I offer coaching, developmental editing, and copyediting in all those genres.

Being edited can be harrowing or revelatory--or a mix of the two. I know how it feels to have writing you've lovingly crafted torn apart by someone who doesn't seem to understand your project. I learned to edit largely by being edited myself, and I strive to implement what I've learned from the best editors about how to support writers. I try to use my own sense of artistry to highlight and enhance the artistry of writers I collaborate with, but I never want to overshadow a writer's voice or impose myself on their work.

I strive to work collaboratively and check in at crucial moments, so I know I'm providing feedback that makes sense to clients and actually helps them improve their work. I am candid, thorough, and tactful when offering criticism, especially when something needs revision. I figure writers would rather hear from me when something isn't working, while they have the option to fix it, instead reading about it over and over in one-star reviews on Amazon or elsewhere.

I do not use generative AI for anything related to editing but am not averse to working with writers who do--in fact, I like helping writers de-AI-ify their prose to make it sound more natural. I just ask you to disclose your use of AI.