Joelle Yudin

Joelle Yudin – Editor

I'm a developmental/line editor with more than 15 years of experience who has edited critically acclaimed fiction and nonfiction.

Overview

Have you written a draft of something and need a second pair of eyes?
Are you bouncing around ideas, unsure of where to start, and just want to talk things through?
I can guide you on your project, no matter where you are in the creative process.

I'm a developmental/line editor who has collaborated with writers of all levels, on fiction and nonfiction titles. I have been editing for almost twenty years: I came up through the trenches of a top-tier publishing house, edited critically acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books by award-winning authors, and was the ghostwriter on a New York Times best-selling inspirational memoir.

Writers of all levels have found my editorial notes to be detailed, perceptive, and helpful. (See my reviews and testimonials!)

I offer thorough
some would say obsessiveeditorial consultation on manuscripts and book proposals.I truly enjoy the collaborative process. I am conscientious, supportive, and upbeat, but am also honest when it comes to your work; I will tell you what I believe needs to be changed and won't hold back. That said, I understand how important your work is to you, and want to help you make it something you will be proud of.
I always provide a ton of feedback and written material that will guide you as you revise and improve your work.

Writing a book is a long process and can be daunting and scary. I am here to help you through it, and provide tools that you can use to polish your work and feel more secure about the process.

My services include:

IN-DEPTH EDITORIAL REVIEW:
This developmental/substantive edit will aim to improve the work on both macro and micro levels. I will read through the entire manuscript/proposal, making notes (via Tracked Changes comments) about general impressions, and writing queries and suggestions on how you can perfect the work as a whole. Notes and suggestions may pertain to word choice, restructuring the work, revising for clarity and detail, expanding or removing certain sections, developing character(s) or scenes, etc. I will compile my thoughts into a detailed Editorial Letter, with examples from the text, that can guide you as you revise. This review usually entails reading through the manuscript multiple times. A note on Grammar: Although I will highlight glaring grammatical issues, this edit focuses on content, structure, and narrative flow; copyediting should be completed only once the manuscript is final, at which point I can recommend great copyeditors or proofreaders.

The In-Depth Review includes:

*Line-edited manuscript with all queries marked throughout (on Microsoft Doc files)
*Chapter Outline with chapter-specific notes
*Two hours of consultation (in person, by phone, or video chat) split up or all together. (And don't worry, if we go over the allotted 2 hours, I won't leave you hanging!)
*A thorough Editorial Letter that will review in detail the queries and notes marked throughout the text (with examples) and offer suggestions for how to improve the work as a whole.


MANUSCRIPT REVIEW:

I will read through the manuscript and offer suggestions on how you can polish it to perfection (for example, restructuring, revising for clarity and detail, expanding sections, developing character). This is not an in-depth developmental line-edit, but I usually write notes (via Tracked Changes comments), suggestions, questions, and comments throughout the manuscript that can guide you as you revise. These comments, along with the Chapter Outline (see below), can guide you as you revise.


The Manuscript Review includes:

*Reviewed manuscript with all queries marked throughout (on Microsoft Doc files).
*Chapter Outline with chapter-specific notes that will guide you as you revise.
*Two hours of consultation (in person, by phone, or video chat) split up or all together. (And don't worry, if we go over the allotted 2 hours, I won't leave you hanging!

I look forward to hearing what you're working on, and how I can help you achieve your vision!

TESTIMONIALS
"Joelle taught me why every good writer needs an editor. Joelle's instincts are impeccable. Her suggestions are gold. My first novel, Twins (a New York Times Editor's Choice Pick) is a better book because of her." —Marcy Dermansky, author of Very Nice and Hurricane Girl

"Joelle's attention to detail is incredible. When I reviewed her notes in my manuscript, I was amazed at how easily she not only spotted issues but how she also proposed solutions. For the first time in my life, Joelle made me feel like I had a professional partner to help me refine my work. I'd highly recommend Joelle's services to any author who is serious about taking their work to the next level." —J. Rush

ADDITIONAL NOTES
I usually respond to queries within 24 hours.
Feel free to send up to 10 pages or the first chapter of what you're working on (as a Word document) along with your query.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 2008 — Present

● Comprehensive editorial development for authors, agents, publishers, and non-profit organizations.
● Nonfiction and inspirational memoir ghostwriting, including one New York Times bestseller.

William Morrow/HarperCollins

Apr, 2000 — Sep, 2006 (over 6 years)

Portfolio

Bringing the family together every Friday night for the Shabbat meal has helped many families connect with each other, even as children grow into their teens and beyond. Having experienced the joys of Shabbat and witnessed how it has brought her family togethe... read more
Unlubricated: A Novel

Arthur Nersesian

A Fierce and Hysterical Tale Of Self-Destruction On The Road to Being Discovered Hannah is a struggling actress living in New York's Tribeca, and like any young thesp she is bent on success: finding paying jobs that offer good material, not just mindless roles... read more
From the author of the cult classic The Fuck-Up comes a vicious new tale of art, drugs, love, and death on the Lower East Side. Orloff Trenchant is a painter who sells books on West 4th Street in Manhattan and is obsessed with mastering his craft. Desperate fo... read more
HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY is organized into a series of fundamental questions that helped Tyrese redefine who he was as a human being, and evolve into a new man. Tyrese stresses that life becomes infinitely richer when one takes the time to know him or he... read more
To die, kick the bucket, to meet your Maker, dead as a doornail, get whacked, smoked, bite the dust, sleep with the fishes, go six feet under—whatever death is called, it's going to happen. In 1789 Ben Franklin wrote, "In this world nothing is certain but deat... read more
“I can’t figure out if this book is a heart-felt dispatch from the front line in the battle of the sexes or a brilliant send-up of the way in which the male point of view has been misrepresented by militant feminists. I suspect it may be both.” --Toby Young, N... read more
Twins: A Novel

Marcy Dermansky

On the eve of their thirteenth birthday, identical twins Chloe and Sue agree to get matching tattoos to prove their bond is stronger than Dna. So begins Twins, Marcy Dermansky’s funny and disturbingly honest debut novel, the extraordinary story of blonde, beau... read more

Joelle has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Ian J.

Ian J.

Oct, 2020

I got a lot out of collaborating with Joelle. She charged me more than I was expecting to pay, but, given all the work she put in, I feel that I got more than my money's worth. She made extensive inline comments on my novel manuscript, which gave me insight into how a reader will react to my story. Also, she wrote several paragraphs on her overall impression of the novel and included advice abo...
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Jeremiah B.

Jeremiah B.

Jun, 2020

Joelle is fantastic. She delivered far more than I expected, was exceptional to work with, had wonderful communication, and I found her editing process to be pointed, thoughtful, and helpful. I was apprehensive about the process when we first began, but Joelle's kindness and expertise have helped take my novel to a place that it otherwise wouldn't have gone without her. I cannot commend her ...
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Jillian M.

Jillian M.

May, 2020

Joelle, diligent, detailed and dedicated, spent an enormous amount of time working on my memoir. She line edited, time edited and completed an editorial review. She read the manuscript several times, once to get a feel for the story, and then dug in with gusto during the second reading. Joelle suggested ways to fill out each chapter in order to offer the reader more biographical information....
Read more

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