Julie Artz

Julie Artz - Editor

Redmond, WA, USA

I help authors who dream of a life spent crafting stories that matter slay their doubt demons so they can write with confidence.

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Overview


Do you struggle to get the words on the page to match to the stories in your mind? Are you frustrated by getting rejections with no real idea how to make your stories more appealing and marketable? Do you have trouble with elements of craft like structure, pacing, and character arc? Do you need the tough love and accountability of working with a coach while you write? If you answered yes to any of these questions, keep reading...

A consummate social and environmental justice minded story geek, I am a writer, editor, and book coach whose love of story translates into everything I do. After nearly two decades of writing and editing corporate, technical, and non-profit materials, nine years ago I turned my skills and experience toward publishing. Since then, I have edited and coached traditionally published authors published by Penguin RandomHouse, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Hachette, and Boyds Mills Press, as well as working with small press, indie, and hybrid-published authors, and have also helped clients formulate their query and pitching strategy.

Testimonials:

"Julie is one of Author Accelerator's most accomplished book coaches. She is diligent, dedicated, market-focused, compassionate, well-read and beloved by all her clients. She will make your book better." —
Jennie Nash, Private Book Coach + Chief Creative Officer, Author Accelerator

“I owe Julie an enormous thanks. She was my coach at the very onset of a bouncing baby idea, and she held my hand for almost two years as I brought it into the world. She set me on a straighter path for this nebulous middle-grade novel idea I had...without her I would have needed dozens more rewrites. She pushed me, gently, to look for and eventually find the truth of the story I wanted to tell but couldn’t yet articulate. Once we were finished, I had a toolbox that was filled with strategies and ways forward. Having her as a coach from the start was invaluable.” -- Jane Baird Warren, author of How to Be a Goldfish (Scholastic Canada, 2022)

“Julie was very positive, responsive, and encouraging throughout my entire process of writing a proposal and pitching it to agents. She was generous in giving me a list of agents to query, along with offering tips along the way. I’m grateful to have accomplished my goal of securing my top choice of an agent by working with Julie!” -- Sara Avant Stove, author of The Way of the Happy Woman and The Book of SHE

Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Fantasy
Middle Grade
Women's Fiction
Young Adult

Certifications

  • BA English Literature, DePauw University (1997)
  • MS Communication Management, Colorado State University (2001)
  • Pitch Wars Mentor (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • TeenPit Mentor (2017, 2018, 2019)

Awards

  • Pitch Wars Finalist 2015

Work experience

Freelance Writer, Editor, and Book Coach

Self-employed
August, 2013 – Present (over 9 years)

After nearly two decades of writing and editing corporate and non-profit materials, I’m turning my skills and experience toward the creative realm. In addition to my work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor and book coach with Author Accelerator, I also offer the freelance writing and editing services.

Pitch Wars Mentor

Pitch Wars
January, 2017 – February, 2021 (about 4 years)

Each year, I select one middle grade author and mentor them through the revision of a full manuscript as part of Pitch Wars. The mentorship process involves teaching craft concepts, revision planning, support, and both developmental and line editing. This mentorship culminates in an Agent Showcase where agents can make requests. My mentees have, in addition to learning a lot about both the business and the craft of writing, all successfully signed with agents as part of this process.

Portfolio (16 selected works)

Etta Invincible

Eschmann, Reese

Turtles of the Midnight Moon

Fitzgerald, María José

In Pillness and in Health: A memoir

Henriette Ivanans

What if your husband gave you a kidney and you chugged a beer with your painkillers the next day?What if your loving marriage became a tortured threesome? Husband, Wife and Pills?Meet Henriette and Kevin. As newlyweds, they move to LA to conquer Hollywood. When the dream begins to fade, Henriette delves into a secret life of Pills. Diagnosed with a rejecting kidney transplant, she becomes crip... read more

What if your husband gave you a kidney and you chugged a beer with your painkillers the next day?What if your loving marriage became a tortured threesome? Husband, Wife and Pills?Meet Henriette and Kevin. As newlyweds, they move to LA to conquer Hollywood. When the dream begins to fade, Henriette delves into a secret life of Pills. Diagnosed with a rejecting kidney transplant, she becomes crip... read more

How to Be a Goldfish

Warren, Jane Baird

List of Ten

Gomez, Halli

Maranatha Road

Heather Bell Adams

After Sadie’s son, Mark, is gone, she doesn’t have much use for other people, including her husband. The last person she wants to see is Tinley Greene, who shows up claiming she’s pregnant with Mark’s baby. Sadie knows Tinley must be lying because Mark was engaged and never would have betrayed his fiancée. So she refuses to help, and she doesn’t breathe a word about it to anybody. But in a sma... read more

After Sadie’s son, Mark, is gone, she doesn’t have much use for other people, including her husband. The last person she wants to see is Tinley Greene, who shows up claiming she’s pregnant with Mark’s baby. Sadie knows Tinley must be lying because Mark was engaged and never would have betrayed his fiancée. So she refuses to help, and she doesn’t breathe a word about it to anybody. But in a sma... read more

The Hotel Between

Sean Easley

A magical hotel, a mysterious tree, and a cryptic story about their missing father leads twins Cam and Cass on a worldly adventure in this enchanting debut novel that’s perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Wildwood. Twins Cam and Cass have never known their parents. They’ve been told their mother died, and Cass is certain their father abandoned them. Cam isn’t so sure. ... read more

A magical hotel, a mysterious tree, and a cryptic story about their missing father leads twins Cam and Cass on a worldly adventure in this enchanting debut novel that’s perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Wildwood. Twins Cam and Cass have never known their parents. They’ve been told their mother died, and Cass is certain their father abandoned them. Cam isn’t so sure. ... read more

Enchantée

Gita Trelease

Love. Magic. Revolution...Enchantée is Gita Trelease’s imaginative debut fantasy about an impoverished magician desperate to provide for her beloved sister on the eve of the French Revolution.“Deliciously addictive.” —Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval“A heady, sparkling dream of a book.” —Margaret Rogerson, author of An Enchantment of Ravens“An utterly beguiling spell.” —Laura Sebastian, aut... read more

Love. Magic. Revolution...Enchantée is Gita Trelease’s imaginative debut fantasy about an impoverished magician desperate to provide for her beloved sister on the eve of the French Revolution.“Deliciously addictive.” —Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval“A heady, sparkling dream of a book.” —Margaret Rogerson, author of An Enchantment of Ravens“An utterly beguiling spell.” —Laura Sebastian, aut... read more

Karma Khullar's Mustache

Kristi Wientge

In the tradition of Judy Blume, debut author Kristi Wientge tackles the uncomfortable—but all too relatable—subject of female body hair and self-esteem with this “sparkling and triumphant tale of a middle school misfit” (Heather Vogel Frederick).Karma Khullar is about to start middle school, and she is super nervous. Not just because it seems like her best friend has found a newer, blonder bes... read more

In the tradition of Judy Blume, debut author Kristi Wientge tackles the uncomfortable—but all too relatable—subject of female body hair and self-esteem with this “sparkling and triumphant tale of a middle school misfit” (Heather Vogel Frederick).Karma Khullar is about to start middle school, and she is super nervous. Not just because it seems like her best friend has found a newer, blonder bes... read more

Rise of the Dragon Moon

Gabrielle K. Byrne

The princess of a frozen queendom fights to free her mother from the clutches of terrifying dragons in this middle grade fantasy debut.Princess Toli may be heir to the throne, but she longs to be a fierce hunter and warrior. Alone in a frozen world, her queendom is at the mercy of the dragons that killed her father, and Toli is certain it’s only a matter of time before they come back to destro... read more

The princess of a frozen queendom fights to free her mother from the clutches of terrifying dragons in this middle grade fantasy debut.Princess Toli may be heir to the throne, but she longs to be a fierce hunter and warrior. Alone in a frozen world, her queendom is at the mercy of the dragons that killed her father, and Toli is certain it’s only a matter of time before they come back to destro... read more

The Three Rules of Everyday Magic

Amanda Rawson Hill

Magic doesn't work the way you think it will, but it's what Kate needs as she confronts friendship trouble, her parents' divorce, and Grammy's dementia in this lyrical middle-grade coming-of-age novel for fans of Half a Chance and The Same Stuff as Stars.Kate has trouble believing in magic, especially since the people she loves keep leaving her. But when Grammy tells her the three rules of eve... read more

Magic doesn't work the way you think it will, but it's what Kate needs as she confronts friendship trouble, her parents' divorce, and Grammy's dementia in this lyrical middle-grade coming-of-age novel for fans of Half a Chance and The Same Stuff as Stars.Kate has trouble believing in magic, especially since the people she loves keep leaving her. But when Grammy tells her the three rules of eve... read more

The Shadows We Know by Heart

Jennifer Park

In this haunting and luminescent debut novel, a girl’s complicated family life starts to unravel after she finds herself falling for a mysterious boy who lives in the forest behind her house.Leah Roberts’s life hasn’t been the same since her brother died ten years ago. Her mother won’t stop drinking, her father can’t let go of his bitter anger, and Leah herself has a secret she’s told no one: ... read more

In this haunting and luminescent debut novel, a girl’s complicated family life starts to unravel after she finds herself falling for a mysterious boy who lives in the forest behind her house.Leah Roberts’s life hasn’t been the same since her brother died ten years ago. Her mother won’t stop drinking, her father can’t let go of his bitter anger, and Leah herself has a secret she’s told no one: ... read more

Raised by Unicorns: Stories from People with LGBTQ+ Parents

"I am honored to recommend this book to ALL parents. . . . [I]t relates to all families, tolerance, and love." --Greg Berlanti, writer, producer, director"Raw and unfiltered. . . Lowe breaks new ground, highlighting the dire need for further exploration. 5 Hearts." --Foreword Reviews"[A] powerful eye-opener." --Amanda Hopping-Winn, chief program officer, Family Equality Council "Raw, personal,... read more

"I am honored to recommend this book to ALL parents. . . . [I]t relates to all families, tolerance, and love." --Greg Berlanti, writer, producer, director"Raw and unfiltered. . . Lowe breaks new ground, highlighting the dire need for further exploration. 5 Hearts." --Foreword Reviews"[A] powerful eye-opener." --Amanda Hopping-Winn, chief program officer, Family Equality Council "Raw, personal,... read more

Brave New Girls: Stories of Girls Who Science and Scheme

Mary Fan, George Ebey, T. Eric Bakutis, Steph Bennion, Elisha Betts, Bryna Butler, MLD Curelas, Kay Dominguez, Brandon Draga, A.A. Jankiewicz, Evangeline Jennings, Jamie Krakover, Jeanne Kramer-Smyth, Stephen Landry, Karissa Laurel, Michelle Leonard, Meg Merriet, Jelani-Akin Parham, Josh Pritchett, Holly Schofield, Lisa Toohey

Dive into a universe of sci-fi wonders.This collection of sci-fi shorts features a variety of brainy young heroines—girls who engineer, tinker, experiment, and more. Voyage to far-off galaxies with girls who use their science savvy to fix rovers, rescue friends, and protect alien critters. Visit steampunk realms where young ladies put their skills to the test building mechanical wonders and so... read more

Dive into a universe of sci-fi wonders.This collection of sci-fi shorts features a variety of brainy young heroines—girls who engineer, tinker, experiment, and more. Voyage to far-off galaxies with girls who use their science savvy to fix rovers, rescue friends, and protect alien critters. Visit steampunk realms where young ladies put their skills to the test building mechanical wonders and so... read more

Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament

Kim Long

For fans of The Amazing Race, Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament is the perfect adventure for middle grade readers who like scavenger hunts and puzzle-solving.Twelve-year-old physics whiz Lexi Magill won't let anything stop her from winning Wisconsin's Teleportation Tournament--the annual competition where teams teleport around the world to solve science-based puzzles. She needs the ... read more

For fans of The Amazing Race, Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament is the perfect adventure for middle grade readers who like scavenger hunts and puzzle-solving.Twelve-year-old physics whiz Lexi Magill won't let anything stop her from winning Wisconsin's Teleportation Tournament--the annual competition where teams teleport around the world to solve science-based puzzles. She needs the ... read more

Julie has 6 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

Stella Cowan
Julie has helped me so much while editing my first book. She has opened my eyes to so many things that I never would have seen or considered on my own, and overall she's given amazing advice. I would highly recommend her.

Stella Cowan, September 2022

Julie Artz
It was a pleasure working with you, Stella! Best of luck with your revisions.

Reply from Julie Artz


Amber Davis
Julie was incredibly helpful and sweet throughout the entire project. She gave amazing suggestions and edits that have (and will) make my book much better than I ever intended. Thank you!

Amber Davis, August 2020

Julie Artz
Amber was great to work with and has created a wonderful fantasy adventure world.

Reply from Julie Artz


Denise Moore
Julie did a great job on editing my story on two levels big picture and details by chapter. The value was indeed 5 stars.

Denise Moore, June 2020

Julie Artz
Thank you for your business, Denise. It was a pleasure working with you.

Reply from Julie Artz


Alex King
Julie has helped me so much, I'm glad I was able to work with her again! I highly recommend hiring her. :D

Alex King, March 2020

Julie Artz
Thanks so much for your review, Alex. Please keep me posted on your project as you revise.

Reply from Julie Artz


Alex King
Im so glad I got the change to work with Julie! She isnbot only super kind but she also gave such helpful advice and feedback. I look forward to work with her again!

Alex King, February 2020

Julie Artz
Thanks so much for your review, Alex. It was a pleasure working with you!

Reply from Julie Artz

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