Kirsten Bakis

Kirsten Bakis – Editor

Award-winning novelist; teaches at Yale Writers' Workshop; 25 yrs experience as a writing coach and developmental editor.

Overview


Whether you have a complete manuscript ready for a final edit, or are in the draft stage, or even the idea stage, I'll help you bring your novel or story collection to the next level. I especially love working with writers of literary, popular, and genre-bending fiction. I love to talk plot, character, suspense, and voice.


I'm the author of the Reedsy Blog post "How to Outline a Novel in 9 Easy Steps," and am also happy to coach you on outlining and planning your novel.


Please note that my rate is on the higher end because when you hire me, you’re hiring an Iowa-Writers’-Workshop trained, award-winning, working author with a novel coming out from Liveright/W.W. Norton in 2024, and over two decades of professional experience, who is currently a resident faculty member at the Yale Writers’ Workshop. I love this work, and give each manuscript close, personal attention




Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Historical Fiction Horror Mashups Short Story Steampunk Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Iowa Writers' Workshop Teaching/Writing Fellowship; Michener-Copernicus Society of America Award, Bram Stoker Award, Whiting Award
  • 2021 Sustainable Arts Foundation Award

Work experience

Yale Writers' Workshop

Jun, 2012 — Present

Self employed

Feb, 1997 — Present

Author, KING NYX, Liveright/Norton 2024; LIVES OF THE MONSTER DOGS, 20th anniversary edition with new introduction by Jeff VanderMeer, Macmillan FSG classics 2017; FSG 1997.

Self-employed

Jan, 2003 — Present

Kirsten has 28 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Gene H.

Gene H.

Apr, 2024

I envy the help the writers at the Yale Writers' Workshop get from Ms. Bakis. She wrote the best query letter I've seen, kind of embarrassing to see how much better hers was than mine. But warning; she will make you find comps, a task any self-respecting person would find onerous, but you have to do it (at least I did) and, in the end, it's good for you. Best of all she has given me a template ...
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Red H.

Red H.

Mar, 2024

The advice provided helped me to see some of the things I really need to focus on. And, despite having a book coming out, I have to say that I found the feedback I received thorough, worded in a positive light, and even exciting with the prospect of improving the end result.
Erin L.

Erin L.

Feb, 2024

I loved working with Kirsten. She was very helpful and supportive of my story and has help me understand some of my weaknesses in copy editing and character POV.
Edmund S.

Edmund S.

Feb, 2024

Kirsten has provided me with invaluable advice. I highly recommend her.!!
Katherine L.

Katherine L.

Feb, 2024

Kirsten helped with a synopsis and manuscript, easily honing in on its weakness while also teaching me how to further my craft. I hope to request her help again.

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