Overview
*Ignore the 'currently unavailable' - Reedsy is, understandably, draconian when it comes to who they will 'activate'.* I'm available; busy, yes, but always looking for new clients.
That being said...
I'm an experienced (25 years) editor who has carved a comfortable niche on the Canadian east coast, often working with first-time authors (from 5 years old to... well, much older) and regularly taking projects from conception to publication. These commonly are self-publishing projects, but I do love working with more established authors, especially on short fiction.
I edit all-genres of fiction and non-fiction, and have worked on over a dozen poetry manuscripts. I love content editing, helping give shape to a book, and teaching all the things that make prose really sing. [Editor's note - thing and sing... too similar?] I'm a hands-on editor, one who gives clear, detailed advice and copious notes (which I've been told can be quite humorous).
My own fiction has been published in five anthologies and in over 20 literary journals, plus one chapbook and a small, experimental novel. I've received literary creation grants both provincially and nationally, and in 2017 my short fiction manuscript won the David Adams Richards Prize. See my blog Indistractable [leedthompson.blog] for my full literary CV.
I currently run Galleon Books, a small press launched in 2022.
Some testimonials:
“Lee edited my first novel and helped me through the process, answering my many many questions. He was responsive and easy to communicate with, which is key when working remotely. Most importantly, to critique someone else’s work and improve on it, while still making them feel good about what they’ve done, that’s an art. Lee does it beautifully.”
"When the manuscript was first submitted to Lee for initial editing in 2018, I thought I was finished. A lot has happened since then. Lee’s input has resulted in a substantial re-working and re-evaluation of my approach. Lee has been a great support in this, as much coach as editor. Through it all, I have learned a great deal and become a much better writer and I have Lee to thank for this.... In addition to a fine eye for detail, Lee also has an outstanding strategic sense and a very clear overview. As a lawyer by training, I know how easy it is to get lost in detail. The truly great ones in law are those who can retain vast amounts of detail while still grasping what is important or significant. Although not a lawyer, Lee has these same qualities which I admire most in my own profession."
"Throughout the editing and design process Lee was professional, caring and supportive. He helped me navigate the foreign (to me) world of getting it ready for printing. He was/is always there for any questions I have. Lee’s support and belief in my book helped me become a first-time author. If you want someone who is kind, sympathetic as well as being professional, Lee is the person to turn to.”
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- W.O. Mitchell Scholarship, Banff Writing Studio, 2014
- Emerging Artist Creation Grant, ArtsNB, 2006
- Emerging Artist Creation Grant, ArtsNB , 2003
- Creation Grant, Canada Council for the Arts, 2007
- 2nd Prize Short Fiction, 1998 WFNB Literary Awards
- Literary Creation Grant, Short Fiction, Canada Council for the Arts 2016
- David Adams Richards Prize (unpublished short story collection) 2017
- Mid-Career Creation Grant, ArtsNB, 2016
- Mid-Career Creation Grant, ArtsNB, 2021
- Literary Arts, Research & Creation Grant, Canada Council for the Arts, 2022
- Mrs Dunster's Award for Fiction, 2022 New Brunswick Book Awards
Certifications
- Banff Writing Studio, Banff Centre for the Arts, 2014
- Maritime Writers' Workshop, University of New Brunswick, 2001
Work experience
Self-employed
Initially somewhat sporadic editing and design work, often producing hand-bound chapbooks for local authors, but eventually taking on more and more editing work in between other (almost always) writing-related jobs.
Galleon Publishing
I run a small publishing house, with a focus on truly original voices.
Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
Directed the day-to-day operations of a provincial writers' federation of 300+ members. Organized events, the annual literary competition, wrote grant proposals, handled all communications with members, maintained the website, the member database, and also continued to produce the organization's newsletter. All writers all the time. Fun but hectic.
Galleon Literary Journal
Attic Owl Bookshop
Clerk in a truly awesome 80,000-title used bookstore.
Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
Editor of NB Ink, the newsletter of the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick (with a minor hiatus from 2004-05). My first foray into Adobe InDesign, originally PageMaker.
Portfolio




















