Lindsay Means - Editor
Hands-on editor with extensive publishing experience, specializing in developmental editing for literary fiction and narrative nonfiction.
Request a quote
Overview
After three years at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, working with authors such as Meg Wolitzer, Lauren Groff, Helen Oyeyemi, and Paula Hawkins, I've relocated to the West Coast and am now wearing all the hats of a freelance editor: copy editing, developmental editing, line editing, cereal box editing; you name it. As an editor, it's not my place to impose my vision on your story. Instead, I want to help shape your book into the best version of itself that it can be.
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Literary Fiction
Short Story
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- Member, Editorial Freelancers Association
Work experience
Editorial Assistant
Riverhead Books
July, 2016
–
July, 2018
(about 2 years)
I provided both line and developmental edits for multiple award-winning and New York Times-bestselling titles, including INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins, THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer, and MY ABSOLUTE DARLING by Gabriel Tallent.
Publicity Assistant
Simon & Schuster
June, 2015
–
June, 2016
(about 1 year)
I supported and initiated publicity campaigns for authors including John Irving, Mary Higgins Clark, and Alice Hoffman.
Portfolio (10 selected works)
The Female Persuasion: A Novel
Meg Wolitzer
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Ultra-readable." –Vogue "Equal parts cotton candy and red meat, in the best way." –People "Wolitzer’s social commentary can be as funny as it is queasily on target.” –Wall Street Journal "Wolitzer is one of those rare writers who creates droll and entertaining novels of ideas." –Fresh Air, NPR From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Interestings, an electri... read more
Into the Water: A Novel
Paula Hawkins
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERGOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER FOR MYSTERY/THRILLERAn addictive new novel of psychological suspense from the author of #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon The Girl on the Train. “Hawkins is at the forefront of a group of female authors—think Gillian Flynn and Megan Abbott—who have reinvigorated the literary suspense novel by tapping a rich vein of psyc... read more
My Absolute Darling: A Novel
Gabriel Tallent
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALISTNBCC JOHN LEONARD PRIZE FINALISTONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES'S MOST NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2017ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST’S MOST NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2017ONE OF NPR’S ‘GREAT READS’ OF 2017A USA TODAY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR AN AMAZON.COM BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A BUSINESS INSIDER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR"Impossible to put down." —NPR"A novel that reade... read more
Florida
Lauren Groff
The much-anticipated return of the New York Times bestselling author of Fates and Furies.Storms, snakes, sinkholes, and secrets: In Lauren Groff’s Florida, the hot sun shines, but a wild darkness lurks. Florida is a "superlative" book (Boston Globe), "gorgeously weird and limber" (New Yorker), "frequently funny" (San Francisco Chronicle), "brooding, inventive and often moving" (NPR Fresh Air) ... read more
Tell the Machine Goodnight: A Novel
Katie Williams
“Sci-fi in its most perfect expression…Reading it is like having a lucid dream of six years from next week, filled with people you don't know, but will.” —NPR“Between seasons of Black Mirror, look to Katie Williams' debut novel." —Refinery29 Smart and inventive, a page-turner that considers the elusive definition of happiness. Pearl's job is to make people happy. As a technician for the Aprici... read more
Awayland: Stories
Ramona Ausubel
“Excellent and peculiar… Ausubel’s imagination…wants to offer consolation for how ghastly things can get, a type of healing that only reading can provide. All 11 of these stories are deeply involving.” –New York Times Book Review“Funny, endearing short stories…Each tale looks to the future in its own particular, touching way.” –Harper’s BazaarAn inventive story collection that spans the globe ... read more
The Awkward Age: A Novel
Francesca Segal
"A very smart, soulful, compelling, elegantly written domestic novel about a wedged-together family, and what can go wrong when teenage children decide they have minds (and hormones) of their own." —Nick Hornby “A spry and accomplished comedy of manners.” —The New York Times Book Review“They've chosen the one thing that will make our family life impossible. It's genius really, when you think a... read more
Refuge: A Novel
Dina Nayeri
“Rich and colorful… [Refuge] has the kind of immediacy commonly associated with memoir, which lends it heft, intimacy, atmosphere.” –New York TimesThe moving lifetime relationship between a father and a daughter, seen through the prism of global immigration and the contemporary refugee experience. An Iranian girl escapes to America as a child, but her father stays behind. Over twenty years, as... read more
The Air You Breathe: A Novel
Frances de Pontes Peebles
The story of an intense female friendship fueled by affection, envy and pride--and each woman's fear that she would be nothing without the other.Some friendships, like romance, have the feeling of fate.Skinny, nine-year-old orphaned Dores is working in the kitchen of a sugar plantation in 1930s Brazil when in walks a girl who changes everything. Graça, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy sugar b... read more
The Lonely Hearts Hotel: A Novel
Heather O'Neill
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2017 BY THE BOSTON GLOBE AND THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE"So filled with vivid descriptions and complex characters that the reader's experience is virtually cinematic. . . Utterly compelling." – The Washington PostA spellbinding story about two gifted orphans – in love with each other since they can remember – whose childhood talents allow them to rewrite their future. The ... read more
Lindsay has 15 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Linsay: she's great. You need to have a bit of patience, but she's brilliant and puts attention to detail.
Gerard Serra, June 2022
Lindsay was very polite and kind, although her professionalism was lacking. The work she ultimately ended up delivering was fine, but it was past our agreed-upon date. In addition to that, I could not get a hold of her very often, as her response rate was hit or miss. Eventually I had to get a hold of Reedsy to follow up on her and get her to respond to me. As an apology for being delinquent, s...
Read more
cindy johnstone, August 2021
Lindsay is very good at editing and really digs deep into the story and gives you all kinds of suggestions for real improvement. Definitely recommend her!
larry center, April 2021
It was a joy to work with Lindsay. She was professional and kind, and her critique was detailed. I felt as though she truly understood the story I was telling--- not just the plot and characters, but the themes and overall purpose of the writing. I would happily work with her again!
Leanne Sowul, September 2020
Reply from Lindsay Means
Lindsay was an absolute joy to work with. Not only was she understanding when I had a payment issue (I was the victim of credit card fraud), I found the input she provided in her editorial assessment to be insightful and carefully considered. It's given me a lot to chew over -- but in a good way!
Joe Havermann, February 2020
Explore the Reedsy Community
Reedsy is a community of top publishing professionals. Join Reedsy today to browse 1000+ profiles.
Jo Lane
Editor specializing in crime and thrillers. Former Publishing Director for all James Bond publishing including a Sunday Times bestseller.
London, UK
Ariell Cacciola
Award winning editor and publisher with more than ten years' experience across most genres. Dedicated to improving your manuscript.
London, UK
