Lindsay Means

Lindsay Means – Editor

Hands-on editor with extensive publishing experience, specializing in developmental editing for literary fiction and narrative nonfiction.

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.
Services
Fiction
Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Short Story Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Member, Editorial Freelancers Association

Work experience

Riverhead Books

Jul, 2016 — Jul, 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.

Simon & Schuster

Jun, 2015 — Jun, 2016 (about 1 year)

I supported and initiated publicity campaigns for authors including John Irving, Mary Higgins Clark, and Alice Hoffman.

Portfolio

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 O... 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 ... read more
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 cre... 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... 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 kit... 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 an... 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... 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... 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 inventiv... 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), "gorgeous... read more

Lindsay has 15 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Gerard S.

Gerard S.

Jun, 2022

Linsay: she's great. You need to have a bit of patience, but she's brilliant and puts attention to detail.
cindy J.

cindy J.

Aug, 2021

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...
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larry C.

larry C.

Apr, 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!
Leanne S.

Leanne S.

Sep, 2020

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!
Lindsay M.
Thank you, Leanne! And likewise—it was a joy to work with you, and I'm excited to see what comes next!
Joe H.

Joe H.

Feb, 2020

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!

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