Lindsay Ribar

Lindsay Ribar – Editor

Freelance editor specializing in YA, SFF, and query packages. Former literary agent with over 15 years of experience in NYC publishing.

Overview

In my nine years as a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and many more years freelancing, I've worked with Big Five authors and self-published authors, New York Times bestselling authors and niche genre authors -- everything from contemporary novels to epic, sprawling secondary-world fantasy.


While speculative fiction, YA, and queer fiction are my sweet spots (got any speculative queer YA? hit me up!), I also love editing middle grade, psychological suspense, and even the occasional literary title.


Here’s an overview of the services I offer:



QUERY LETTER REVIEW

If you hire me for a query letter review, you can expect extremely fast feedback on ONE query letter. My query letter offers will always include unlimited rereads -- within the time frame of our collaboration (usually one week), I'll work with you on your letter until it's ready to send out.



QUERY PACKAGES

If you’d like feedback on any combination of

- your query letter, and/or

- your synopsis (up to 1000 words), and/or

- your opening chapter(s) (up to 50 double-spaced pages),

please select the “Query Letter Review” option and give me an overview of what you’d like me to work on, including the word count of your chapters, if applicable.



DEVELOPMENTAL EDIT

If you hire me for a developmental edit, you can expect a detailed editorial letter suggesting how you can improve your manuscript, with specific focus on big-picture notes, such as character arcs, plot structure, and world building. I will also include notes in the margins of your manuscript, consisting of chapter- and scene-level notes and real-time reactions as I read. After you've read my notes, I'll also be available for any follow-up questions you may have. Not included in this service are (a) a second read of the manuscript after you've worked with my notes, (b) line edits, or (c) copy edits.



EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT

If you hire me for an editorial assessment, you can expect the same kind of editorial letter I described above, except without the scene- and chapter-level margin notes. Big picture only!


I do not work on poetry, picture books, chapter books, military fiction, religious/inspirational fiction, or nonfiction.


Please reach out if you feel we might be a good match. I look forward to reading your work!

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Horror LGBTQ Fiction Middle Grade Science Fiction Urban Fantasy Young Adult
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Sanford J. Greenburger Associates

Apr, 2007 — Jul, 2016 (about 9 years)

As an agent with SJGA, I worked with my own clients and my boss's clients, editing manuscripts and proposals into saleable shape. Our authors ranged from established NYT bestsellers to brand-new writers -- and, occasionally, brand-new writers who would eventually go on to become NYT bestsellers!

Portfolio

Truth of the Divine

Lindsay Ellis

USA TODAY BESTSELLERTruth of the Divine is the latest alternate-history first-contact novel in the Noumena series from the instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bes... read more
Developmental Editing
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLERFrom New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an ast... read more
Developmental Editing
Illuminae

Amie Kaufman

For fans of Marie Lu comes the first book in an epic series that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension. “A truly beautiful novel that redefines the form." —Victoria Aveyard, bestselling ... read more
Developmental Editing
Empire of the Damned

Jay Kristoff

St. Martin's Publishing Group

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the much-anticipated sequel to the international bestselling sensat... read more
Developmental Editing
The Wise Man's Fear

Patrick Rothfuss

Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle. “I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda • “He’s bloody good, th... read more
Developmental Editing
Nevernight

Jay Kristoff

Nevernight is the first in an epic new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author, Jay Kristoff.In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of... read more
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Vampire Crush

A. M. Robinson

I swear, my life was always totally normal.Normal house, normal family, normal school. My looks are average, I don't have any superpowers, no one's showing up to tell me I'm a princess—you get... read more
Developmental Editing
Spell and Spindle

Michelle Schusterman

Doll Bones meets Splendors and Glooms as a boy who trades bodies with a wooden marionette. . . . The Museum of Peculiar Arts holds many oddities--a mechanical heart, a diary bound in its owner... read more
Developmental Editing
For Real

Alison Cherry

From Alison Cherry, author of Look Both Ways and Red, comes a terrific story that's "too fun to miss" (USA Today) about two sisters and one big question: how do you know who’s for real?When Mi... read more
Developmental Editing
Mysteries, mazes, and magic combine in this smart, funny summer-camp fantasy -- like THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY for kids! Dahlia Shulman loves magic, and Math Club, and Guitar H... read more
Developmental Editing
Premonitions

Jamie Schultz

TWO MILLION DOLLARS... It’s the kind of score Karyn Ames has always dreamed of—enough to set her crew up pretty well and, more important, enough to keep her safely stocked on a very rare, very... read more
Developmental Editing
The Spirit Thief

Rachel Aaron

Eli Monpress is talented. He's charming. And he's a thief.But not just any thief. He's the greatest thief of the age -- and he's also a wizard. And with the help of his partners -- a swordsman... read more
Developmental Editing
Mark of the Demon

Diana Rowland

Cop and conjurer of demons, she’s a woman in danger of losing control—to a power that could kill. . . .Why me? Why now? That’s what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking hersel... read more
Developmental Editing

Lindsay has 132 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jamie K.

Jamie K.

May, 2024

Pinned
This was my first time doing a paid query letter and synopsis review after very mixed past experiences with getting critiques through query letter swaps/critique groups, and I went in with a lot of ambivalence about whether it was worth it. Lindsay's critiques quickly put that concern to rest, and I can confidently say it was worth every penny. Her suggestions were substantive and specific, del...
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Miranda O.

Miranda O.

Jan, 2024

Pinned
Incredible service. Lindsay is professional, supportive, responsive and extremly knowledgeable. If I ever need editiorial feedback again, I would not hesitate to work with Lindsay. In fact, I cannot imagine a scenario in which I would ever hire anyone else. Specificially to the query letter: I feel like I received a $1000 value without paying anywhere near as much. With every iteration I kept g...
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Heather G.

Heather G.

Dec, 2022

Pinned
Lindsay did a fantastic job doing my developmental edit and it was a pleasure to communicate with her. Many of the weaknesses she pointed out were areas I already suspected were lacking in something, but I had a difficult time pinning down the exact causes, let alone solutions. For instance, I have real difficulties building connections between characters and I couldn't figure out what was mis...
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Nessie L.

Nessie L.

Aug, 2024

Lindsay was super responsive and reviewed my project quickly and professionally. She not only showed how I could improve my project but also made sure to note things I was doing well. I will definitely be reaching out to her for any future projects!
Lila E.

Lila E.

Aug, 2024

Lindsay was absolutely fantastic! I feel so confident with my query letter moving forward. She helped me work out some issues with my first chapter as well, pointing out things I never would have seen on my own. She is very communicative, professional, and personable, and her expertise is apparent in the care she takes to provide feedback. I would love to work with her again.

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