Marian Ryan

Marian Ryan – Editor

Supportive, insightful editor. Extensive experience: Macmillan, S&S, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ready to help you make your work shine.

Overview

Since the 1990s I've cherished my part in bringing great books into the world, working with veteran and emerging authors writing for readers of all ages across a spectrum of genres and subjects. I have extensive editorial experience with publishers Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.


I see my role as helping you find the gems sprinkled throughout your manuscript and making them shine. I'll help you build skills while strengthening story arc and clarifying themes, optimizing structure and polishing your prose. I'm ready to help whether you'd like a big-picture review or want to make each line and paragraph the best they can be. I'm especially keen on memoir/biography, literary fiction, middle grade and young adult novels, and myriad nonfiction subjects.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits History Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Middle Grade Young Adult
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Heritage Writer Award, George Mason University

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2007 — Present
Critic, journalist, essayist, and occasional fiction writer with work in Granta, the New York Times, Slate, Salon, Catapult, Literary Hub, San Francisco Chronicle, Slow Travel Berlin, Mail on Sunday, AWP’s The Writer, Necessary Fiction, Cosmonauts Avenue, Columbia, and others. Extensive publishing experience. Copywriter, content writer, and editor for nonprofit organizations, international public health programs, and German publishers and organizations.

Management Sciences for Health

Jan, 2002 — Jul, 2007 (over 5 years)
Managed editing, design, and production of all texts and communication materials for the company's Center for Pharmaceutical Management, which focused on strengthening public health systems and access to medicines in developing countries.

George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College

Aug, 1997 — May, 2001 (over 3 years)
Tutored undergraduate and graduate students, providing feedback and guidance on writing assignments across a range of disciplines in the humanities and sciences. Taught English composition and introductory literature courses to undergraduates.

Harcourt Brace Publishers Children's Books Division

Jun, 1994 — Jul, 1997 (about 3 years)
(Now Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Managed editing and production cycle of books for young adults and middle grade readers, as well as picture books. Copyedited picture books and other shorter titles.

Macmillan Publishing Company Children's Book Group

Jul, 1991 — May, 1994 (almost 3 years)
Managed copyediting and production cycle for all books for young readers under two imprints, including novels, nonfiction, and picture books.

Portfolio

The Queen of the Night

Alexander Chee

National BestsellerNew York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice | An Indie Next PickA Best Book of the Year from NPR, Boston Globe, Buzzfeed, Esquire, San Francisco Chronicle,Time Out, Self, Jez... read more
Copy Editing
House Under Snow (Harvest Book)

Bialosky, Jill

Mariner Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Nina and the Travelling Spice Shed

Ramani, Madhvi

RHCP Digital

Developmental Editing
The Airmen And The Headhunters: A True Story of Lost Soldiers, Heroic Tribesmen and the Unlikeliest Rescue of World War II

Heimann, Judith M.

Mariner Books

Copy Editing
Dark Horse: An Eddy Harkness Novel (Eddy Harkness Novels Book 2)

Flynn, Rory

Mariner Books

Copy Editing
Lonelyhearts: The Screwball World of Nathanael West and Eileen McKenney

Meade, Marion

Mariner Books

Copy Editing
Proof: The Science of Booze

Rogers, Adam

Harvest

Copy Editing
Hero (Woodcutter Sisters)

Kontis, Alethea

Alethea Kontis

Copy Editing
Smile at Strangers: And Other Lessons in the Art of Living Fearlessly

Schorn, Susan

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Copy Editing
The Konkans

D'Souza, Tony

Harper Perennial

Copy Editing
Achtung Baby: An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children

Zaske, Sara

Picador

Developmental Editing
A Long, Long Time Ago And Essentially True

Pasulka, Brigid

Mariner Books

Copy Editing
T-backs, T-shirts, Coat, and Suit

Konigsburg, E.L.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Copy Editing
The Italians – Beautiful Machines: The Most Iconic Cars from Italy and their Era

gestalten

gestalten

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Americans – Beautiful Machines: The Most Iconic US Cars and their Era

gestalten

gestalten

Copy Editing
A Year with Our Food Stories: Gluten-Free Seasonal Fare

gestalten

gestalten

Copy Editing
Cooking Greens on Fire: Vegetarian Recipes for the Dutch Oven and Grill

Tram, Eva Helbæk

gestalten

Copy Editing
Cooking on Fire

Tram, Eva Helbæk

gestalten

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Tom of Finland: Made in Germany

Judin, Juerg

Skira

Copy Editing
The First

Sara Zaske

Cassie Craig is not the chosen one. Not even Close.She's just an ordinary, 15-year-old California girl with a few problems. She talks too much. She has a crush on a guy in her school. She worr... read more
Developmental Editing

Marian has 4 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Andrea N.

Andrea N.

Jul, 2022

Pinned
Marian worked very flexibly and professionally under challenging circumstances and I wouldn't hesitate to work with her again and recommend her to other non-fiction writers.
Marian R.
Thank you, Andrea!
Romeo A.

Romeo A.

Nov, 2019

Pinned
Marian was incredibly generous with her cogent insights. Her feedback helped me take my story—concept, structure, and content—to the next level. Working with her gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to understand the strong and weak areas of my work, as well as what I needed to do next. Hi...
Read more
Vaidhy M.

Vaidhy M.

Mar, 2022

I am a first-time writer and I was fairly ignorant about the finer aspects of the craft; I sought the expertise of Marian to assess my work as a developmental editor. I am very satisfied with the feedback Marian provided. She not only went through my book with a fine-toothed comb to provide con...
Read more
Marian R.
Thank you, Vaidhy! It was my pleasure to work with you.
Romeo A.

Romeo A.

Jun, 2020

I can't say enough good things about Marian—she goes above and beyond. This is my 2nd time working with her, and my current essay wouldn't be nearly as refined w/o her sharp eye, keen sense of grammar (and manuals of style), and overall understanding (not only the subject matter, but also of wha...
Read more
Marian R.
Thanks for the kind words! Pleasure to work with you, Romeo.

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