Mark Stanski – Editor

I work collaboratively with you to identify the unique reading experience you offer and bring it out of your first draft in all it's power. Essentially, my substantive edits (ideas, plot, drama, character, pacing) bridge the gap between your book's potential and its fulfilment. I'll help you meet and keep your audience.

I offer you suggestions to make strong revisions and provide clear, actionable advice on how to execute your revisions throughout the draft.

Because I'm also a published writer of fantasy and sci fi, I know how to explain the work of revisions from an author's point of view. I can coach you to make better revisions by learning to think like you do and support your aesthetic preoccupations.

Working me with me means lots of notes on where you are doing well and hitting your unique reading experience, and lots of notes telling you how to bring weaker passages back into focus or back up to your level best.

I prefer working with authors who value high-stakes stories that are built on steady drama. Drama can be gunshots and magic swords, but I prefer the internal action in the character that ensues from a major external action.

Favourite authors are Joe Abercrombie, George RR Martin, Ursula LeGuin, Robin Hobb, and comic writer Kurt Busiek.

Since 2020, I've been active in Toronto's science fiction and fantasy community and routinely consult with a dozen published authors on their work. I wrote editorial assessments and revisions recommendations for 150 manuscripts for Harlequin Enterprises over five years for their fantasy romance imprint Luna. I copyedit for Pearson Canada, Harlequin Enterprises, and James Lorimer and Company as well as numerous not-for-profits.

I can't wait to get acquainted with your novel.