Emily Martin

Emily Martin – Editor

Editor specializing in romance, fantasy, and YA. Experience editing NYT bestsellers. YA author with Simon and Schuster + HarperCollins.

Overview

Hello! I'm a freelance editor with over a decade of experience working with writers at various stages in their careers.


I've been a mentor in writing contests such as Pitch Wars, and am proud to say that all of my mentees signed with literary agents and have gone on to get book deals. In 2016, I published my debut contemporary YA novel, THE YEAR WE FELL APART (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse). My latest YA, FIVE WAYS TO FALL OUT OF LOVE, was published by Inkyard/HarperCollins in March 2021.


My strengths lie in character development, emotional arcs, scene work, heightening stakes, and tightening pacing. My main goal as an editor is to help you effectively tell the story you want to tell, and to leave you feeling motivated to dive into a revision. I rely heavily on margin notes, which will often contain questions aimed to help you strengthen your craft and consider how each choice ties to the heart of your story. I will always include praise for what I love and think is working well, but I also won't hold back with recommendations for improvement.


Whether you're unsure where to begin on a revision or have revised so many times you can no longer see the forest through the trees, my supportive and thorough critiques can help you take your story to the next level.


TESTIMONIALS

“Emily’s critical eye and her razor-sharp instincts have helped make my manuscripts so much stronger. From both a big picture thematic perspective and on a line edit level, she is able to effectively highlight strengths and identify weaknesses. Her creativity, writing savvy, and collaborative approach make her exactly the kind of force your book needs to get to the next level.” — Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of THE GIRLS ARE ALL SO NICE HERE


“I can’t say enough how wonderful Emily is as an editor. She really “got” the core of my book, and cared so passionately about helping me achieve my vision for it. By the time I was working with Emily, I’d revised my book so many times that I couldn’t think of what else I needed to change. Emily was able to pinpoint exactly what had to be fixed. My book sold very quickly, partly because it was already in good shape from Emily’s editing. I would highly, highly recommend her services to anyone looking for an editor.” — Victoria Lee, author of THE FEVER KING (Skyscape, 2019) and A LESSON IN VENGEANCE (Delacorte, 2021)


“Emily has the uncanny ability of pinpointing weak areas in my storytelling and offering solutions that don’t compromise the heart of the story. Rather, her suggestions elevate the plot to another level. Writing a first draft is often a solitary endeavor, but revising that draft takes a village full of people you can trust. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending Emily’s editorial services!” — Amelia Diane Coombs, author of KEEP MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO (S&S/Simon Pulse, 2020)


Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Romance Epic Fantasy Psychological Thriller Romantic Comedy Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • 2017 YALSA Teens' Top Ten Nominee: THE YEAR WE FELL APART
Certifications
  • 4-time Pitch Wars mentor

Work experience

Simon & Schuster

Jan, 2015 — Present

Self-employed

Sep, 2014 — Present

Provide developmental edits, line edits, query letter critiques, and submission package assessments for numerous writers at various stages in their careers.

Orlans PC

Sep, 2009 — Jan, 2011 (over 1 year)

Proofread and copyedited real estate descriptions and loan documentation. Edited notices of sale for print in the Detroit Free Press and other major metro-Detroit newspapers.

Portfolio

This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe.Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a... read more
In the tradition of Sarah Dessen, this powerful debut novel is a compelling portrait of a young girl coping with her mother’s cancer as she figures out how to learn from—and fix—her past mistakes.Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the ... read more
A Kirkus Prize nominee and Stonewall Honor winner with 5 starred reviews! A New York Times bestseller! Named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR and the New York Public Library!"The queer teen historical you didn’t know was missing from your life.”—Teen Vogue... read more
Sparks fly when two ex-best-friends team up to save a family business in this swoon-worthy and witty debut perfect for fans of Jenn Bennett and Sarah Dessen.Caroline “Chuck” Wilson has big plans for spring break—hit up estate sales to score vintage fashion fin... read more
In the sequel to The Fever King, Noam Álvaro seeks to end tyranny before he becomes a tyrant himself.Six months after Noam Álvaro helped overthrow the despotic government of Carolinia, the Atlantians have gained citizenship, and Lehrer is chancellor. But despi... read more
In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Felicity Montague must use all her womanly wits and wiles to achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor—even if she has to scheme her way across Europe t... read more
The Crown's Game

Evelyn Skye

"Gorgeous and richly imagined."—Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series"Teeming with hidden magic and fiery romance."—Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the AshesPerfect for fans of Shadow and ... read more
The Harper Effect

Taryn Bashford

A sizzling coming of age story set in the world of professional tennis about a girl who learns to win from a boy who has lost everything. Sixteen-year-old Harper was once a rising star on the tennis court—until her coach dropped her for being “mentally weak.” ... read more
Something made him angry that night.Something made her cry.Something made Trixie disappear.What if it was all the same thing?Fiona claims she doesn’t remember anything about the night her best friend left a party early and walked into the ocean. But the truth ... read more
Firsts: A Novel

Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return... read more
Paper Towns meets Thirteen Reasons Why­ —at prom. A riveting story told through four best friends’ point of view.Last month, Elin tried to kill herself. She knows she’s lucky that her parents found her in time. Lucky to be going to prom with her three best fri... read more
In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and... read more

Emily has 22 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Anne B.

Anne B.

Oct, 2023

Emily was fantastic to work with. Her suggestions were all solid gold and I know my novel will be a thousand times better because of her. Her suggestions were thorough and honest and it's clear she spent a lot of time with my manuscript. I would definitely work with her again on future projects.
Emily B.

Emily B.

Apr, 2023

Emily is very detail oriented and offered invaluable insight into my book! It was a true pleasure to work with her
Brittany H.

Brittany H.

Jan, 2023

Emily was fantastic to work with. All her feedback and insights were incredibly helpful. I would definitely recommend hiring her!
Laurel S.

Laurel S.

Jan, 2022

Emily is an exceptional editor. She did a developmental edit on my ya fantasy novel and her feedback was so helpful, that I hired her a second time to re-read it after I made all the changes. She uncovered plot holes, helped me strengthen my character arcs, and gave me ideas for tightening the story and removing the "saggy middle" part. I definitely plan to work with her again on my future books!
Kelly F.

Kelly F.

Oct, 2021

Emily did a great job working with me my first time getting professional edits. She was great about telling me what worked in my writing and offering suggestions that only strengthened what I already had on the page. Working through her edits was an encouraging process rather than a daunting or disheartening one and my book is much better for it.

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