Reviews (19)

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Reviews (19)

Overview

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

From 2014-2017, I served as a mentor for Pitch Wars. During this time I provided feedback on hundreds of queries and partial manuscripts, and mentored four Young Adult writers on their full manuscripts—all of whom signed with literary agents shortly after the contest 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), and have since been dividing my time between writing and freelance editing. 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. Margin notes 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 worked with Emily for three months revising my novel during Pitch Wars 2017. With her guidance, I was able to identify the heart of my story and revise in such a way that never compromised that heart—but, in fact, made the story stronger and more focused on the central themes. 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—I just knew that it wasn’t in its best possible shape yet. Emily was able to pinpoint exactly what had to be fixed. And it was thanks in no small part to Emily’s guidance (both with revising the book and with my query letter) that I was able to sign with my literary agents so quickly after Pitch Wars ended. My book also sold to a publisher very quickly, partly because it was already in good shape from Emily’s editing. I’m extremely grateful to Emily for her help, and 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)

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Emily since 2016, when she picked me as her Pitch Wars mentee. Since then, she’s helped me with multiple projects—pitches, query letters, and full manuscript edits. Emily has the uncanny ability of pinpointing weak areas in my storytelling (from big picture plot to thematic to the small stuff) 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’m so very thankful to have a critique partner that I see eye-to-eye, and 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

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Editorial Assessment

Query Letter Review

Languages

English (CAN)

English (UK)

English (US)

Fiction

Contemporary Romance

Fantasy

Historical Fiction

Psychological Thriller

Romantic Comedy

Women's Fiction

Young Adult

Certifications

4-time Pitch Wars mentor

Awards

2017 YALSA Teens' Top Ten Nominee: THE YEAR WE FELL APART

Author

Simon & Schuster

January, 2015 – Present (over 7 years)

Freelance Editor

Self-employed

September, 2014 – Present (almost 8 years)

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

Publication Specialist

Orlans PC

September, 2009 – January, 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.

A Lesson in Vengeance

Lee, Victoria

Loki: Where Mischief Lies

Mackenzi Lee

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 younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy a... read more

The Fever King (Feverwake)

Victoria Lee

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 thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for ... read more

When the Truth Unravels

RuthAnne Snow

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 friends, like any other teen. Like it never happened. And if she has anything to say about it, no one but her best friends will ever know i... 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 is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time-the kind Mercedes never had herself.Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a se... read more

Last Girl Lied To

L.E. Flynn

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 is, she wishes she could forget.Trixie’s disappearance is ruled a suicide, but Fiona starts to believe that Trixie isn’t really dead. Pi... 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.” Without tennis, who is she? Her confidence at an all-time low, she secretly turns to her childhood friend, next-door neighbor Jacob—who ... 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 Bone and Red Queen, The Crown’s Game is a thrilling and atmospheric historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia about two teenagers who mu... read more

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

Mackenzi Lee

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 to do it. A must-have for fans of Mackenzi Lee’s extraordinary and Stonewall Honor-winning novel.A year after an accidentally whirlwind g... read more

The Electric Heir (Feverwake)

Victoria Lee

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 despite Lehrer’s image as a progressive humanitarian leader, Noam has finally remembered the truth that Lehrer forced him to forget—that Lehr... read more

Keep My Heart in San Francisco

Amelia Diane Coombs

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 finds and tour the fashion school she dreams of attending. But her dad wrecks those plans when he asks her to spend vacation working the co... read more

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

Mackenzi Lee

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"A stunning powerhouse of a story."—School Library Journal"A gleeful romp through history."—ALA BooklistA young bisexual British lord em... read more

The Year We Fell Apart

Emily Martin

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 past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep ... read more

Professionalism

Professionalism

Quality

Quality

Value

Value

Communication & Punctuality

Communication & Punctuality

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!

Laurel Staples, January 2022

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.

Kelly Flickinger, October 2021

Emily has been absolutely great! She has provided complete and concise feedback in a very contructive way. Between her comments and constant availability for ideas exchange, I feel reassured and ready to take on the next round of feedback before bringing my work into the world. She has been instrumental and help me reach the next level and I can't stress enough how positive the whole collaborat...

Aline P Mora, July 2021

Good experience!

Priya V, March 2021

Emily truly went above and beyond on copyedits. She had SO many good ideas about the story that I was convinced she knew more about it than I did! She doesn't just point out elements of the story that could be stronger but she offers multiple solutions. Her edits seriously took my book to the next level and I can't thank her enough.

Hannah Parker, February 2021