Mary Kole – Editor

I'm a former literary agent and provide consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance and memoir. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing and have worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. My book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books/PRH, and I'm also the author of Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters, Show and Tell: Going Beyond Creative Writing's Most Enduring Paradigm, Writing Irresistible Picture Books, and others (Good Story Publishing). I develop commercial IP and fiction with #1 NYT bestseller Julie Murphy and Folio literary agent John Cusick at Bittersweet Books.

My approach is extremely comprehensive, with a deep focus on character, voice, plot, and other elements of the writing craft. My specialty is interiority, or rendering a character's perspective on the page. I believe this is a very powerful way to hook readers into your story. I also bring my background as a literary agent to the table. Query feedback and market analysis of your project are included with every edit. Many publishers look for "literary quality with commercial appeal," and that's exactly my "both barrels" approach to your project. Together, we will hone your manuscript's craft elements to their fullest creative expression, and then engineer your premise to give you the strongest chance at success, whatever your goal might be. I can't wait to learn about your work!