Molly Watson – Editor

I'm an editor and writing coach with more than two decades of experience working with writers at all stages of their careers—from those just discovering their writing abilities to published professionals.

I have a mix of academic, food writing, and tech backgrounds. My portfolio includes memoirs, craft guides, art books, cookbooks, academic works, and a variety of other projects.

As an editor and writing coach, I offer a critical, detailed eye and a warm, supportive approach focused on building strengths. Perhaps best of all, I have the ability to explain the "why" behind every edit.

My style is highly collaborative: I leave suggestions and my thinking behind the suggestions for you to consider and decide upon. Any line edits are left in track changes so you can see them.

I believe in chunking big projects into manageable pieces. Together, we can create a plan for your book that fits your schedule and timeframe.

I’m also a writer, so I understand the challenges—including the emotional ones—of completing that first draft, often pulling it apart to make it better, and polishing it to be the best it can be. I also understand that visions of the perfect can be the enemy of finishing a project. I will help you channel any perfectionist tendencies for the good of the project and learn how to avoid letting them become blockers to finishing.

I hold a PhD from Stanford, which some people find very impressive, but my 20-plus years of experience as a professional writer and editor prove more useful on most projects.

I don’t know what I love more, fellow writers or fabulous sentences—I’m grateful every day I get to work with both!

I can't wait to help you bring your project to life!

A few reviews from past clients—

"It's rare to find an editor as talented and insightful as Molly. I've worked with Molly on two full-length nonfiction books, a novel manuscript, and countless essays and short pieces. She always finds the throughline and the story that will resonate with readers (often when it's not yet apparent to me, the writer!) and helps me express it better in my own voice, while also kindly pointing out the writerly tics and wordiness that can bog down manuscripts. She's given me countless solutions to thorny narrative challenges while always staying positive and encouraging, bringing out the best in my work without imposing her own style. I strongly recommend her as an editor and writing coach." — Kate Washington, author of MIDSTREAM and ALREADY TOAST

"Working with Molly was a dream. She navigated my scattered ideas into an understandable and concise format, all while keeping my unique voice. I feel so lucky to have worked with her on two of my books and would be so grateful to have a chance to work with her again." — Baylor Chapman, author of THE PLANT RECIPE BOOK and DECORATING WITH PLANTS