Nicole Bokat – Editor

I'm a published author and editor with more than 20 years experience as an instructor and freelance editor, working with both successful and aspiring writers all over the world.

As your editor, I can evaluate your fiction or nonfiction manuscript, concentrating on helping you develop your work for the marketplace. Included in my services is a report in which I focus on issues such as structure, style, and clarity. With novels, I will help you develop characters, plot, pacing, dialogue, and dramatic tension. I'm also an experienced editor of short stories, essays, and academic articles.

MY MENU OF SERVICES
• Edit all kinds of fiction and nonfiction, including essays, novels, memoirs and academic books
• Provide one-on-one consulting on all types of writing
• Edit nonfiction proposals
• Assist with the writing and revision of compelling query letters and synopses to agents and publishers
• Guide self-publishers through the process

WHAT SETS ME APART
• My fees are very competitively priced
• I don’t distinguish between developmental edits and line edits — I do both for one set price
• My fee includes additional phone conversations and email exchanges
• From the day I start working on your project, my turn-around time is quick; in most cases, two weeks

I look forward to hearing from you and, hopefully, working together!

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TESTIMONIALS

"Nicole is an astute editor who can help you with all aspects of your novel: plot, character development, and structure. I wouldn't write a book without Nicole looking at it first." — Caroline Leavitt

"Nicole is a fantastic ghost editor who I've worked with on both memoirs and novels. She's also helped many of my students get agents and editors." — Susan Shapiro

"Nicole is a sharply intelligent and thoughtful editor, who simultaneously focuses on the details of language and cadence, and overall structure and themes." — Judy Batalion

"Nicole was wonderful to work with on my first novel. The editing process can be quite intimidating and she held my hand every step of the way with such detail!" — Cari Kamm, author of Fake Perfect Me

"Nicole is that rare thing one craves in an instructor: astute in her criticism and yet generous in how she approaches a piece of writing, making it vivid, clear, and dramatic. She quickly homes in on what’s working on the page, and what’s not. I’ve benefitted enormously from her sharp eye, infectious humor, and big-hearted humanity.” — Hamilton Cain, Oprah Magazine contributor, author of This Boy's Faith: Notes from a Southern Baptist Upbringing

"I might never have started this book if it hadn't been for Nicole's class and an assignment to write the entire outline for the second session." — Bronwen Hruska

"I worked closely with Nicole for many months on my first novel, House and Home. Nicole was a careful and thoughtful reader, and really helped me tighten my writing by pointing out spots where it was repetitive or where I'd relied on a cliché. Nicole has an excellent eye — and ear — for writing. She appreciated the rhythm of my writing and always made suggestions that were in keeping with my style, my story and my characters. Overall, the biggest help to me was her understanding of my characters as individuals. She was very good at highlighting spots where there were inconsistencies in character, and her suggestions helped me fine-tune my story so that it was seamless. After Nicole finished editing the novel and I sent it out, I had multiple offers of representation from agents, and then multiple publishers who wanted to buy the book. I sold it to Hyperion less than two months after sending out my first query letter to an agent. I had a great experience in working with Nicole, and am sure you will too."
— Kathleen McCleary, author of House and Home, A Simple Thing and Leaving Haven

"It all started in your class in the fourth floor walkup at MediaBistro...you taught me how to write a book. I am forever grateful." — Anne McCarthy Strauss

"Nicole was a tremendous help to me in the process of writing and publishing my memoir, Reunited: When the Past Becomes a Present, and her influence came at the exact right time. Nicole's editing skills and analytic critique of my manuscript was just what I needed to spur me on to the next phase. I couldn't have done it without her. She also gave generously of her time and knowledge of the entire publishing industry, which became invaluable to me as I pursued my goal. She possesses a finely tuned sense of humor and a keen awareness of the human experience." — Ann Votta, author of Reunited: When the Past Becomes a Present