Nicole Cunningham

Nicole Cunningham – Editor

I'm a literary agent with a passion for collaboration and a love of storytelling. Always thoughtful, engaged, and optimistic.

Overview

Hi there!


I am an agent at a Manhattan literary agency with a passion for working closely and collaboratively with authors. I specialize in developmental/conceptual editing, line editing, and evaluating query letters and submissions.

I edit for a wide range of authors in fiction and nonfiction. In the fiction space, I love to work with literary and upmarket fiction, historical fiction, book club, and short story collections. In nonfiction, I particularly enjoy editing memoir and essay collections. I also evaluate query letters and submission packages of all genres.

I'm friendly, compassionate, and candid, and I strive to build trusting, open, and collaborative working relationships with my authors. The stronger the author/editor relationship, the better the book!


Bring me your weird, wild, worldly projects. I love working on books that surprise me, and I love picking the brilliant brains that created them. I aspire to make your book the best it can be, and to leave you feeling seen, understood, and empowered.


Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Sex & Relationships
Fiction
Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Short Story Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Certificate in Book Publishing, New York University
  • BA in English and American Literature, New York University
  • Minor in Social and Cultural Analysis with a focus in Gender and Sexuality Studies, New York University

Work experience

The Book Group

Apr, 2016 — Present

I read, evaluate, and provide insightful and appropriate developmental edits, structural edits, and copyedits to manuscripts to prepare them for sale and eventual publication. I write thorough, detailed editorial letters for clients and guide them through multiple rounds of revisions. I manage our submission inbox, evaluating hundreds of queries and determining whether or not to recommend them for representation. I also craft successful and effective submission letters and sales pitches for manuscripts and proposals.

The Reading Room

Feb, 2015 — Apr, 2016 (about 1 year)

As the Manager of Community and Author Relations, I acted as the main point of contact for authors and publishers who were interested in promoting their books, establishing an online presence, and reaching their readers. I developed the site's strategy for connecting with and supporting authors, both internally (i.e. site development) and externally.

ICM Partners

Mar, 2014 — Feb, 2015 (11 months)

Nicole has 61 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Katy L.

Katy L.

Oct, 2024

I am very happy with my editorial assessment from Nicole. As a new writer I needed someone to give me an honest account of what was and wasn't working in my manuscript and Nicole did just that using thorough explanations and specific examples. She also gave detailed suggestions for how to address the issues she pointed out including questions to ask myself that helped me reframe my approach. He...
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Laura L.

Laura L.

Aug, 2024

Nicole did a fantastic job helping me with the query for my novel and also gave me great advice about the opening pages. I had already put a lot of work into this book and wasn't sure if I could do much more to attract the interest of agents, but Nicole brought it to the next level. I highly recommend her!
Tina H.

Tina H.

Jul, 2024

I'm so happy I chose to work with Nicole. I didn't know what to expect, having never used Reedsy before, but I was incredibly impressed by how prompt, responsive, kind, and thorough Nicole was. Her comments on my proposal draft were spot-on, and I know they'll help me get to the next stage of the process. Highly recommended! Nicole is great!
David S.

David S.

Jun, 2024

Of the editors I approached for an assessment of my novel, I sensed that Nicole would be the best match for the story I wanted to tell. I was delighted when she agreed to do the work. She not only gave me perceptive suggestions for changes I might make, but also explained how and why those changes would enhance my story. Thanks to Nicole, I'm going into the next revision with confidence and a c...
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Natalie M.

Natalie M.

May, 2024

There aren’t enough words to express how wonderful Nicole is. She’s a sharp editor who is generous with her feedback and time. On top of it, Nicole is incredibly warm and encouraging, even when working through a tricky dual timeline story structure like mine. She has helped me transform my messy first draft of a manuscript into a clear, compelling story. Since her initial editorial assessment, ...
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