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 54 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Kimberly K.

Kimberly K.

Feb, 2024

I sent Nicole Cunningham my manuscript, and asked her to review it. I asked her to be honest. And the editorial advice that I got back from her was exactly what I needed. I would tell you, she is professional, precise, knows what she’s doing, but to tell you those things is not enough. She is much more than that. If you need to hire someone and you hire anybody but Nicole Cunningham you’re cutt...
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Christopher D.

Christopher D.

Feb, 2024

Nicole illustrated to me clearly what I was doing wrong with my query letters and what the expectations were among agents. She answered my every question. Additionally, she requested to be kept in the loop when it came to the success of my query letters in the future. In short, she was grand.
Richard S.

Richard S.

Dec, 2023

Highly recommended. Nicole's critiques of my query letter and synopsis were savvy and tasteful, and she returned them in advance of our deadline, which left time for questions. Her fee was reasonable ... overall, an excellent value!
Jennifer W.

Jennifer W.

Dec, 2023

Nicole provided outstanding feedback on my query letter. She told me what worked well, what to cut, and what I needed to add to make it more compelling. She asked insightful questions to prompt me to include new elements that took my query letter from good to great! She is warm, smart, and candid in her communication. The money I spent on this consult was immensely helpful. I highly recommend N...
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nada M.

nada M.

Nov, 2023

Nicole knows her stuff and is not afraid to tell it to you plainly. You know an editor is on the mark when s/he hits right at the points that the little voice in your head was nagging you about. Nicole's insights were spot on and will go a long way in helping reshape what isn't working in my manuscript. Even the remarks that I don't agree with have value because they were fair, thoughtful obser...
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