Noah Ballard

Noah Ballard – Editor

Freelance editor with over 8 years experience at top NYC literary agency looking to help authors with manuscripts, proposals, queries.

Overview

I'm a literary agent and freelance editor looking to use my professional experience to help writers improve their novels, memoirs, proposals and query letters. I studied creative writing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and began my career in publishing at Emma Sweeney Agency. As an agent, I focus on literary fiction, story collections and narrative non-fiction, including memoir, journalism and pop culture, and I have sold over 75 books to major and independent trade publishers, including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and more. I have appeared as a guest at graduate writing programs and writers conferences across the country speaking about how to get published, query letters, building non-fiction platforms and submission etiquette.

Note: Working with me in an editorial capacity prohibits working with me as a literary agent.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment Political Science & Current Affairs True Crime
Fiction
LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Curtis Brown, Ltd.

Jul, 2014 — Present

Edited and sold over 50 book projects to major publishers for debut fiction writers, journalists and media personalities.

Emma Sweeney Agency

Jan, 2012 — Jun, 2014 (over 2 years)

Sold 15 books in 18 months as a new hire.

Portfolio

Told with a lyrical, almost-dreamlike voice as intoxicating as the moonflowers and orchids that inhabit this world, Monsoon Mansion is a harrowing yet triumphant coming-of-age memoir exploring the dark, troubled waters of a family’s rise and fall from grace in... read more
A “sinuous, shattering thriller” (Booklist, starred review) with a heart-stopping conclusion about a mysterious American woman who disappears in to the Cambodian underworld, and the photojournalist who tracks her through the clues left in her diary, by an auth... read more
Riot Baby

Tochi Onyebuchi

"Riot Baby bursts at the seams of story with so much fire, passion and power that in the end it turns what we call a narrative into something different altogether."―Marlon JamesElla has a Thing. She sees a classmate grow up to become a caring nurse. A neighbor... read more
The Poison Flood

Farmer, Jordan

Fast Company reporter Joe Berkowitz investigates the bizarre and hilarious world of pun competitions from the Punderdome 3000 in Brooklyn to the World competition in Austin.When Joe Berkowitz witnessed his first Punderdome competition, it felt wrong in the bes... read more
A hardboiled valentine to the Golden State, That Left Turn at Albuquerque marks the return of noir master Scott Phillips. Douglas Rigby, attorney-at-law, is bankrupt. He’s just sunk his last $200,000—a clandestine “loan” from his last remaining client, former ... read more
There are no secrets in a small town. For someone like Rebecca, that can get awkward.Rebecca Meer’s hometown of Ward, Nebraska, is small—so small that she can’t even sneak home after a drunken girls’ night without running into at least three people she knows. ... read more
"At a moment when it’s hard to trust anyone who claims to see things clearly, Adam Nemett has written a smart, sensitive, terrifying novel about masculinity, philosophy, technology, and the end of the world. Recommended for all college first-years and their pa... read more
NAMED ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF SUMMER 2018 BY O Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, New York Post, The Millions, Southern Living, POPSUGAR, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Review of BooksPraised by the Washington Post as "Tennessee Williams . . . tran... read more
Emmy-Award winning writer and comedian Josh Gondelman’s collection of personal stories of best intentions and mixed results.Josh Gondelman knows a thing or two about trying—and failing. The Emmy Award-winning stand-up comic—dubbed a “pathological sweetheart” b... read more
"A hilarious guide to help young workers not be idiots....a guide to being an adult in the modern age." --Chicago TribuneStop saying "adulting" -- and other life advice you didn't know you needed. But you do.It's no secret that being a grown-up can be hard. Mo... read more

Noah has 25 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

David H.

David H.

Nov, 2020

Noah has helped me reshape my book into something much better. He provided clear, specific suggestions that I could start implementing right away. I feel like I'm finally on the right path!
Cecilia B.

Cecilia B.

Nov, 2020

Noah's review gave me lots of concrete examples and ways to improve the book. I appreciated his thorough review as well the 1-hour phone call to pick his brain about my book. He answered the many questions I had and made some great suggestions . I highly recommend his developmental editing and plan to use his services for my next book too.
Gordon K.

Gordon K.

Oct, 2020

Noah totally overdelivered. Concise, thoughtful insights on character development, plot development and additional comments on how best to present my work in a way that will appeal to literary agents. He took the time to thoroughly review my book (1.0) and point me in the direction of developing a considerably better manuscript (2.0). I highly recommend Noah.
Talford P.

Talford P.

Oct, 2020

Noah was thorough and clear. I asked him from the beginning to be this way because I was new at this and had never written a book before. He hit the mark while also being very complimentary of my strong suits. After I complete his suggested revisions (which I agree with 100%), I will not hesitate to hire him for a final edit. As a matter of fact, I look forward to it! P.S. I can't think o...
Read more
Jeffrey T.

Jeffrey T.

Oct, 2020

Noah delivered exactly what I needed. His development edit helped me take select chapters of my manuscript from pretty good to even better. Feedback was thoughtful and actionable. The included author call was especially helpful to ask additional questions based on his written notes. Well worth it. Thanks, Noah!

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