Sharyn November – Editor

I always tell writers, "We're going to work hard -- but we're also going to have a lot of fun." It's true! Editing is a highly collaborative process, and there's nothing better than plunging in.

I've been editing books for children and teenagers for over 25 years, with many best-sellers and award-winners to my credit. As senior editor at Viking Children's Books, I worked with Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen, Ellen Klages, Kelly Link, Nnedi Okorafor, and Elizabeth Wein, to name a few. As editorial director of Firebird Books, an imprint I conceptualized and spearheaded, I built a list of classic science fiction and fantasy reissues for a crossover audience and edited selected hardcovers, including three acclaimed anthologies. That said: My specialty is stories, not genres. I love realistic fiction for middle-graders as much as an action-packed YA thriller as much as swoony romance, and will always get excited by narrative nonfiction for older readers. I have a special fondness for books that can't be easily pigeonholed, because I've never wanted to be.

My goal is to help an author get to their next level -- whether that means fleshing out an idea into a story, doing a substantive developmental edit on the book of your heart, fine-tuning a manuscript through line editing (which I love), or just giving your work a final polish before you submit to an agent or an editor. I'm also happy to look at query letters, give career advice, answer questions about the business and its protocols ... think of me as a one-stop resource.

My style is engaged, realistic, and straightforward, with a lot of humor on the side. As your editor, I'll meet you where you are and take your work as seriously as you do -- but that doesn't mean we can't have a great time along the way.

I can't wait to see what you've written.

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A FEW TESTIMONIALS ...

“Sharyn November is smart, insightful, and exacting. She had a remarkable breadth of knowledge and flawless taste. She made me a much better writer and is a tireless champion for her books. As if that’s not enough, she’s about as well connected in publishing as it’s possible to be. I love her. “—Susan Juby, author of Alice, I Think and The Truth Commission

“I was delighted to be working with Sharyn on my first novel—her reputation as a gifted editor and passionate advocate preceded her. The reality lived up to that expectation. She was enthusiastic, insightful, and spent so much time with me finessing the work to make it the best it could be. That our author/editor process was recognised with a shortlisting for the Branford Boase award says it all. Thank you Sharyn!”—Martin Stewart, author of Riverkeep and The Sacrifice Box

“I always consult Sharyn about a work in progress. It's not just that she has a dead-on ability to fix a sentence or add depth to both plot and character. Sharyn's real skill—her invaluable talent—lies in coaxing out the best story a writer has. It's like she can see the book in your mind before you can get it on the page. And she will help you get it on the page.”—Garret Weyr, author of The Language of Spells and My Heartbeat

“Sharyn November is not only a brilliant editor but is also an insightful and supportive force for an entire community of writers, readers, and dreamers. She possesses a deep understanding of literary technique, the publishing world, and, most importantly, the ways in which fiery imagination and the subtle expression of heart may combine to infuse a page with color and life. Sharing her expertise, she has made me a better writer. The world needs more people like Sharyn November, but she is, above all else, unique . . . so there can be only one.”—Gordon McAlpine, author of The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe

“Sharyn embraces unusual projects and loves and understands them in their unusual-ness; on the other hand she is a tireless advocate for the books she works on, translating them constantly and enthusiastically into terms others will really get. Then there's the line-editing. Did I mention that Sharyn managed to cut 25,000 words from a manuscript without excising a single scene? Yup. She did!”—S.E. Grove, author of the Mapmakers Trilogy (The Glass Sentence, The Golden Specific, The Crimson Skew)

“Sharyn is a rigorous editor who thoroughly understands the structures of story and how to manage them for best effect. She asks the right questions—with wit and warmth––to get to the heart of character and plot and has an uncanny ability to pick up any inconsistencies or logic leaps. She edits with a solid knowledge of genre conventions and their use and subversion.

“I have absolute trust in Sharyn’s editing skills and her insight into storytelling. Our four books together received many award citations, and two of them were New York Times bestsellers. I count myself lucky that my books had the benefit of her skill, insight, and passion for the written word. “—Alison Goodman, author of Eon, Eona, The Dark Days Club trilogy.