Rachael Dugas - Editor

I began my publishing career as an editorial intern, assisting with romance and women's fiction titles. I then continued on to work as a literary agent, where my client list focused mainly on young adult, middle grade, romance, and women's fiction titles, though I was, and still am, interested in projects across nearly the entire fiction spectrum. As an agent, I engaged in extensive developmental and line edits with each and every client. I also frequently instructed writers' boot camps and workshops, with a particular emphasis on query letters and strengthening the first 10 pages of writers' novels prior to submission. I gained experience working closely with writers on projects at all stages of the submission process, a sense of what makes a commercial project, and, of course, how to successfully position and pitch a project.

As an agent, editor, or reader, the books that you really fall in love with are the ones with that special little spark--that "it" factor that takes a book from a good read to an unforgettable one. Whether it's your sense of humor, your unique world view, an amazing protagonist, a quirky voice, or gorgeous prose, I aim to amplify each project's key strengths, while also shoring up weaknesses, identifying red flags, and getting the smoothest, cleanest writing possible. Whether you're looking to strengthen your novel prior to submitting to agents and editors or preparing to self-publish, my goal is to retain the "you" in your book, but to hone the most polished version of you. I vow to provide you with a thorough, sensitive, and constructive critique of your work that will help you stand out in the crowd.

Let's get your novel ready to move off your computer and out into the world! I can't wait to get started.