Samantha Zaboski

Samantha Zaboski – Editor

A developmental and line editor adept at making novels shine, with 9 years of publishing industry and 4 years of literary agency experience.

Overview

*~Oct 2023 Update: Booking for Jan. 2024~*


I'm a developmental editor, line editor, and copyeditor with nine years of publishing industry experience and four years of literary agency experience. I received my master's in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College and my bachelor's in Professional Writing from King's College, with a second major in Psychology. My master's degree program included coursework in manuscript editing, copyediting, book publishing, marketing, and publicity, taught by professionals active in the industry.


My editing style focuses on strengthening while maintaining voice. My comments and suggestions will be framed not just to suggest what should change, but to explain why I'm suggesting a change. In this way, I aim to equip my authors with a deeper understanding of tactics for mastering voice, plot structure, pacing, and character development. Ultimately, my goal is to help you find the best resolutions that fit your vision, voice, and message.


SERVICES

Editorial Assessment: Broad strokes overview of what's working, what isn't, and why.


Developmental Edit: No-stone-unturned assessment of the manuscript aimed at guiding a revision that will make your manuscript stronger in every way.


Copyedit: Correction of true errors including grammar, usage, internal consistency, capitalization, spelling, etc.


Line Edit: A full copyedit plus edits that improve overall storytelling, including strengthening voice, flow, pacing, and word choice.


FREE SAMPLE EDIT

I provide a free sample edit of first pages to determine if we'd be a good fit, so please don't hesitate to reach out with a sample so that we can start discussing your project.


GENRE SPECIALIZATIONS

-Young Adult Contemporary

-Young Adult Speculative Fiction including Fantasy/Sci-Fi

-Adult Speculative Fiction including Fantasy/Sci-Fi

-Adult Literary/Contemporary Fiction


I am very excited to work on projects featuring and celebrating LGBTQIA+ characters and manuscripts written by BIPOC authors.


I'm not the best fit for religion- and philosophy-heavy fiction, political satire, or animal allegory.


BACKGROUND

I worked for literary agent Lana Popovic, previously of Chalberg & Sussman, for four years. I read dozens of manuscripts with an eye toward improving each manuscript's saleability to publishers. For each manuscript, I wrote an editorial letter critiquing the story, outlining issues with plot, characters, themes, and overall narrative arc. I also fielded all of Lana’s queries, which required knowledge of the current market. Once manuscripts were ready to pitch to publishers, I created submission lists of editors appropriate for each project, as well as a pitch that would become the basis of her pitch to the editor.


For 6 years, I worked for the University Press of Florida as a publicist and a rights manager. I worked directly with authors to promote their books, pitched authors to media outlets and bookstores, and negotiated and managed all rights deals and permissions requests.


I'm a reviewer for Shelf Awareness, where I review books prior to publication, staying abreast of the current book market.


I'm happy to answer any questions you may have prior to working together. I look forward to hearing from you!

Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Fantasy LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Master's in Publishing and Writing (Emerson College)
  • Bachelor's in Professional Writing (King's College)

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 2014 — Present

I specialize in fiction editing for both young adult and adult audiences, particularly in contemporary and science fiction/fantasy genres.

Shelf Awareness

Nov, 2017 — Present

I review adult, YA, and children's fiction and nonfiction books.

Lana Popovic (Chalberg & Sussman)

Sep, 2014 — Feb, 2018 (over 3 years)

Crafted editorial letters critiquing story, outlining issues with plot, characters, themes, and overall narrative arc, explaining what worked and what didn't, and always offering suggestions on how to resolve the manuscript's issues. Additionally, I read queries daily and created submission lists of editors at publishers for client manuscripts.
Together with Lana, I helped edit the following published books, all with fantasy elements:
-The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry (Penguin Random House)
-A Million Junes by Emily Henry (Penguin Random House)
-The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato (Harper Collins)
-The Dark Beneath the Ice by Amelinda Berube (Sourcebooks Fire)
-Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Berube (Sourcebooks Fire)

University Press of Florida

Jul, 2014 — May, 2020 (almost 6 years)

I worked at the University Press of Florida in various capacities. I began work as a publicist, marketing and promoting authors' books and events, pitching books for review and awards, and pitching authors for appearances, readings, and book exhibits. As subsidiary rights manager, I pitched, negotiated, managed, and tracked all translation, film/tv, audiobook and other rights deals. I also managed all permissions requests. My work involved continual communication with authors, media outlets, and bookstores, as well as with international subagents and publishers.

Samantha has 14 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Kimberly H.

Kimberly H.

Sep, 2023

Samantha is amazing. I hired her to do a final edit for my YA novel and she did not disappoint. She is through. Meticulous. Got the vibe of all the characters from page one and plumped them up, made them shine. She smoothed countless passages that needed help and discovered things I was blind to and couldn't see. She has an innate ability to juggle all plot points in her head seemingly at once,...
Read more
Sara F.

Sara F.

Jun, 2023

Samantha's work is top-tier. Her edit of my book is everything I could hope for: insightful, direct, and thorough. I understood all aspects of my book and my characters for having worked with her. While Samantha's inclusion of her positives of the book and, especially, her line comments denoting amusement were incredibly heartening to read, I was most happy with her willingness to critique with...
Read more
Dan B.

Dan B.

Apr, 2023

I really cannot offer high enough praise for Samantha! This was my first time working with a professional editor. I was so anxious about handing the world and story I have put so much love and passion to someone else. I thought the whole process would be stressful and draining. I couldn't have possibly been more wrong! Samantha went above and beyond what was needed every step of the way. He...
Read more
Nic T.

Nic T.

Feb, 2023

Samantha was immensely helpful in her thoughts and feedback, letting me understand how to elevate my story and make me think more carefully on my writing. I would certainly be interested in working with her again in the future.
Michael G.

Michael G.

Nov, 2022

This is my second book that I've collaborated with Samantha. She's communicates on a regular basis on progress. Her comments/suggestions are precise with additional background why changes would work better in a certain scene or dialogue. She's very easy to work with and I valued her recommendations along the way. Thank you so much!!

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Samantha and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Samantha

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Salome Jones

Salome J.

Fiction editor with 15+ years experience. Genres include fantasy - especially urban fantasy - historical fiction, and more. Friendly.

London, UK

100% reply rate

View profile
Laura LaTulipe

Laura L.

Experienced fiction editor and proofreader. I specialize in YA, romance, and fantasy.

Ocala, FL, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Olivia Batker Pritzker

Olivia B.

Developmental editor offering thoughtful, sharp-eyed creative collaboration. Specializes in the speculative and strange.

New York, NY, USA

99% reply rate

View profile