Samantha Zaboski – Editor

*~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!