Sirah Jarocki

Sirah Jarocki – Editor

Careful inspections, thorough explanations, and considerate guidance for inclusive picture books and middle grade novels.

Overview

Sirah has been a freelance editor since 2012, primarily working on books and articles for young readers. She specializes in picture books and middle grade novels, but she also works on graphic novels, children's nonfiction, and select books for adults if they're in an area of interest. Before becoming an editor, Sirah was a kindergarten teacher, which gives her a unique ability to offer helpful criticism and explanations. Sirah makes a strong effort to stay on the cusp of popular children's books to help you create a book that kids want to pick up and won't be able to put down.

Sirah particularly likes working with first-time authors and young writers. While she specializes in developmental editing and copy editing, she loves doing editorial assessments for any book. Her goal is to help you create a book that both feels like your own and still maintains the highest standards of writing. She loves inclusive stories, particularly those focused on people with disabilities, and she has a hard time saying no to a book about social justice or environmental protection. Sirah is patient and enthusiastic and willing to offer thorough guidance to help you move closer to publishing with confidence.

*Please note that I do not offer proofreading for novels (though I will proofread picture books). My goal is to create good literature that I'd be proud to have my name on, and I charge accordingly. Yes, I love working on poetic works, but please be aware that there's more to a poetic book than rhyming.

Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Comics & Graphic Novels Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy Picture Books
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Bachelor's in English and Journalism

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2013 — Present
I got my start as a freelance editor for academic essays. Around the same time, I began writing paid book reviews for schools and libraries. In 2018, I began to work with small presses to write ad copy and blurbs for books, including working with search engine optimization (SEO) and product descriptions. This eventually led to collaborations involving analyzing books for blogs and working with authors to avoid bad reviews. Throughout the past ten years, this position has evolved to include a lot of writing about books and evaluating what readers are looking for. I still enjoy blogging and working with small presses from time to time, even though I now work primarily as a developmental editor for picture books and middle grade novels with Reedsy.

Portfolio

When an unusual shop of curiosities opens in London, a chance encounter has an outcast and somewhat forgotten eleven-year-old girl befriending its proprietors, two kindly yet odd gentlemen with a secret. What ensues is a peculiar adventure filled with spells a... read more
A perilous quest. A missing magic chest. And one very, very wayward tale. After failing her duty as the newly appointed Guardian of TallStalks, Wynn, a young intrepid swirlear, journeys far beyond the tangled stalks of her home to retrieve the very thing she w... read more
In the Ashanti Kingdom, a powerful and wealthy kingdom in West Africa with the strongest and bravest of warriors, Queen Yaa Asantewaa is worried for her people. After many years of war, the British have taken over the Kingdom and captured King Asantehene. Next... read more
Third grade is a disaster! Josee’s grades are failing; she has only one friend left; and her relationship with her parents is falling apart. She feels scared and alone. When she is invited to attend a mysterious new school, she decides to takes the risk. Even ... read more

Sirah has 370 reviews

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Value

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Anita B.

Anita B.

Jul, 2024

Pinned
Sirah has been wonderful to work with. She is honest in her assessments, but in a kind and respectful manner. I have felt comfortable asking her questions, knowing that she will explain clearly the answers, no matter how trivial. Her work is completed on time, and her fees are very reasonable. I...
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didi D.

didi D.

May, 2024

Pinned
i'm not even sure how many books sirah has edited for me now, is this the 8th one? that should tell you a lot. she's so great!
Lina A.

Lina A.

May, 2024

Pinned
Sarah has been an absolute pleasure to work with. What I appreciated most was that I felt like safe with her… like I could trust her with my stories and she would help me elevate them with her amazing feedback. I will continue to work with her on future projects. She’s a gem and I’m so glad I fou...
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Rabia A.

Rabia A.

Dec, 2025

Sirah was great to work with. She is very professional and delivered edits as agreed upon. She listened to feedback and provided insight from her experience. One quick project turned into a longer term project with many short, children's book manuscripts.
Karla V.

Karla V.

Dec, 2025

Working with you has been a wonderful experience. Thank you for your effective, constructive, and timely feedback. You were clear, helpful, and also kind every time. I also appreciate that you respected my voice and gave me options and suggestions, not just corrections. I felt supported and infor...
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Sirah J.
Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad that my editing style worked well for you. It was a joy to see your picture book grow, and I'm excited to see it in the hands of readers.

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Most recent contributions

What factors do you take into account when setting your editing rates?

Like most people, I think I should be paid a livable wage, so when I find a manuscript that I anticipate will take a lot of time, I set my rates accordingly. Things that make a manuscript more time consuming include length, complexity, turnaround time, and emotional difficulty (it's much harder t...
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What, in your opinion, is the most important job of a developmental editor?

I always ask two questions when I assess a manuscript on the story level: What is the author trying to say, and does this book actually say that? An editor's job involves placing themself simultaneously in the position of the writer and the reader and giving those two parties the chance to collab...
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What proactive steps ensure inclusivity and authentic representation in publishing projects?

Inclusivity and diversity are important to me. I'm part of several minorities, but I know I can't speak for all minorities or for all members who happen to be in the same minority group as I am. I start by actively advertising that I'm looking for inclusive projects. Whenever I collaborate on b...
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