Tania Strauss – Editor

I'm a writer and editor from New York City with a 15+ year career that spans book publishing and film. I give detailed, empathetic, and *genuinely useful* feedback that will help you work through creative blocks, get excited and (re)inspired, and craft the strongest possible version of your story.

I have a degree in Creative Writing, and spent my early career at United Talent Agency in Hollywood, and The Cheney Agency in New York. I was mentored by some of the best agents in the business(es), whose clients included award winning authors, screenwriters, and filmmakers. At UTA I developed a specialty doing "script notes" and analyzing books for film adaptation; at Cheney I became an in-house editor of both fiction manuscripts and nonfiction book proposals, for clients whose projects regularly sold to Big Five publishers. I also read and responded to hundreds (thousands??) of query letters and submissions.

Since going solo I've freelanced with both UTA and Cheney Agency, as well as Lauren Kay Writes Editing Agency, NY Book Editors, several production companies, and for individual authors by direct referral. I've spent much of my career in "gatekeeper" roles, so I know what film and publishing professionals look for in a project, and I bring that crucial perspective to the authors I work with.

However corporate work isn't what I find most rewarding, so I'm getting back to what I'm passionate about: helping writers express their unique creative vision, in a way that communicates effectively with their audience. I collaborate best with authors who've already put some work into their craft, and are looking for expert feedback on their current project as well as to build a toolkit they can carry into their future creative endeavors.

As a writer myself, I'm actively rebuilding my own practice after several years of shelving it for other priorities. I know what it's like to find your way back to creativity after feeling stuck, frustrated, and insecure, and that lived experience deeply informs how I approach my clients - not only as a teacher, but as a peer who understands what writers need to create, and to thrive.

TESTIMONIALS:

"Tania could see the book I was trying to write and gently, brilliantly guided me towards it. She is a savvy editor who brings clarity and kindness to her work. Her insights helped me see my work with new eyes, and her thoughtful edits gave me confidence and excitement to approach my next revision."

- Lior Torenberg; debut novel forthcoming from Simon & Schuster

"Working with Tania was a turning point in the development of my book proposal. She’s more than an editor, she’s a creative partner who knows how to take big, ambitious ideas and shape them into something marketable and compelling. If you’re looking to bring your voice to the page in a way that’s both meaningful and effective, I can’t recommend her enough."

-Denise Love Hewett; entrepreneur, podcaster and public speaker