Travis Moran

Travis Moran – Editor

A veteran editor of sports narratives, Travis has guided best-selling authors, debut voices, and sports luminaries to global bookshelves.

Overview

I’m Travis — a developmental editor, sportswriter, and fiction creator with 20+ years of experience crafting compelling sports narratives. Specializing in sports fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoirs, I guide authors from concept to polished manuscript, ensuring their stories resonate with target readers in a $2.5 billion sports-literary market.

I’ve collaborated with acclaimed journalists, legendary athletes, and debut authors on 50+ published sports nonfiction books and 120+ NBA articles. My tenures in Asia, Europe, and beyond bring a global perspective to cross-cultural storytelling. Clients praise my candor, coaching, and enthusiasm — making me a trusted partner for sports authors, green or seasoned.

Services:

• Editorial Assessment (EA): Detailed manuscript diagnostics with actionable revision strategies

• Developmental Editing (DE): Exhaustive analysis, development blueprint, revision review, and regular consultations

• Copy Editing (CE): Line-by-line polishing to optimize readability and prepare for submissions*

Whether you’re an athlete with a memoir, a journalist crafting a historical sports opus, or a novelist exploring sports-themed fiction, I will elevate your story and hone your craft.

Though I bid selectively, I respond to all requests — feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions about my services. I'm here to help!

Let's turn your manuscript into must-read book that inspires and engages readers!

***

(*) - To ensure personalized service and optimal results, CE is available only when packaged with DE.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs History Political Science & Current Affairs Sports & Outdoors
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Short Story
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

TrueHoop

Apr, 2022 — Apr, 2025 (about 3 years)
• Developed, edited, and published 120+ weekly articles with topics ranging from advanced NBA metrics and on-court performance analysis to sportswashing investigations and cultural commentary • Crafted a serial fantasy-basketball column (20 installments over two seasons) and multiple features, driving hundreds of thousands of unique views and numerous paid subscriptions

Sports Publishing LLC

Feb, 2005 — Jul, 2007 (over 2 years)
• Guided 30+ books from concept to consumer, cultivating the works of acclaimed authors, award-winning journalists, and legendary athletes • Enhanced the style, narrative, and readability of marketing materials to increase audience engagement, ensuring successful launches and promotions

Self-employed

Aug, 2017 — Mar, 2022 (over 4 years)
• Composed speeches, designed presentations, and refined copy for C-suite executives, honing their communications for cross-cultural audiences • Tailored personal statements for 38 Chinese postgraduate applicants to elite universities across the globe, securing acceptance rates of over 90 percent

Beijing Language and Culture University

Aug, 2017 — Jul, 2020 (almost 3 years)
• Directed writing courses for School of Applied Foreign Languages, reforming the non-major curriculum to bolster lesson practicality and academic integrity • Honored as Foreign Teacher of Excellence for International Faculty in 2018, showcasing dedication to teaching and student success

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Light, at the End of the Bench

Federico, Niksha

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
One Moment Changes Everything is the tragic true story of the Rogers family, who was blessed with three talented althletes until a single dose of cocaine killed Don Rogers. Don's family went f... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Passengers Journal: Volume 3 Issue 2

Press, Passengers

Independently published

Editorial Assessment
Passengers Journal Volume 3 Issue 3

Press, Passengers

Independently published

Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Entangled in Ivy

Castle, George

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Double Yoi!

Cope, Myron

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing

Travis has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Peter K.

Peter K.

Mar, 2025

Pinned
Travis is professional, detailed, and direct with a keen eye toward storytelling. He's uncompromising when it comes to making your work the best it can be. He laid out in great detail what was required to present my story in its best light and walked me through changes in structure, tone and what...
Read more
Kelly B.

Kelly B.

Dec, 2024

Pinned
I certainly made the right choice selecting Travis as my developmental editor! I knew from our very first communication that he had the right vision for my manuscript - he really gets it. Truth is, he even helped ME get it more clearly by showing me things that I was too close and sentimental to ...
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Gregg V.

Gregg V.

May, 2024

Pinned
Travis was/is terrific, hands down. Best experience I've had with an editorial assessment. I've had the desire to write a novel for years now, and while I had "outlined" my ideas (so to speak), Travis took a lot of time with this content and was honest in where I was and where I could take this ...
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Doug M.

Doug M.

Oct, 2024

Travis gave me exactly what I needed in our editorial assessment project. His feedback was direct and honest and ultimately helped me see what I needed to do to make my book what I want it to be. He was very responsive and easy to work with. It's clear he's dedicated many decades to the craft of ...
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John M.

John M.

Jul, 2024

Travis provided high quality and thoughtful feedback on my short stories. I especially appreciated how invested Travis was with my work, and that he provided direct, actionable suggestions both at the story level and also on a higher/craft level. He also gave me interesting ideas for other readin...
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