D. Ann Williams – Editor

Hey everyone, I’m D Ann (they/them) a literary agent*, editor, and sensitivity reader with over 10 years of experience. I read and edit across genres but have a soft spot for romance, speculative fiction (Afrofuturism and magical realism), and mysteries. I have worked with Macmillan, HarperCollins, Hachette, Penguin Random House, Amazon, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Simon and Schuster, Sourcebooks, Quarto Publishing, and many self-published authors. I have also presented workshops to author organizations (editing process) and Macmillan Publishing Group (working with authenticity readers) and was a writing coach for We Need Diverse Books, 2021 Black Creatives Revision Workshop.

Prior to working in publishing, I earned two bachelor’s degrees in History and African American Studies from UCLA where I was the editor-in-chief of two academic journals. After graduation, I started freelance editing for academic and business writers before transitioning into full-time freelance editing/authenticity reading in the publishing industry. I fell in love with helping authors bring their books to life but realized a big hurdle for many people is getting an agent. From there, I became a literary agent* at Emerald City Literary Agency* to help. As a Black American, queer individual, I am committed to working with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented authors in the publishing industry.

Editing services I offer:

• developmental editing

• copyediting editing

• sensitivity/authenticity reading for LGBTQ (ace-spectrum, bi, wlw/sapphic), polyam, Black American, mental health (ideation, anxiety, depression),

• proofreading

Send me a message and see if we'd be a good fit!

*Please note: I cannot offer literary representation to anyone I have worked with in an editorial capacity for ethical reasons.