Private Editorial Services

Perhaps you’ve read about my other services and you’re not sure where your stuff fits in. You don’t have a manuscript, you don’t have a blog or website, and you’re light years away from even sidling up to the idea of a book, let alone a book proposal. You just want to write.

Perhaps you’ve got a personal essay you’d like to polish and send out on submission. Or you’re working on a special tribute for a loved one’s birthday, anniversary, graduation, or other special occasion. Or you want to create a memoir for a family reunion. Or perhaps you just want help putting your words on paper, expressing your innermost thoughts—not even necessarily for anyone else to see. Just because it’s meaningful to you.

No matter what your writing goals are, if you’ve got them, I want to help you achieve them. (I draw the line at ransom notes.) And I’ll do so in a kind, respectful way. After all, I’m a writer too. Which means that, by definition, I’ve had my share of rejections. I started my editing career at Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1981, but I didn’t publish my first piece until 1994 (“The Story of Z”, in the New York Times Magazine), so I also know what it’s like to have a dream deferred. 

It’s always meant a lot to me to have writing mentors who could give me constructive criticism, specific advice for next steps, and encouragement when I wanted to give up.  I hope I can be that mentor for you.

Fee:  $300 an hour.