Manuscript Consulting & Editing
My areas of expertise: I regularly work with writers as an editor and/or writing coach (mostly through Pioneer Valley Writers' Workshop, the literary arts organization I founded in 2016 and currently run) and have consulted on the following genres and topics: short fiction, flash fiction, novel, memoir, fantasy / science fiction, speculative fiction, concepting/outlining, the revision process, accountability and creating a regular writing practice, publication & submissions process, querying and finding an agent
My background / areas of interest: As a former literary magazine editor and current manuscript consultant, I have a lot of experience reading and assessing book-length works and short fiction on both a micro level (word choice, grammar, syntax, sentence-level mechanics, etc) and a macro level (characters, plot, story logic, big-picture themes and ideas), and I bring this same attention to all facets of my one-on-one consulting work. I love dissecting stories from a technical, craft-based perspective in order to help writers understand what's working, what could be working better, and most importantly, what is the particular piece trying to be and how can it get there. I am a strong proponent of strengthening the work from the sentence level up, including helping writers understand and internalize principles and mechanics of stronger sentence-level writing. I love a wide array of styles and genres, though I'm particularly drawn to speculative-literary fiction as well as writing that boldly embraces plot, stakes, and has some sense of innovation, daring, and risk-taking to it. I also love helping writers better understand the world of literary magazines and the process of submitting their work, query letters, finding an agent, as well as all the other aspects of publishing and career.
How I work / my process: For all editing and feedback work, I do at least two read-throughs of the pages, commenting in the margins in Google Docs, and making occasional line edits where needed as well. I don't differentiate between types of editing; rather I respond to the text with what feels most needed, and the level of feedback that feels needed. I will similarly tell you what is working already in the piece and where your strengths lie. For coaching: The usual process is meeting on Zoom (or phone) and talking through whatever topic and/or craft issue you'd like to spend the time on. This could be a personalized craft lesson, pertaining to your work; an informational topic like submitting to literary magazines or the querying process; or supporting you through discussing ways to create sustainable writing, editing, and revision practices.
Availability Update: For short stories, first chapter consults, or query consults, I can almost always fit new clients in with a 7 - 10 day turnaround. For longer projects (full-length novels), I will let you know my availability upon inquiry, though turnaround is usually 2 - 3 months. If we've never worked together before, the best way to get started is to sign up for a 2-hour session, or a consult on a short story or first chapter of a novel, so you can experience my feedback style before investing in a full-length manuscript consultation.
How and when to get in touch: For all book-length editing projects, I strongly recommend an initial 2-hour consultation on the first chapter(s) before proceeding (link to schedule below). Book-length editing is a significant investment, and it's important you feel comfortable with my approach and feedback style before continuing; it's also important that I feel that I am the right editor to help you, and that I am confident I can add significant value. Before getting in touch, I encourage all writers to take their work as far as they absolutely can, as it will allow me (or any other editor) to better help you. This means that you've revised significantly on your own first, including worked through multiple drafts with space to "reset" and gain perspective in between.
Scheduling a first session: So, whether you'd like to consult on a short story, several pieces of flash fiction, or the first chapters of a novel, a 2-hour session is a good way to start. You can find out the different ways you might choose to use this session session, as well as page limits, at the "sign up" link below. Please note: If you have a short story or chapter that is longer than the page limit here, I strongly recommend still beginning with just two hours before adding more time. After signing up for a session with me, I will be in touch with you directly within a week to learn more about how you'd like to use your time (editing, coaching, or a combination of the two) as well as to schedule the session!
Here are the current options for signing up for a first session with me:
My background / areas of interest: As a former literary magazine editor and current manuscript consultant, I have a lot of experience reading and assessing book-length works and short fiction on both a micro level (word choice, grammar, syntax, sentence-level mechanics, etc) and a macro level (characters, plot, story logic, big-picture themes and ideas), and I bring this same attention to all facets of my one-on-one consulting work. I love dissecting stories from a technical, craft-based perspective in order to help writers understand what's working, what could be working better, and most importantly, what is the particular piece trying to be and how can it get there. I am a strong proponent of strengthening the work from the sentence level up, including helping writers understand and internalize principles and mechanics of stronger sentence-level writing. I love a wide array of styles and genres, though I'm particularly drawn to speculative-literary fiction as well as writing that boldly embraces plot, stakes, and has some sense of innovation, daring, and risk-taking to it. I also love helping writers better understand the world of literary magazines and the process of submitting their work, query letters, finding an agent, as well as all the other aspects of publishing and career.
How I work / my process: For all editing and feedback work, I do at least two read-throughs of the pages, commenting in the margins in Google Docs, and making occasional line edits where needed as well. I don't differentiate between types of editing; rather I respond to the text with what feels most needed, and the level of feedback that feels needed. I will similarly tell you what is working already in the piece and where your strengths lie. For coaching: The usual process is meeting on Zoom (or phone) and talking through whatever topic and/or craft issue you'd like to spend the time on. This could be a personalized craft lesson, pertaining to your work; an informational topic like submitting to literary magazines or the querying process; or supporting you through discussing ways to create sustainable writing, editing, and revision practices.
Availability Update: For short stories, first chapter consults, or query consults, I can almost always fit new clients in with a 7 - 10 day turnaround. For longer projects (full-length novels), I will let you know my availability upon inquiry, though turnaround is usually 2 - 3 months. If we've never worked together before, the best way to get started is to sign up for a 2-hour session, or a consult on a short story or first chapter of a novel, so you can experience my feedback style before investing in a full-length manuscript consultation.
How and when to get in touch: For all book-length editing projects, I strongly recommend an initial 2-hour consultation on the first chapter(s) before proceeding (link to schedule below). Book-length editing is a significant investment, and it's important you feel comfortable with my approach and feedback style before continuing; it's also important that I feel that I am the right editor to help you, and that I am confident I can add significant value. Before getting in touch, I encourage all writers to take their work as far as they absolutely can, as it will allow me (or any other editor) to better help you. This means that you've revised significantly on your own first, including worked through multiple drafts with space to "reset" and gain perspective in between.
Scheduling a first session: So, whether you'd like to consult on a short story, several pieces of flash fiction, or the first chapters of a novel, a 2-hour session is a good way to start. You can find out the different ways you might choose to use this session session, as well as page limits, at the "sign up" link below. Please note: If you have a short story or chapter that is longer than the page limit here, I strongly recommend still beginning with just two hours before adding more time. After signing up for a session with me, I will be in touch with you directly within a week to learn more about how you'd like to use your time (editing, coaching, or a combination of the two) as well as to schedule the session!
Here are the current options for signing up for a first session with me:
Testimonials
"I have only superlatives when it comes to describing my working with Joy. When I discovered her profile, I instinctively knew she was my person. Her immediate positive response to my project propelled me to finally bring a work begun decades ago to where it should be. I can safely say that it is entirely because of her that an agent is extremely excited about helping me find a publisher. All along the way, her intelligent and sensitive reading helped me organize, restructure and make my story work. It meant so much to me that she really felt the emotion in the memoir, and we worked so well together! I loved the Google Doc system, and found our back and forth over highlighted sections was brilliant. She was tough when she needed to be, and held her ground when I tried to argue a point! I especially was touched at how involved she was with my query process, and finding an agent. She really went the extra mile and I will be forever grateful. Already, imagining how I will thank her in my acknowledgements."
- Julie Scolnik, Founder/Director of Mistral Music and author of Paris Blue
"I really enjoy working with Joy because she makes concrete suggestions for both the practical issues such as areas that need clarification as well as the substantive issues such as areas that need further exploration. Without inserting her own writing, she helps me to see where my writing is leading and needs more depth, forcing me to work harder to discover and uncover the heart of the piece. After getting her input, the finished product comes out so much richer, and completely in line with my intent."
- Marina Hatsopoulos, winner of The Missouri Review's Perkoff Prize for CNF
"Joy's feedback was, unsurprisingly, very useful and specific. It's the sort of editorial eye writer's always hope for - someone who can recognize big picture ideas and structure, but also provide very specific notes on lines, characters, dialogue, and style."
- Emily Everett, Managing Editor of The Common
"Joy provides invaluable feedback! She has a knack for interpreting a writer's intentions. She knows the story you're trying to tell. She knows its strengths and its weaknesses. Her expert advice will help you fix things in your story that are broken, as well as things you didn't even know needed fixing. She is a brilliant mind, a great communicator, and a very sweet person. I'll definitely be sending my future projects her way."
-Drew Rogers
"Joy gave me extremely thorough and helpful feedback, both in conversation and in written comments. I’m so excited to have worked with her because not only is this story much better, I learned so many things I can apply to my next stories. Working with Joy was a great investment!" |
"I am LOVING working with you, Joy...Your enthusiasm, your commitment, your deep interest in process and craft and creative impulse make working with you feel great. I will be signing up for more classes this summer." |
" Joy is an amazingly thoughtful and astute reader and editor. Best of all, she is incredibly encouraging and positive. Though she gives specific feedback on where to improve, it is always constructive and helpful. She gave me some of the most methodical and specific edits on a short story I wrote, which made a world of difference to the piece. Thank you Joy!"
- Hayley Phelan
"Joy has a keen editor's eye and a thorough instinct as to what is needed to improve a flash fiction piece, in my case. She doesn't hold back from offering radical changes when necessary. I respect her for that, and always enjoy working with her to improve my writing." |
"I enthusiastically recommend Joy's skills as an editor, having presented her with a sprawling, 25-page short story I'd been working on for a long time...Joy's work on the story helped tip me in the direction of turning this dense and confusing piece into what it wants to be: a novel. I'm keeping her notes and questions in front of me as I now proceed to write it." |
"Joy is an exceptional editor. Not only is she thorough with grammatical edits, but she's also terrific in critiquing my stories from a craft perspective. Be it character motivation, the veracity of dialogue, stakes, overarching themes, or other aspects of story-building, she has a keen sense of what works and what doesn't, and my stories are so much stronger for her feedback."
-Maria Lioutaia
