Success Stories: Editing
… Your critique was amazing because you told me what aspect needed further development, and then provided me some suggestions. … This is so helpful because by this point I’ve boxed my story and closed it up so tight in my head I have a hard time reopening it for fresh ideas.—Shanon Hunt, The Pain Colony (psychological thriller)
So call her Mrs. Miyagi. And, while you’re at it, probably book her to take your manuscript to the next level, too.—Luke R. Mitchell, The Harvester, The Enochian War, The Excalibur Knights Saga series (science fiction/adventure)
Lisa’s Accelerator is an essential tool that saves an author months by ensuring he or she begins with a solid outline, character arc, motive, stakes, etc. It would be hard to work without her.—M.J. Twomey, Adventures of a Victorian Soldier series (historical fiction)
Over the past year, Lisa’s concise, clear edits helped me shape my first book into a much better product. She was respectful of my writing style while also providing concrete advice on how to improve it. Throughout the entire editing process, Lisa was accessible and enthusiastic about my book, met the deadlines she set, and even made room in her schedule to accommodate another short round of edits I needed at the last minute.
I’m currently working with Lisa on her new Accelerator service. The exercises are already helping me think much more critically about my second book, which Lisa will also be editing. Overall, I couldn’t be happier.—Matt Bishop, And the Heavens Burn series (Norse & Viking fantasy)
… I knew not to go with a discount editor. What I didn’t know was how much more value I would get—even more than expected. I can’t imagine what I would be missing had I worked with someone else.—J. Michael Jarvis, French Roll (memoir/adventure)
Through the entire process, she was patient while guiding me, challenging me, and supplying me with much-needed information to write and publish a story I’m proud of. I read that an editor’s job is to make the author look brilliant. Accomplished!—E.R. Millott, Full of Clover (religious and inspirational)
After exchanging numerous emails and asking dozens of questions, I kept going back to Lisa. It was absolutely the right decision. I learned so much during the process, and I am certain I’m a much better writer for having worked with her. I’m very proud of At This Moment, the first book in the Of Love and Madness series, and I’m looking forward to working with Lisa again on the second book, We All Fall Down.—Karen Cimms, Of Love and Madness series and The Calendar Girl duet (romance)
… I am so grateful for Lisa taking the time to teach. Her methods were often Socratic, causing me to think through difficult problems and find excellent solutions. Genius! What a valuable experience! —G. Reading Powell, Catfish Calloway for the Defense series (historical legal thrillers)
Lisa’s the real deal. Simply awesome. In the last six months, I have learned so much. And more than that, the voice inside my head has changed her tune. Now I hear “You’re going to do this.” . . . Before I invested in myself by hiring Lisa, I was a decent storyteller but I didn’t understand that parts of that story were missing. She taught me about building a better book, about embracing the challenge of soaking up the advice and churning out words that draw people in. My books are landing on publisher’s desks because I happened upon Lisa’s name, and I listened. I will be forever grateful for her expertise.
… In the year that I’ve worked with you, my writing has improved tenfold. Your ability to deconstruct a story and remold it in its best possible form is a true talent, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have found you. You are more than an editor and a book coach. You are a story whisperer, a teacher, a sensei, and I think you’re awesome!—Emile Horne (romantic suspense, YA)
One client’s search for the right editor:
Your Book Needs an Editor. How Do You Find One?
I deeply appreciated each positive observation and attaboy in the reports and manuscripts. Those especially help to reinforce desired and appealing writing techniques and context.—Todd Thorne, Maelstrom Rising (thriller)
As a self-published author, I was under the opinion that I could edit my own work. I have since learned that is the biggest mistake any author can make. You need a great and wonderful editor to enhance and embolden the story; I found that with Lisa. Having worked with other “editors,” I found most to simply want to correct my often poor grammar or incorrect word choice, but Lisa also looks at the whole story, offering suggestions outside of the simple fixes.
You don’t get many second or third chances, so make your first novel explode across Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, and other digital storefronts. Don’t go cheap on an editor or a book cover designer. You will spend tight budget well allowing Lisa to go over your novel.—Troy Christensen, The Tome (horror)
She wants your book to be the best it can be. … She totally understood that this novel is my baby, my first baby, and when we disagreed, which we did a couple of times, we worked together to find a good solution that we were both happy with. I like that in a co-worker, and that’s what our working relationship felt like. We worked together to make my book better.—Sara Stark, An Untold Want (literary fiction)
Exceptional professionalism and dedication to focused structure infuse everything Lisa does. She provided meticulous and insightful guidance through every step of my project, challenging me to craft a better book, equipping me with the tools to get there and giving me the confidence to keep reaching for better. Couldn’t have asked for a better guide on my path to publication.—K.A. Wiggins, Blind the Eyes (YA)
I edit and evaluate manuscripts for both authors and publishers.
I could be your editor, too.
I work only with writers I believe I can help reach specific writing, editing, and publishing goals. A complimentary assessment helps us both determine what you and your book need. Interested in exploring the possibilities? Let’s talk about working together on your book.
Success Stories: Coaching
Lisa is an incredible coach and editor. Thanks to her Story Accelerator, I was able to understand the workings of my story structure, its strength and weaknesses, and could make changes with confidence. Her developmental edit took things a step further, diving deep into and providing specific recommendations and ideas on how to improve the story flow. In short, Lisa’s instruction and guidance have shaved months, maybe years, off of my effort to improve my writing.—B.R. Keid, Intrusion Protocol (sci-fi)
Our back-and-forth dialogue for each unit really pushed me to sharpen up areas that I hadn’t worked out before. Each week built on the last week nicely. Our phone calls were incredibly helpful to me. She has the experience, confidence, and nurturing touch to help any fiction writer. The coaching experience with her was even better than I expected!—Kevin Hwang (project forthcoming)
Lisa is a brilliant and rigorous and highly engaged coach. Along with helping me get from stuck to unstuck, she expanded my sense of what I was capable of doing. I highly recommend her, especially to first-time novelists.—Hillary Rettig (novel forthcoming)
I spent the last year (with a few months off in the middle) really reflecting on all your advice. The best advice? Freaking read. You weren’t kidding when you said I should read more. Those books (the good and the bad) totally made things click and I went back through all of my notes from our previous conversations. … Right around book 3 in the urban fantasy(ish) realm, I started undoing my own story. All the things you said I needed to let go were suddenly soooo easy to drop. They didn’t fit anymore. They didn’t make sense. … And I also began reading with a more critical eye. It’s been so cool.
Suddenly things started to make sense. I didn’t write anything. Instead, I started planning and building the foundation. Then, only after four months of planning, I started the scene map you provided. That thing is awesome–it basically tells you where the holes are. You have no idea how thankful I am for your help.—Parrissa Eyorokon (release forthcoming)
Overall I enjoyed the process and it was of great value. This course was hard work and definitely forced my brain to pay attention to detail. … For a new writer who doesn’t know the marketplace and expectations of genre, this is a great way to learn. Also really good for breaking down story structure. Lisa hits all the main points of constructing a good story with great characters.—Anna Celotto (project forthcoming)
Lisa’s Accelerator really helped me to develop my story in a way I would not have been able to on my own. At first I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t quite understand what a Plot Accelerator is. I was like, “OK, whatever … Just help me, please!” More importantly, I didn’t realize I didn’t really have a workable story. Now I do, and I feel a thousand times closer to being a new author than I did before. I’m going to finish this novel. Yes, I am!—Renee Mizrahi (project forthcoming)
The resources are like the tires on a car (the foundation), the opportunity to apply what they teach is like the engine (which makes it start), but your feedback and questions are the steering wheel that keeps it on the road.—Jennifer Goodwin (project forthcoming)
There came a point when I knew I needed the help of a professional editor to tame my writing and to help me tailor my book to a specific reader. I had no plot, deficient character motivation, and little conflict—three essential elements of a commercial novel. I will always remember, Lisa told me I had a ‘manuscript-length discussion of theme’ . . . all the icing and decoration but no cake! I needed to crack some more eggs. She has a great sense of humour, too! Now I can’t imagine working with another editor.
We worked on two manuscript evaluations, a line and copy edit and she provided me all the hours writing coaching I needed in order to finish my book. I’m so pleased with Lisa’s editing services and the support I received from her. I really felt I was being pushed in the right direction from start to finish. Thank you, Lisa!—J. C. Thomas, Awakening Worlds (literary fiction/magical realism)
There is an overload of material out in the universe on writing, and the Plot Accelerator helped crystallize the parts I needed to move ahead. I felt a sense of accomplishment each week and overall, I’m very aware of how my novel is progressing. It is still working!—Norty Cohen (project forthcoming)
Working with Lisa is one of the best writing decisions I’ve made. Lisa’s great at pinpointing areas that need improvement, areas that work. She says things in several different ways so I can pick ones that make sense to me (and maybe come back to the others later). … Excellent in all—response time, professionalism, willingness to provide some individualized approaches. … As a fiction-writer-in-training, I find her comments to be like a mini-course in creative writing. She’s also straightforward, efficient, and professional. Great investment on my part!—Nancy K. Napier
I could be your coach, too.
I work only with writers I believe I can help reach specific writing, editing, and publishing goals. A complimentary assessment helps us both determine what you and your book need. Interested in exploring the possibilities? Let’s talk about working together on your book.Nonfiction Editing
If you’re ready to accelerate your novel, let’s work together.
testimonials, success stories, references, recommendations, satisfied clients, Story Accelerator, Scene Accelerator, book coach, story coach, editor, developmental editing, story editing, line editing