How I Work with Writers

I don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to working with writers. Before taking on a new project, I like to meet with prospective clients to discuss their needs and gauge whether we’re a right fit for each other. In some cases, I encourage them to send me a 10-20 page sample. I’ll then provide a complimentary review so the writer can get a feel for the type of feedback I provide, and whether or not I “get” their project.

Once we move forward, I conduct a more detailed intake to find out about specific challenges they need support with and set a timeline. Some writers struggle with procrastination and need a structured, consistent meeting schedule. Others prefer a more “laid back” approach because they are juggling a lot of responsibilities and also have more flexibility with their final deadline.

An important part of the intake involves finding out how writers like to receive feedback. Everyone learns and processes information differently; some clients like to receive feedback “on the spot” during our meeting, while others prefer to review my comments/notes a few days before so they can process the feedback and come to our meeting prepared with questions.

During our virtual feedback sessions, some clients benefit from talking things through and making corrections on their own time. Others, on the other hand, prefer making revisions in real time, during our virtual session.

While I certainly flag such things typos or grammatical errors, I am not a copy editor. I generally focus on such areas as:

  • Character Development

  • Pacing

  • Structure + Clarity

  • Tone + Consistency

  • Weaving a Narrative Thread

I’m based out of Southern California and meet virtually with my clients to accommodate writers in different time zones. I’m also available via text/email throughout the week to answer questions, bounce ideas, or help wordsmith a sentence or a paragraph. At the end of the day, writing is an art form. And, like any other artist… writers aren’t going to only run into creative challenges or roadblocks during scheduled sessions. I find this kind of flexibility to be important in supporting writers I work with.

If you’d like additional insight into how I work, or have a more specific question, feel free to send me a message.