Hello again. I work with aspiring authors and agents, editors, and other publishing professionals to turn basic concepts or word-salad drafts into full-meal manuscripts. I’m happiest behind the scenes, meeting you where you are and collaborating to your book out into the world.
You’ve been thinking about your book for years. Maybe you have a draft. Maybe you have an outline and a ton of insight, or a general concept and a bunch of memories. Yet for whatever reason—say: time, energy, skill, a business to run, a family to raise, a hundred other interests and obligations—it’s just not gelling.
Wherever you’re starting from, we’ll work together to turn complicated lived experience into an organized and vivid narrative. This is a creative joint venture, an exploration of your life and an intentional shaping of your story. Usually the process involves:
a review of existing materials
a series of interviews
the creation of an outline and sample chapter to determine voice and narrative arc
writing of the manuscript, with ongoing interviews, email, and phone calls
one to two rounds of revisions
Given the focus and deep work I devote to every book, I take on only two or three ghostwriting projects per year.
I develop concepts, support authors, and write and edit manuscripts in coordination with in-house editors or editorial teams. I’ve worked with Hachette, Chronicle Books, National Geographic Kids, Penguin Random House, TOPPLE Books & Little A, Pokémon, Weldon Owen, W. W. Norton & Company, BuzzFeed, and Girl Friday Productions.
I’m happy to fix up and flesh out unfinished manuscripts, and I love taking a bare-bones premise and building a beautiful (informative, entertaining, inclusive) book. In fact, for one of my favorite projects, an editor contacted me with a basic idea, and from that I wrote a deeply researched 35,000-word manuscript and delivered it four months later.
You’ve got a messy draft (or draft-ish).
Now what?
Take a breather. You’re too close to it — you couldn’t see the structural muddle for the weird metaphors if you tried! You’re sick of it. You can’t tell if it has potential or if you should delete all files and smash your computer with a baseball bat.
Inhale, exhale.
And while you’re breathing, consider the manuscript assessment. This is a high-level review of your draft, which includes:
A kickoff call to discuss specific issues and goals to be addressed
An editorial memo with constructive feedback on plot and story, concept development, character development, pacing, scene, style quirks and so on
Comments and suggestions in the margins of the manuscript for ease of implementation
Above all, this gets a fresh pair of eyes on it. I bring a new perspective from a place of neutrality, plus expertise and a generally good attitude. It is possible to be both honest and helpful!
If you are an author who likes to write or is committed to writing and wants to invest even more blood, sweat, and tears into the process, then a manuscript assessment is the service for you. Because Rome wasn’t built etc. and you don’t have to go it alone.
Anna is a positive and patient editor who keeps the author’s intent at the forefront of her work. A joy to work with!
– Lizbeth Meredith, author of Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters
