Editing & Story Coaching
Published author helping stuck writers get unstuck through story coaching, editing, and encouragement.
Here’s the truth: writing a book is hard. And there are plenty of opportunities to lose hope throughout the process, whether it’s at the point of story development, writing that first draft, or editing your manuscript. Are you wondering if:
- your idea is enough?
- your characters are fully developed?
- there’s a plot hole needing filled?
- your story is engaging?
- you’re ready to query agents?
- or even…how to get started?
Wherever you are in the process, I can help. I love storytelling. And I love helping authors tell better stories. Since completing my undergraduate degree in creative writing, I have continued learning the craft of writing, and helping clients tell their own stories. As an author, I understand the process from the writer’s perspective. Having worked through revisions with my agent and editors, I have also come to realize the value of a professional (and outsider) perspective. I take my role very seriously, and consider it a privilege to be in this line of work.
Each book is unique. I work to understand your vision, voice, audience, and preferred style. I look through the lens of a reader, finding ways to best engage your target audience. I provide feedback, guidance, and resources through coaching and editing to help you strengthen your story. I specialize in the following genres: women’s fiction, historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, and general fiction.
Services
Chat Session
The path to publishing is quite a journey and sometimes it just helps to talk to someone. While everyone’s experience is different, I’m happy to answer any questions you have via a phone call.
Maybe you’re wondering:
- How do I get unstuck with this story idea?
- How do I even go about writing a book?
- What is my next step?
- Do you have any resources you recommend?
- Am I ready to query agents? Also, how?!
- What is it like working with an editor/publisher?
- What are the pros/cons of traditional publishing?
- Do trad authors really not choose their titles and covers?
- When can I quit my day job? (spoiler: not for a long time)
Cost is calculated per 25-minute intervals.
Story Coaching
Do you have a story idea that you’re struggling to get off the ground? Do you need some strategy, focus, and encouragement to get unstuck and writing forward? Then story coaching may be the right next step for you. With this service, I like to understand your needs and design a solution for you.
Story Coaching includes:
- Personalized coaching plan.
- An on-boarding call to discuss you, your goals, your concept/work-in-progress, your strengths & struggles, etc.
- Feedback and review of materials.
- Tools and encouragement designed for you to move you forward.
- Email correspondence throughout our time.
- Additional calls, as needed.
Instead of a plug-and-play package, I prefer to design a custom coaching approach that fits your needs and your budget.
Editorial Assessment
Once you’ve completed your manuscript, it’s helpful to have a second-set of eyes review your story. An editorial assessment is a step above a beta read. It provides broad strokes, big picture feedback. Or, as I like to say, it examines the forest, but not the details of the trees.
Editorial Assessment includes:
- An on-boarding phone call up to 50 minutes.
- One read through of your full manuscript.
- Light notes made throughout, commenting on shape, structure, pacing, etc.
- A detailed, multi-page report documenting strengths, weaknesses, and suggested steps forward.
- A list of resources to help you revise.
- Email correspondence, as needed for a month after completion.
Note: an assessment does not include text edits, proofreading, nor copy editing.
Cost is calculated per word count and turn around is typically a month from start date.
Developmental Edit
If you’re ready for a closer edit that begins examining the trees and not just the forest, then this is the right service for you. This is a recommended step you take before beginning to query agents or self-publishing.
Developmental Edit includes:
- An on-boarding phone call up to 50 minutes.
- One read through of your full manuscript.
- Detailed notes made throughout, commenting on shape, structure, pacing, plot, character development, readability, etc.
- Special attention paid to the first chapter to hook the agent/publisher/reader.
- A detailed, multi-page report documenting strengths, weaknesses, and suggested steps forward.
- A list of resources to help you revise.
- Email correspondence, as needed for a month after completion.
Note: a developmental edit may include some light text edits, but it is not a proofread, nor copy edit.
Cost is calculated per word count and turn around is typically a month from start date.
Testimonials
“Meagan is an editor with a writer’s heart and a keen ear for story… Her insightful comments helped me tighten up and hone the manuscript’s strengths, as well as figure out some pesky weaknesses and what I could do to bolster those. She was great fun to work with and I loved that all her feedback felt conversational and practical, just like talking to a friend and fellow book-lover!” ~ Lisa DeSelm, author of The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice
“As a first-time writer, I was overwhelmed with how to tackle a collaboration with an editor. Meagan assuaged my fears and guided me through the process with a clear format and expertise. She also invested time in talking with me before even reading the manuscript to be sure she had a good understanding of my vision for the book and what I needed the most help with from a developmental editor. Her suggestions were simultaneously gentle and profound and helped me see the shape my book could become that more accurately matched what I wanted it to be in the first place. Overall a wonderful and transformative experience!” ~ Tonya C.
“I had a good feeling about working with Meagan after reading her profile and it was affirmed during our initial conversation. Meagan was genuinely interested in understanding me, my project, and goals. She was clear about what her role in editorial assessment would be and would not be. I found her to be genuine, understanding, professional, and honest. Her feedback and notes will help move my project forward. As someone completely new to this process, I would not have been able to consider how to take my book to the next level without her professional insight and recommendations.” ~ Sarah Jo W.
“Meagan has been amazing. She quickly identified where I was struggling and offered perfect insight into how to best move forward. On top of this, she recommended references and books that she thought would help me and that would provide examples of ways to resolve my road blocks. She has been very responsive to my questions and while she hasn’t shied away from honest critique, she has done it in a sympathetic and encouraging manner. I am so glad that we connected. Ask her for help! You won’t be disappointed.” ~ Ken H.
About Meagan
With a B.A. in English from Indiana University, I built a career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations, and as publisher and editor of a literary journal. I signed with a literary agent in 2021 and received a two-book deal from Sourcebooks a few months later. And, I’ve learned a lot throughout the process. I am the author of The Last Carolina Girl and The Girls We Sent Away. I believe in the importance of storytelling and I have a passion to help others tell better stories.