Please note as of 1/10/24: I am currently open to editing inquiries. Check out my welcome packet! Please note that I am only accepting book-length projects at this time (short story collections, poetry collections, novellas, novels, nonfiction books, etc.)
Now accepting consultation appointments: Just have questions about writing? You can now book a 1/2 hour appointment ($37.50) or a 1 hour appointment with me ($75). Not sure where to submit your work? Want advice on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing? Need advice on pitching to agents? Want a writer pep talk? I'm here to answer your questions!
Testimonials
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"Working with Holly has always been a pleasure. I learned not only how to better my skills as a storyteller from a technical stand point, but how to present value in emotion through my characters and world building.
Most important of all, how the connection between characters and the world can embrace the value of emotion that transforms a fictional story from a place of entertainment to one that is memorable." —A.G. Flitcher "Holly's developmental edits were a godsend for my sci-fi series. Her guidance on character development, worldbuilding, and plot coherence were clear, sensible, and actionable, and I have no doubt the subsequent success of the series was in large part due to her guidance. A true professional who consistently exceeded expectations, Holly was a pleasure to work with. She's an amazing editor."--DL Young
"Holly is a rising star. She made an exception for me that many editors wouldn't and helped me when I was in an urgent time squeeze. Her work was thorough and detailed and I could see that she had power over her attention despite the time factor. She has a brilliant brain and I'm sure she would be great at other forms of editing as well." --Zaayin Salaam
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"My work has improved five, ten, twenty times over with Holly's guidance and expertise. For my debut poetry collection she provided feedback that pushed me to find the narrative within my collection, and her line edits made my poems shine. She is smart, responsive, and really cares about what she does. On top of everything, she is also knowledgeable and passionate about the publishing industry. I feel very lucky to work with Holly and could not recommend her enough!"
--Aimee Wai "Over the last twenty years, I've worked with many editors. Holly Lyn Walrath is one of the best. It's not just her ear for poetic prose, although she definitely has that. It's not just her keen understanding of pacing, plotting, and how to build meaningful tension, although she excels at that. It's that, as an editor, she's willing to believe in the potential of your book. She works with you to nudge the story-on-the-page closer to the story-in-your-mind. It's one thing to find typos (which is important), but it's a far greater gift to see the truth of your work and to bring it into the light."--David Hopkins
"I appreciate that Holly was willing to meet with me to discuss my work before she even read it. Her editorial letter after was very detailed and contained actionable steps that I am still implementing."--Lauran Kerr-Heraly
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Let's Level Up Your Book!
Hi! I'm Holly, a freelance editor living in Houston, Texas. I've been an editor working with authors from all walks of life for about ten years now. My clients vary from poets to nonfiction authors with big ideas to artists to indie writers in the speculative genres. My favorite clients to work with are new writers looking to make the leap into publishing. I am the managing editor for Interstellar Flight Press, an indie speculative publishing house focusing on novellas, short story collections, anthologies, and poetry collections.
Services & Specialties
Speculative Genres: SFFH
I work with clients who write speculative fiction in genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I am experienced in editing various forms of writing in this field, including short stories, poetry, and anthologies. Although most of my clients are independent self-publishers, I have also worked with agents and editors from top publishing houses. I am passionate about editing series for rapid release on eBook platforms and helping self-published writers create marketing plans for platforms like Amazon.
Poetry Manuscripts
My main love is poetry! I work with poets to develop manuscripts for submission to awards and self-publication. My expertise includes ordering/sequencing, line editing, thematic development, and helping poets build emotional narratives.
Big Idea Nonfiction Books: Arts & Culture
My favorite nonfiction books to work with are big idea books that explore the wide range of history, art, religion, and culture. I am a coordinator for the Religious Studies Review, hosted by Rice University. From self-help to education, I want to help writers help others.
Phone and Zoom Consultations
Pick my brain! I offer consultations for $75/hour. Not sure what your genre is? Need help with ideas for where to submit? Want advice on navigating the query process? Want some "writing therapy"? I'll be your huckleberry. Click here to book! Here are some ideas for how to use this time:
Types of Services Offered
You're welcome to view my list of rates by service, but here are the basic options:
Developmental Editing: During a developmental edit, I will dive deep into your manuscript. I'll read it from cover to cover with a keen eye for detail and make notes throughout the document to suggest areas that could use some tweaking. Along with a feedback letter, I'll focus on improving the story, plot, characters, and other essential elements that make your manuscript shine. I'm confident that this edit will help take your writing to the next level!
Copyediting: During a copyedit, I will thoroughly review your manuscript by focusing on the language. Afterward, I will send you a document that has been line edited, containing corrections for voice, tone, sentence structure, paragraph structure, and other crucial elements that make a manuscript stand out. Please note that this option is recommended for writers who have already undergone a developmental edit or believe that their manuscript is already strong. Additionally, if you desire, I can create a style sheet for you as well.
Proofreading: I specialize in detecting and correcting all sorts of errors, including those related to spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. I can also thoroughly review print-ready PDFs to ensure that they meet the highest standards of quality. With my keen attention to detail and nitpicky ways, you can rest assured that your writing will be polished to perfection!
How I Work
I work in 2-week increments, which means every book I edit gets two weeks of my time, more if it's longer or more involved. Each book-length editing project includes a one-hour consultation either before or after the edits are delivered (not included for short stories). I use Microsoft Word and the "track changes" feature, but I can also work from print-ready PDFs. All clients are provided an editing contract with clear delivery dates.
I'm usually booked out at least 1-2 months in advance, so if you're on a deadline, please let me know, and I can provide a quote for a rush job. I charge by page count (250 words/page). I require a 50% deposit for new clients and large projects. I prefer to work with completed manuscripts, but there are times when I'll work with an author on an hourly basis. I'm happy to work with remote or local clients.
Q & A
Can you provide me with a free sample?
Unfortunately, I no longer provide free editing samples. I receive so many requests that I have to charge for this service, otherwise, I would be unable to manage my paying clients' work. However, I do offer a discounted rate of $1/page (250 words/page) for sample edits, which is significantly less than my standard rate.
What's your editing style?
I believe that the author is the best editor for a work. Therefore, when I approach a manuscript, I want to achieve what the author feels the manuscript needs, combined with what the manuscript seems to be asking of me as a reader. My goal in editing is to guide a writer towards being able to make revisions themselves. Often, these are more successful than if a writer merely follows my advice. For great writing to happen, something has to break open in the writer and surprise them. It's that surprise that will catch a reader, too.
I want to self-publish. Can you help?
Yes! I offer formatting and marketing services for indie authors. I can create beautiful, fully formatted interiors for eBooks and print books in .mobi, .epub, and .pdf versions. These interiors are gorgeously designed and ready to upload to KDP, Ingram, or the self-publishing platform of your choice. (Please note: I do not design book covers or work with image-heavy books.)
Need help with getting reviews and spreading awareness of your brand? I can develop a multi-step marketing plan for your book, complete with Twitter campaign advice, reviewer outreach, Goodreads setup and outreach, Facebook advertising, and media/press releases.
What kind of projects do you like best?
There's no one type of client I work with because writers are all so different. I've worked with new writers and established writers, publishing houses, indie presses, and community groups. I have a particular fondness for new writers because I understand the bravery it takes to put your work out there for the first time. I also love working with writers who are publishing for the first time. That gets me excited. It's like seeing a planet being born. You never know the kind of history that will emerge.
What are some of your favorite authors?
I read a great deal of short fiction. My favorite lit mags include One Story, Uncanny Magazine, Flash Fiction Online, Clarkesworld, F&SF, and online publications like Liminality and Strange Horizons.
As far as authors go, I greatly admire Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, Kelly Link, and Edward Hirsch. My influences and tastes are constantly changing. Other good reads include Brandon Sanderson, Nnedi Okorafor, Ursula Le Guin, Walt Whitman, Sherman Alexie, Sofia Samatar, Amelia Grey, Stephen King, Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood, Ken Liu, Sabrina Orah Mark, J.R.R. Tolkien, Virginia Woolf, Audre Lorde, and Rita Dove.
My favorite writing resources are: What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Ann Bernays & Pamela Painter, How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry by Edward Hirsch, and Steering the Craft by Ursula Le Guin.
Hi! I'm Holly, a freelance editor living in Houston, Texas. I've been an editor working with authors from all walks of life for about ten years now. My clients vary from poets to nonfiction authors with big ideas to artists to indie writers in the speculative genres. My favorite clients to work with are new writers looking to make the leap into publishing. I am the managing editor for Interstellar Flight Press, an indie speculative publishing house focusing on novellas, short story collections, anthologies, and poetry collections.
Services & Specialties
Speculative Genres: SFFH
I work with clients who write speculative fiction in genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I am experienced in editing various forms of writing in this field, including short stories, poetry, and anthologies. Although most of my clients are independent self-publishers, I have also worked with agents and editors from top publishing houses. I am passionate about editing series for rapid release on eBook platforms and helping self-published writers create marketing plans for platforms like Amazon.
Poetry Manuscripts
My main love is poetry! I work with poets to develop manuscripts for submission to awards and self-publication. My expertise includes ordering/sequencing, line editing, thematic development, and helping poets build emotional narratives.
Big Idea Nonfiction Books: Arts & Culture
My favorite nonfiction books to work with are big idea books that explore the wide range of history, art, religion, and culture. I am a coordinator for the Religious Studies Review, hosted by Rice University. From self-help to education, I want to help writers help others.
Phone and Zoom Consultations
Pick my brain! I offer consultations for $75/hour. Not sure what your genre is? Need help with ideas for where to submit? Want advice on navigating the query process? Want some "writing therapy"? I'll be your huckleberry. Click here to book! Here are some ideas for how to use this time:
- Need a writing pep talk? Let me be your cheerleader.
- Stuck in a project and not sure how to get back on-track? I'll give you ideas for inspiration.
- Advice on self publishing vs. traditional publishing
- Ideas for where to submit your writing & how to navigate the submission process
- Tips on sequencing & ordering a poetry chapbook
- "Writing Therapy" for writers feeling frustrated, burnt out, or disorganized
Types of Services Offered
You're welcome to view my list of rates by service, but here are the basic options:
Developmental Editing: During a developmental edit, I will dive deep into your manuscript. I'll read it from cover to cover with a keen eye for detail and make notes throughout the document to suggest areas that could use some tweaking. Along with a feedback letter, I'll focus on improving the story, plot, characters, and other essential elements that make your manuscript shine. I'm confident that this edit will help take your writing to the next level!
Copyediting: During a copyedit, I will thoroughly review your manuscript by focusing on the language. Afterward, I will send you a document that has been line edited, containing corrections for voice, tone, sentence structure, paragraph structure, and other crucial elements that make a manuscript stand out. Please note that this option is recommended for writers who have already undergone a developmental edit or believe that their manuscript is already strong. Additionally, if you desire, I can create a style sheet for you as well.
Proofreading: I specialize in detecting and correcting all sorts of errors, including those related to spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. I can also thoroughly review print-ready PDFs to ensure that they meet the highest standards of quality. With my keen attention to detail and nitpicky ways, you can rest assured that your writing will be polished to perfection!
How I Work
I work in 2-week increments, which means every book I edit gets two weeks of my time, more if it's longer or more involved. Each book-length editing project includes a one-hour consultation either before or after the edits are delivered (not included for short stories). I use Microsoft Word and the "track changes" feature, but I can also work from print-ready PDFs. All clients are provided an editing contract with clear delivery dates.
I'm usually booked out at least 1-2 months in advance, so if you're on a deadline, please let me know, and I can provide a quote for a rush job. I charge by page count (250 words/page). I require a 50% deposit for new clients and large projects. I prefer to work with completed manuscripts, but there are times when I'll work with an author on an hourly basis. I'm happy to work with remote or local clients.
Q & A
Can you provide me with a free sample?
Unfortunately, I no longer provide free editing samples. I receive so many requests that I have to charge for this service, otherwise, I would be unable to manage my paying clients' work. However, I do offer a discounted rate of $1/page (250 words/page) for sample edits, which is significantly less than my standard rate.
What's your editing style?
I believe that the author is the best editor for a work. Therefore, when I approach a manuscript, I want to achieve what the author feels the manuscript needs, combined with what the manuscript seems to be asking of me as a reader. My goal in editing is to guide a writer towards being able to make revisions themselves. Often, these are more successful than if a writer merely follows my advice. For great writing to happen, something has to break open in the writer and surprise them. It's that surprise that will catch a reader, too.
I want to self-publish. Can you help?
Yes! I offer formatting and marketing services for indie authors. I can create beautiful, fully formatted interiors for eBooks and print books in .mobi, .epub, and .pdf versions. These interiors are gorgeously designed and ready to upload to KDP, Ingram, or the self-publishing platform of your choice. (Please note: I do not design book covers or work with image-heavy books.)
Need help with getting reviews and spreading awareness of your brand? I can develop a multi-step marketing plan for your book, complete with Twitter campaign advice, reviewer outreach, Goodreads setup and outreach, Facebook advertising, and media/press releases.
What kind of projects do you like best?
There's no one type of client I work with because writers are all so different. I've worked with new writers and established writers, publishing houses, indie presses, and community groups. I have a particular fondness for new writers because I understand the bravery it takes to put your work out there for the first time. I also love working with writers who are publishing for the first time. That gets me excited. It's like seeing a planet being born. You never know the kind of history that will emerge.
What are some of your favorite authors?
I read a great deal of short fiction. My favorite lit mags include One Story, Uncanny Magazine, Flash Fiction Online, Clarkesworld, F&SF, and online publications like Liminality and Strange Horizons.
As far as authors go, I greatly admire Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, Kelly Link, and Edward Hirsch. My influences and tastes are constantly changing. Other good reads include Brandon Sanderson, Nnedi Okorafor, Ursula Le Guin, Walt Whitman, Sherman Alexie, Sofia Samatar, Amelia Grey, Stephen King, Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood, Ken Liu, Sabrina Orah Mark, J.R.R. Tolkien, Virginia Woolf, Audre Lorde, and Rita Dove.
My favorite writing resources are: What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Ann Bernays & Pamela Painter, How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry by Edward Hirsch, and Steering the Craft by Ursula Le Guin.
Send me an email with a description of your project and I’ll be happy to answer any questions or provide a quote. Even if I can't help or the project doesn't seem a right fit for my skills, I'm always happy to point you in the right direction.
*Click to View Editing Rates*
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Holly Lyn Walrath is a freelance editor based out of Houston, Texas. She is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Texas and a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Denver. She volunteers in Houston with Writespace, a local literary non-profit, where she co-edits anthologies, runs social media, and lovingly corrals volunteers. She provides editing services for writers and organizations of all genres, experiences, and backgrounds, but enjoys working with new writers best.
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