Short Story Editors
A novelist has the luxury of tens of thousands of words with which to fully flesh out a story; short story writers do not. You have to make every word count, and you may never be able to flesh out everything. You have little room for side-plots. The focus must remain razor sharp, with every detail relating to the one story you’ve chosen to tell. As a short story writer, your goal is to distill the essence of each character and each scene.
The best short story writers and editors understand the art of brevity, and know precisely where a story begins and ends. A skilled short story editor will cut unnecessary material and bridge gaps, helping you refine your work so that no words are wasted. Ultimately, everything required for readers to enjoy the full impact of the short story must be in its proper place.
Ann Aubrey
Ghostwriter, Book Indexer, Copy Editor, Proofreader
Ann Aubrey has 30+ years of experience as a writer and editor, including fiction, nonfiction, medical, academic, technical, and college-level textbooks.
She began a career as a technical writer: geophysics, geology, and information technology. Then transitioned into journalism, working as Associate Editor/Editor of the Catholic newspaper of San Diego and teaching fiction writing at the university level.
Ann Howard Creel
Congratulations on taking a step closer to achieving your writing goals. Even in today’s publishing climate, I believe it is still possible for new writers to enter the business and succeed. With little background, I was able to get twelve novels published including children’s middle grade fiction, young adult novels, and adult literature. I’ve worked with both small independent publishers, such as Roberts Rinehart and Brown Barn Books, and large publishing houses, such as Penguin Putnam and American Girl, and I’ve collaborated on a screenplay that took one of my novels to film for Hallmark Hall of Fame on CBS.
In addition, I’ve been editing professionally since 2007 and have helped numerous authors achieve their publishing goals. Writing is a creative endeavor done best when inspiration strikes, and I believe every writer has his or her unique story/stories and voice with which to tell it. That said, certain guidelines, skills, and techniques will make stories shine, and writers will always benefit from the help and support of experienced writers/editors.
I specialize in developmental editing of mainstream fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, narrative non-fiction, and memoir and would love to hear about your project and goals.
Floyd Largent
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthropology
Manuscript evaluations, developmental editing
Floyd Largent edits nonfiction, novels, and short stories. His first love as a fiction editor is science fiction and fantasy for young adults and adults, especially for works in which science, characterization, mystery, and unusual cultures play an important part.
In nonfiction he specializes in anthropology, history, science, spirituality (including religious and New Age), and memoirs.
Kelly Lynne Schaub
Paranormal Romance, Westerns, Young Adult, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Psychic, Supernatural Phenomena
Kelly Lynne Schaub is the proud "auntie" to over 150 traditionally published novels, novellas and short stories. As an editor for The Wild Rose Press, she edited contemporary western and light paranormal romances, with heat ratings from sweet to spicy.
Kelly has published over 100 non-fiction articles, four short stories, and two novels. She helps authors polish their submission packets for literary agents and publishers, and also helps writers prepare their manuscripts for self-publishing.
Steven Severn
Award-winning New York Times best-selling ghostwriter, book doctor, editor, screenwriter, and writing coach. Mentored by an Academy Award-winning writer. Ghostwriter and consultant for eleven #1 best-selling books, including five New York Times #1 Children's books. I'm here to make your deepest dreams come true.
I mentored under Oscar-winning screenwriter Stewart Stern ("Rebel Without A Cause"). I served as consultant for the #1 best-sellers TEARS FOR MY CITY by Dean Dimitrieski and THE REVVED LIFE by Pastor Jeff Knight, and for Robert Beatty's #1 best-selling Children's novels SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK, SERAFINA AND THE TWISTED STAFF, and WILLA OF THE WOOD. In addition, my ghostwritten screenplay based upon a #1 best-seller was winner of Best Adaptation at two international script competitions.
Dreams are powerful. Dreams can transform you. Dreams come from a Higher Power, and can take you to your highest place. If you have a dream, or a vision, your heart yearns to see it come true. My calling is to help you write the words that can make your deepest dreams come true. I love taking all that passion and fire burning inside you and transforming your life stories, your dreams, your visions, and the deepest yearnings of your heart from the first spark of imagination into fire-breathing reality.
I'd love to help deliver your creative visions to the world, using the fire and passion of imagination, and the life-transforming power of your dreams.
Thank you for sharing your dreams with me.
SJ Sutton
Book Editor, Script and Screenplay Story Consultant, Publishing Consultant, Television and Film Industry Veteran
S. J. Sutton has worked in the book publishing and the film industries for thirty years.
In the film industry she worked as a story analyst and development consultant on feature film and television projects for DreamWorks, Disney, Showtime, and Lifetime, including L.A. Confidential (Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published), Get On Up, Enigma, HBO’s Vinyl, and Defending Your Life.
Marie Valentine
Copyediting and Proofreading Services | New Author Assistance
Marie Valentine helps first-time writers prepare their manuscripts for submission to publishers or in preparation for self-publishing.
Marie has worked for small, midsized, and academic presses, and helps authors who are new to the publishing process navigate the path to selling a book. She offers query letter and submission package review, and permissions assistance, and can answer questions you have along the way. She often blogs with her self-published authors to help promote their work.
Marie passed Book Editing Associates' rigorous proofreading test, so you can trust that her edits will also clear up any typographical errors in your book. She is fluent in the Chicago Manual of Style and AP Style.
