Book Editing & Coaching

Sharing your writing can be a very vulnerable experience - especially in the early stages.

No matter where you’re at in your process, or what you’re writing, I bring the insightful eye and critical analysis your writing deserves, along with the compassion and flexibility you need to feel safe and supported.

  • "Marilee took the time to talk through my big, convoluted, passionate ideas to create a structured outline. With her incredible writing prowess she offered strong, gorgeously poetic edits that embodied my vision. As a writing partner Marilee is who you want on your team."

    Angela Tucker, author of You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity & Transracial Adoption - www.AngelaTucker.com

  • “I’m amazed at how you’re literally bringing my story to life and taking me back to my years growing up. It's as if you lived those days, it's so real!”

    - Ghostwriting Client (memoir)

  • "Whether you are a new or experienced author, you need Marilee on your team to propel your book far beyond your wildest dreams!”

    - Katie Biron, author of The Love Tree - www.KatieBiron.com

  • “As a copyeditor, Marilee was a collaborator in every way. Yes, she considered the line edits that clarified the intentions of each story in my collection. But she also weighed in on the guiding purpose of the whole book, bringing focus to a number of stories that required a more holistic revision and in that way helped to assert the vision of the book. It was her effort that helped bring the best version of the manuscript to market.”

    -Juan Carlos Reyes

    2018 Jack Straw Writing Fellow & author of forthcoming Three Alarm Fire from Hinton Publishing

Editing & Coaching Services

  • I’m here to help you build structure, create flow, refine your plot and find your perfect ending. Whether you’ve got the spark of an idea or a nearly completed manuscript, I can help you create the shape your story needs.

    Coaching may involve some direct editing/revising but is primarily intended to support your process of building structure for your work.

    Contact Me for availability & rates

  • Sometimes you have a story that needs to be shared but you don’t have the time or ability to do it yourself. That’s where I come in.

    We’ll work closely to ensure I fully understand your narrative, goals and style then I will make your story a reality. Of course, you retain creative control, offering input and edits throughout the process, and making final decisions.

    Contact Me for availability & rates

  • So you finally got the words down on paper. And now you need to know if what you’ve written is any good. That’s where I come in!

    With a refined eye for structure, plot, and character development as well as a passion for clarity, I have the skills you need to take your writing to the next level. And most important of all, I bring a flexibility and person-centered approach that allows us to work in the way that’s best for you.

    Contact Me for availability & rates

Contact me for more information on my rates and to explore how we can work together

Current & Past Clients

  • Three Alarm Fire

    by Juan Carlos Reyes

    What a joy to work with Juan Carlos and Hinton Publishing onThree Alarm Fire. This collection of short fiction had me laughing out loud one moment and crying the next. Reyes pulls no punches in his devastating and yet somehow hopeful analysis of the human condition. It hardly felt like work to edit something I enjoyed reading so much.

    Purchase here!

  • Once Upon A...Portals of Imaginal Practice

    The authors and artists who contributed to this unique and fascinating work bring a dose of the fantastic to their pursuit of social justice. This online collection asks: what could the world be like if our values were embodied in fairytale and myth? Editing this work was challenging, inspiring & enlightening.

    Explore the site!

  • You Should Be Grateful

    by Angela Tucker

    What an honor to do developmental editing work with Angela to build structure, develop characters, and refine wording to help bring her awe-inspiring work to fruition. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone whose life has been impacted by foster care and adoption.

    Purchase here!

  • Speak the Sojourner

    It is an immense privilege to edit for Hinton Publishing’s monthly Literary eMagazine. I am passionate about their mission to publish writing from those who have been historically uninvited into the publishing & literary world.

    Subscribe here

  • 31 Days of Revolutionary Women

    In honor of Women’s History Month 2017 & 2018, we recruited 31 women to write about women who inspire them. I supported all aspects of this series including author recruitment and communications, editing, scheduling, posting, and image permissions.

    Read full series here

  • Build a Bigger Table

    by Katie Biron

    It was such a joy to work with Katie to help share her family’s story with the world. Through adoption and foster care, Katie learned the importance of keeping her kids connected to their first families by including them in their family life.

    Read the full article here

  • The New Woke Series

    by Dustin Washington

    This interview series with Dustin Washington & Mahdi Davenport of The Soul Focused Group was a great joy to edit. I transcribed the interviews, synthesized for clarity, and edited the introduction.

    Read the full article here

  • My Mind was so Loaded it Nearly Exploded

    by Angela Tucker

    Fascinating article about the impact of adoption and the importance of knowing your full story - even at age 95!

    Read the full article here

  • Racial Justice in the Foster Care System: We Can Do Better

    by Trey Rabun

    Trey writes passionately about the need to support children of color in our foster care system.

    Read the full article here