As an editor and coach, I meet you where you are–and help take your writing to the next level. 

“Make the Work.” Reportedly, this simple phrase is what Walt Whitman placed above his desk. And writing IS work, of kind that employs words as building tools. The source of the work though is something else. This is where manuscript editing and writing coaching comes in. Let me help you move forward with your writing and refine your voice.

Why me? I have worked as a professional editor for Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and other major publishers for two decades. I understand the nuances of language and the workings of voice, tone, and structure. Through this combination of experiences and skills, I offer manuscript editing and writing coaching that incorporates insights into writing craft, the publishing world, and the power of fostering your own creativity. I also know what it’s like to be an author. I have received fellowships and residencies for my fiction, including the Stegner Fellowship at Stanford, the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship, and Yaddo, Ragdale, and Byrdcliffe residencies.

I would love to help you realize your own writing goals!

As an editor:

• I bring a deep understanding of the in-house editorial process to my work as a developmental editor.
• I focus on clarifying a work’s authentic voice, a writer’s goals, and aligning these to market requirements, to reader engagement, and to what excites publishing executives.
• I excel at knowing how to improve the big-picture landscape of a novel, such as structure, pacing, and theme. I also excel at grace-notes and nuance, such as how to use scene movement and the power of language (e.g., sentence rhythm and word choice) to serve a work’s overall goals and contribute to its impact.
• As a fiction editor at Scholastic, I developed story proposals, acquired fiction, negotiated permissions, and specialized in developmental editing. Over my tenure there, I grew fiction offerings to include multiple genres and a diversity of voices.
• I understand how a well-orchestrated structure of a novel translates into reader attention and engagement as well as agent interest.
• I can also help edit and advise on agent queries. Both as writer who has been through the agent search, and as an in-house editor, I know what captures the attention of the publishing world.

Testimonial from an in-house client at Scholastic:

“I had the honor of working with Sari Wilson . . . In particular, her skills as a developmental editor, whether a manuscript, an audio story, or a video, were an enormous asset to me. A deeply thoughtful editor, Sari quickly gets to the big idea of a piece, what might be missing, and how pacing, structure, and narrative arc can work in harmony to deliver something not just high-quality but also unforgettable. . . . . But beyond her excellence and creativity, Sari is a total joy.”
— Kristin Lewis, Senior Editorial Director, Scholastic

Manuscript Editing

It’s easy to get lost in the weeds when you are writing. There is so much to consider—character motivations, scene-movement, language, subtext, authorial voice—and then of course, there is the reader. In the developmental editing process, you will gain greater clarity on your project and more confidence in your manuscript.  I will offer guidance on organization and structure, sharpening and refining your prose, character development, and overall storytelling impact.

Let’s discuss your project! Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation

Writing & Book Coaching

We will work together to set goals for your writing, and then find the tools you need to bring your work to fruition. I practice compassionate, goals-aligned coaching. The way we’ll work together will depend on your goals and needs, but here are some possibilities:

Discover the Book You Want to Write — 3 sessions

You want to write a book but you don’t know where to start. In this 3-session coaching package we will explore your ideas for a book, uncover your passion for subject/story and find a “governing question,” as well as identify your stumbling blocks. You’ll leave this 3-session sprint (each session a 1-hour Zoom) with a viable book idea, a governing question that will lead you forward, and a set of realistic goals—as well as a plan for achieving them.

Start Your Writing Practice — 6 sessions

For newer writers and those looking to reconnect with their inspiration. In each coaching session, we will do short generative writing exercises, each grounded in a different mode of internal “listening” or external “observation.” We will also uncover your motivations for wanting to write, identify potential stumbling blocks, and come up with plans to overcome or sidestep them. This package will set you on a path forward in your writing–making the work you want to make.

Let’s discuss your project! Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation