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I've been writing and editing full-time since 2001, and published hundreds of articles, essays, book reviews and short stories in newspapers, magazines, anthologies, and the web (click the My Writing page for links to some online work). I've also written screenplays and novel-length fiction for both adults and children, won second place in a national Pen Women essay contest, first place in a two major childrens writing fiction contests, and received quarterfinalist awards in several screenplay contests.
Freelance fiction editing projects have included literary and historical fiction, women's commercial fiction, screenplays, YA and middle grade novels, children's picture books and magazine stories. I’ve coached and ghost-written memoirs and screenplays, freelanced as copyeditor for several magazines and a newspaper, and worked in-house as managing editor for NJ & Co. and New York House magazines, where I also served as Editor in Chief pro-tem. Nonfiction book editing clients include Pearson Educational, Schneider Children’s Hospital, relationship therapist Dr. Jenn Berman, and Susan Parker Esq./Everyday Legal.
As both an editor and a writer, I’m extremely conscious of the challenges and rewards presented by all parts of the writing process. Talent and craft play a large role in writing success, but so do passion, persistence, and self-belief. I know this first-hand; after an encouraging win in a national fiction writing contest for high school students, I earned a degree in literature and creative writing from the State University of NY. And then I spent a post-college decade-and-a-half doing everything but writing, including work as a pre-school teacher, a self-employed crafts-person, homestead farmer, and co-creater and manager of a rock climbing instruction school. Although working with words was what I really wanted to do with my life, it took an external, challenging life-changing event to help me gather the courage to pursue freelance editing and writing as an occupation. I give great credit to the fabulous writer’s groups I’ve belonged to for encouraging me towards a career change I’ve never regretted making. As a result of my experiences, I bring a writer's sensibility, a love of storytelling in every form, a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude, and an enormous respect for craft to your writing project.
