I am a literary agent and independent book editor with two decades working in book publishing. After working in journalism and the publisher side of the business, I moved to the agency side, where I had the privilege of working with such bestselling and award-winning authors as Amor Towles, Jennifer Haigh, Daniel James Brown, Kate Jacobs, Kitty Kelley, Jane Pauley, Bob Dotson, and many more. Since 2014, I have been an Agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman, working exclusively on my own list, which includes such bestselling, award-winning authors as Lidia Yuknavitch, Te-Ping Chen, Janet Beard, Ghassan Zeineddine, Kerry Cohen, Daisy Hernández, and more. (You can read testimonials here). 

I have spoken, led panels, and taught workshops at numerous MFA programs and writers’ conferences around the world, including Grub Street’s Muse and the Marketplace, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Writers League of Texas, Tin House, and many more. I have served as guest faculty at UCLA Extension, UC Riverside, California Institute of the Arts, the University of New Orleans, the University of Houston, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sackett Street, Catapult, and the Corporeal Writing center based in Portland, Oregon.

My Services

Whether you’re self-publishing, seeking an agent, seeking an independent publisher, or already have a publishing contract and need help with a revision, I offer a wide range of editorial and consulting services to fit your needs and budget. I have extensive experience with both fiction and non-fiction projects—both completed manuscripts and book proposals—with specialties in fiction (from commercial to literary, including short story collections), narrative nonfiction, and memoir (including proposals and essay collections). I do not offer copy-editing or proofreading services, though a line edit will incorporate a light copy edit. If you don't see what you're looking for below, please feel free to contact me with a description of your project, and we can discuss whether I'm the right person for you.

I keep a strict separation of church and state when it comes to agenting vs. editing. I will not represent authors who hire me as a freelance editor, nor will I ever charge for editorial work done for clients I represent as an agent. I enjoy helping writers at every stage of their career, and that is how I came to helping writers who are not yet ready to query agents. I provide the same editorial eye and thorough, in-depth feedback in my editing role as I do wearing my agent cap. Though I work on YA, I do not work on middle grade fiction or picture books. 

Developmental Edits: 

If you’re looking for some honest, straightforward, and constructive feedback on your proposal, manuscript, or sample chapters, I will review your work and provide editorial feedback (in the form of an editorial letter and marginal comments) that will specify suggestions on problems of structure/outline, character, plot, pacing, world-building, and diction/language. This is a full evaluation of your manuscript, as an editor at a publishing house would do for you, and includes a 1-hour phone call or Zoom and an optional review of your query letter. I work within 4-week slots for developmental edits, and that time would be exclusively yours--i.e., I don't double-book.  

For nonfiction proposals, I charge a flat fee of $1500 (capped at 20K words). For completed manuscripts, I charge 7 cents/word and require a query letter or synopsis, including an author bio, and the first 25 pages as a sample before agreeing to take on a client. I also like to hear from potential clients what their goals are for their books--are you set on an agent and a Big 5 imprint, or would you be fine with an indie press or even self-publishing? I require a 75% deposit to reserve the dates for you, which I'm happy to split up into payments.  The balance is due when I turn in my edits.  

First 30 Pages

Whether they request a partial or the full manuscript, many agents consider the first 30 pages to be an accurate microcosm of the whole book… For a flat rate of $500, I will review your first 30 pages, provide bullet-point comments via email, and talk to you about them via Zoom or over the phone for 30 minutes. This also includes an edit of your query letter, should you have one ready.

Query Letter Review

The query letter—the letter authors use to get the attention of an agent and/or independent publisher—is its own art. There are “dos and don’ts,” things to incorporate and things to absolutely avoid, that can make all the difference in getting publishing professionals to request your pages. For a flat rate of $250, I will review and edit your query letter, then talk to you about it over the phone for 20 minutes.

Line Edit

Once a manuscript has undergone a developmental edit and is structurally sound, I’ll polish and fine-tune your prose so that it reads more fluidly.  I will read it twice over, going through line-by-line to tighten sentences, reduce repetition, improve diction/language, increase clarity, and strengthen flow. This is a much more detailed edit of your work than a developmental edit, and includes a light copy edit, 1-hour phone call or Zoom following delivery of the edit, and optional review of your query letter.  The price is negotiable once a developmental edit has been completed.

Consulting

Perhaps you’ve never published a book before and want to know whether self-publishing or traditional publishing is right for you. Or you’re looking for an agent or independent press, but don't know where to start and need help putting a submission list together. Perhaps you don’t know what category or genre your book project is, or how best to talk about it. For a rate of $250/hour, I will talk to you on the phone or via Zoom and offer specific advice and insight based on your particular project.

Book Coaching

For a monthly retainer fee (to be determined after an initial call or Zoom), I will meet with you weekly or biweekly to help you review, map out, or brainstorm your work-in-progress.

If you have questions about pricing or availability, please email leslie@theshipmanagency.com.