Developmental Editing Services

Interested in pushing your writing to the next level? I work as a freelance editor for a variety of clients seeking to improve their drafts and their craft. If you have to revise and rewrite for submission or if you want to self-publish only your best work, I can help.

I specialize in children's books, particularly middle grade and young adult fiction, but I've also helped with picture books and adult fiction. Contact me at aeconran@gmail.com to ask about rates and availability. I generally edit your first ten pages and write an initial editorial letter so we can see whether we're likely to be a good fit. This also enables me to ensure an accurate quote for the work. I work on entire manuscripts or on a chapter by chapter basis as needed. And I’m happy to mentor you on your writing journey from initial ideas to a polished manuscript.

I am an English Literature and Language (BA Hons 1st class) and an MPhil postgraduate student in English at Leeds University, UK, and have experience as a magazine subeditor. I've been an active SCBWI member since 2004. I work at Book Passage in Corte Madera as a children's book specialist, book talker, children’s book club facilitator and Path to Publishing mentor. 

Testimonials

Amanda as an editor offers two gifts essential to any developing writer--impeccable sense of story and enthusiasm. The first will help you see your work from the outside in, and the second will ignite your commitment to expressing the truest vision of your story. Her feedback always includes an editorial overview that identifies strengths and also nudges you toward recognizing weaknesses. Her notes suggest specific routes for improving your work that reflect a deep respect for your own voice. She knows how to ask generative questions that will energize your revision process. As if this weren't enough, Amanda's professional knowledge of children's literature and publishing mean that she can provide very useful advice about positioning, submitting and marketing your manuscripts. If you have the chance to meet with her in person, it's worth every penny: as a writer you will walk away feeling that you and your work have been seen and held with great tenderness and expertise. Writers at any stage of their careers will count themselves lucky to have Amanda as their developmental editor.            - L. M. Quraishi

Working with Amanda was a delightful and very effective experience. Our brainstorming sessions were remarkably fruitful and her editing impeccable. She had great ideas that could only come from someone with a general knowledge of and proficiency in her craft. - Michela Conti

Based on my experience with Amanda Conran’s writing at an SCBWI conference, I contracted with her to edit my third middle grade novel. I was delighted with the process and the results. She understood my characters and my intentions for them. Her comments were understandable and constructive. She quickly grasped themes, identified logistical problems and focused on emotional values for my characters. What began as a good story, became, with her help, a prize-winning novel. I absolutely recommend her as a children’s book editor. - Charles Markee, North Bay SCBWI workshop co-ordinator, 2nd place for Juvenile Fiction in Colorado Independent Publishing Association Evvy Awards

Amanda’s knowledge of the children’s book market and astute reviews of children’s books convinced me she would be a promising editor. I was right. Thorough, direct, and encouraging, she was the perfect fit for a fledgling writer like me. Honing in on the ingredients of an irresistible narrative, she asked me clear and pointed questions about elements of the plot and characters, compelling me to examine my work in different ways and inspiring revision. Her articulate advice reflects a breadth of experience as a writer and editor, combined with an intrinsic appreciation for a writer’s ownership of words, characters, and ideas. As a teacher, I greatly appreciated her no-nonsense, yet gentle and enthusiastic, style—the mark of a professional. - Dana Kirk