Hi, I’m Emily. I’ve always been eager to gobble up stories, turn them inside out, and figure out how they work.
Now I want to dive with you into the heart of your own story, to help you know and love it better than ever before.
My Approach
I’ve come to think of editing as something akin to “book therapy.”
Or, to suit my fantasy sensibility, I like to imagine myself as a storywitch in a cozy cottage.
When a story comes to my door, I press my ear up to it and listen closely. Then I pull storycraft spells out from my cupboard, designed to help your particular story grow to its full potential.
My goal is never to “tear your work apart” but to nurture and support your book’s unique spirit.
My Background
When it came time to choose my college major, my love of written fiction went to battle with my love of film, and at the time film narrowly won out. I earned a BA in Film Studies from UC Berkeley, where I learned an enormous amount about story analysis, plot structure, and visual storytelling. For a time I was an assistant with the UC Berkeley Film Studies department, grading analytical essays and helping students refine their writing and close-reading skills. I then went on to receive an MA in Digital Humanities from University College London, which led me to work for many years as a content creator in the museum world.
Throughout it all, the written word continued to call to me. I read voraciously— especially fantasy and speculative fiction. I began to develop my own writing practice, informed by all the craft books I could get my hands on. In over ten years of participation in critique groups I learned to apply craft analysis to others’ works, and to give constructive criticism that affirmed and encouraged my fellow writers’ creativity. I now devote my time to drafting my fantasy series and using my comprehensive storycraft knowledge to advise authors.