Editing Services
Who I Am
I’m Emily, a writer and editor of short- and long-form fiction. I’ve been published in STORY Magazine and the Santa Monica Review, among other journals; you can view samples of my work here. I’ve also received support from the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop.
Since 2020, I’ve had the honor of serving as a fiction editor at TriQuarterly Magazine, where I’ve evaluated hundreds of stories, championed many favorites, and helped authors revise and polish accepted submissions. I love helping authors with big picture, holistic edits—questions of pacing, character development, setting, structure, perspective, and theme. But I also love digging into manuscripts on a line level—figuring out why a specific moment doesn’t land, replacing a jarring word, cleaning up a confusing transition.
I treat every story that I edit the way I’d want my own fiction treated: with enthusiasm for what is working, and specific, actionable feedback about what isn’t. The vision, the words, the final work: they’re all yours. My goal is to help reveal any blind spots that you’re too close to see, and help brainstorm options to realize the shiniest, truest version of your story.
Services
What a story needs depends on where you are in the drafting and revision process.
1) Manuscript Evaluation
With this service, you will receive an editorial letter (~2-3 paragraphs for a short story; 2-4 single-spaced pages for a full-length work) providing a holistic assessment of the work. I will discuss what is working well and areas for improvement, as well as concrete suggestions of how those revisions could look in practice. If a quick line-level edit or typo jumps out at me, I’ll note it, but this is not a line-level editing service. This is a good option if you’re still in the earlier stages of drafting and revision. A Manuscript Evaluation can serve as a gut check on the major elements of your story—character, plot, structure, POV, etc.—and offer guidance on how to get back on track, if needed.
2) Developmental Edit with Manuscript Markup
This service includes everything from the Manuscript Evaluation—I will still evaluate all the major components of story—as well as a markup of the manuscript. Using Track Changes, I will point out specific sentences that aren’t pulling their weight, or make note of confusing word choice. (I’ll also point out must-keep lines!) I highly recommend choosing this service after you’ve revised the work yourself at least twice. This is a great choice if you’re preparing your piece for the next step, like querying or submitting it for publication.
Note: Both services come with the option of a ~15-30 minute phone call to discuss any lingering questions or brainstorm possible revision options.
Please contact me using the form below for a rate consultation. I know the costs of developmental editing can add up quickly. Let’s talk and figure out a rate that makes sense for the specific project and works for both of us.
Good-Fit Projects
My expertise is adult literary fiction, both novel-length and short stories. I particularly love historical fiction, family epics, and stories featuring strong female characters. I am also comfortable with some genre fiction, including speculative, romance, and fantasy. Depending on the topic, I may also be a good fit for non-fiction, including memoir and history. I am not a good fit for poetry collections or children’s books. Please note: this is not a comprehensive list! If you’re not sure whether I’d be a good match, drop me a line and describe your project, and we can chat.
Author Testimonials
“I had the pleasure of working with Emily in her capacity as fiction editor at TriQuarterly, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. She approached my story with curiosity, digging into my intentions for parts that weren’t working so she could offer ideas but never imposing her own vision — only supporting me to bring my vision to fruition. Our conversations helped me to discover new layers of meaning in my own work, which I could then purposefully bring to the surface. If you are looking for a thoughtful, collaborative editor/writer partnership, I highly recommend working with Emily. ”
“One of the smartest things I’ve done in my writing life was ask Emily Mirengoff to read my manuscript. In Emily, I had someone who seemed to know my characters and their worlds as well as I did, who often articulated the broader purposes of writing my book better than I did. She understood my intentions as a writer, and saw my strengths with focused clarity—and she helped me not only with the details of my novel, but to pull off seismic changes, her brain becoming an extra set of hands as I reordered, reorganized, and rethought. ”
Get in Touch
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your project, and I’ll get back to you within two business days about availability, price, and timelines. If you have a specific question or concern you want me to keep in mind while reading, let me know!