ANGELA CROWELL
Writer & Editor
Angela Crowell is a published writer and editor. After years of editing manuscripts for friends and critique partners, she realized her love for the craft in 2023 and forayed into the publishing industry. She debuted as the co-editor-in-chief of The Plume, the institutional literary arts journal of John Paul the Great Catholic University. Since 2024, she has been reading for Kelp Journal, which specializes in coastal noir fiction. She provides feedback on novels of all kinds and at all stages, from first-pass developmental edits to last-pass proofreading. While her professional focus is on written fiction, she has exercised her skills as an editor on a variety of different projects, including YouTube scripts, academic works, and business copy. Given her self-admitted penchant for literary puzzles, Angela's favorite genres to read are mystery, thriller, and suspense. When not writing or editing, she enjoys exploring beautiful Southern California, where she lives with her husband and baby daughter.
Editing
At last, you've put the idea to paper. You've gone from zero words to tens of thousands. You've wisely followed everyone's advice to just write. But now...drafting season is over. You know it's time to review your document and resolve all those notes-to-self, like "MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE LATER" (if you know, you know). It's editing season, a.k.a. the time to seek fresh eyes.I've had the privilege of being those fresh eyes for many talented storytellers. My professional commitment is to the art of writing and to you, as an exponent of that art. I am dedicated to the discovery of unique literary voices and the elevation of unknown writers. Through editing, I've learned that everyone has blind spots when it comes to their own work, no matter the level of skill. Writing is not, in the end, a solitary pursuit. Before any manuscript is published, it's been read and reviewed (and read, and read, and reviewed) by dozens of professionals. It would be my great honor to be counted among those who helped your book to publication.
SERVICES
Developmental Edit - $0.03/word
Constitutes single, in-depth pass of full manuscript. Method: in-line edits and comprehensive edit letter. Analyzes style marketability, characterization, plot, and structure.
Line Edit - $0.0325/word
Constitutes single pass of full manuscript focusing on style, word choice, flow, syntax, and overall sentence-level beauty. Includes comments on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Method: in-line edits only. No story notes included.
Proofreading - $0.02/word
Constitutes single pass of full manuscript focusing exclusively on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Method: in-line edits only.
No story notes included.
Full Treatment - $0.095/word
Constitutes one consultation and four passes of a full manuscript. Includes two developmental edits, one line edit, and one proofreading. Requires three rounds of revisions done by the client. Method: in-line edits, two comprehensive edit letters, and one Zoom consultation.
APPROACH & PREFERENCES
As an editor, I like to understand you, your goals, and the vision associated with your writing project. If I'm not getting a clear idea of these from your document alone, I may ask you to join me for a complimentary 15-minute consultation (automatically included in the Full Treatment package). I edit in Word using the Comments and Track Changes features. I will never change anything in your document without tracking it for your revision. Your work is wholly your own; I'm aiming only to draw out your unique writing voice. My comments may often be questions geared toward understanding.I edit both fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. I am widely read and interested in a variety of subjects. As far as I'm concerned, the stranger, the better. I also love short-form fiction--don't be afraid to send me your short stories! Many writers are less invested in their short fiction, but short story writing is so much more than practice for novel writing. Remember that a well-executed short story can become your claim to fame in publishing (think film rights).In fiction, my favorite genres are:
- Mystery
- Thriller & Suspense
- Historical Fiction
- Contemporary
- Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- Magical Realism
- Literary Fiction
- Women's FictionIn non-fiction:
- Art & Photography
- History
- True Crime (if real journalism: professional, unbiased, and honest)Please do not send me:
- 🌶 🌶 🌶 Romance/Erotica
- Body HorrorIf you think I'm right for your story, you can reach out through [email protected] or through my contact page.
FAQs
What kind of editing do I need?
It always depends, but a good rule of thumb is to judge by drafting status. In other words, what draft are you on? If you've just finished the first draft and (perhaps desperately) need direction, you probably stand to benefit from a proper developmental edit or the Full Treatment package. If you're on a middle draft (not the first, but you know it's not the last), you may want a line edit, which is focused primarily on sentence-level beauty. Think of line editing as prose polishing. Finally, if you're on (without a doubt) your final draft, and you just need fresh eyes to spot any technical mistakes, typos, inconsistencies, etc., then you may want a proofreading.Are your preferences set in stone?
Some of them are, some of them aren't. In general, I tend to be open-minded. If you're ambivalent about whether I'm a good fit for your story, feel free to send me an email with your questions and/or concerns.
TESTIMONIALS
"Angela Crowell is a highly skilled writer, critic, and editor who combines an astute and sensitive reading of a text with excellent analytical abilities. She has read widely and shows a deep understanding of the power of language and the importance of what Flaubert described as le mot juste. She is hardworking and completely reliable. I enjoyed working with her very much--for Angela, editing and revising is like having a conversation between writers. I strongly recommend her as an editor and a collaborator to anyone who seeks to improve and to polish their work."
- Julie Anne Stevens, PhD"Angela has a keen eye for detail and a nose for a great story. She is thorough and always provides a close read to any work under her consideration. She strives to understand what an author is trying to achieve (a rare trait). At Kelp Books, Angela provided pivotal feedback to our editorial team not only about the condition of a manuscript but what a manuscript could be, the potential marketplace reception, and critical insights into reader reactions. Somehow, Angela is able to jump between what a reader needs from a manuscript and an author’s right to create. Any author that is stuck with their manuscript, in any way, whether that be in a never-ending submissions loop or failure to complete the first draft, would benefit from Angela’s help. And I write this knowing that I too, need an Angela for a few stories in a drawer waiting for someone to help me affect their full potential."
- A.M. Larks, managing editor and blog editor at Kelp Books"Angela's writing feedback is detailed, candid, and personally tailored. She goes to generous lengths to highlight the strengths of one’s work, while at the same time encouraging a spirit of growth. If you aspire to be a writer, she treats you like one. She has a wonderful blend of praise and blunt yet constructive criticism. If you have the pleasure to work with her, rest assured that she will encourage you towards success. She will remind you that you are not an unpublished work, even if your writing is a work in progress. She will help you to believe in the unique perspective you have to offer."
- Guillermo de la Fuente, critique partner"Angela's editorial eye is so well-rounded, and she has such a deep understanding of what makes a story engaging--both character and plot-wise, but also prose-wise. She is one of the few to whom I always send my manuscripts, freshly made and messy as they are. I can't really tell the amount of times she has pointed things out that had completely gone over my head, or given many little suggestions on how to improve the story I was trying to tell!"
- Eduardo Jauregui Martinez, assistant editor at The Wave
Contact
For professional inquiries, email me at [email protected] or through the contact form below. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you
for reaching out