Editiorial Services — Kristen Martin

Who I Am and How I Edit

I have been teaching and consulting for more than a decade, and have worked with writers on everything from the creative (creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry) to the academic (in just about every discipline, from first-year papers to dissertations). I’m also a book critic with work in The New York Review of Books, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and elsewhere, and am the author of the narrative nonfiction book The Sun Won’t Come Out Tomorrow: The Dark History of American Orphanhood. Finally, I have a deep knowledge of the publishing industry, honed through many years of working for Publishers Marketplace, the publishing-trade industry website known for their iconic book deal screenshots.

All of these experiences have honed my editorial craft, which I approach with the overarching goal of helping writers bridge the gap between their intentions for whatever it is they are working on and where it currently stands. As an editor, I do more than just point out “problems” and offer suggestions for how I, personally, would fix them. I can help you identify larger patterns in your writing and give you the tools to understand both what is working and why, and what’s not working and why. And instead of just imposing my editorial vision over the piece, I can help you determine your next steps for achieving your vision.

What I Can Work With You On

My own writing background is in creative nonfiction and journalism. As a critic, I regularly assess literary fiction. You can get feedback from me on:

Query letters (including my insight on which agents might be a good fit for you)
Book proposals
Book manuscripts
Essays (personal, reported, critical, or any combination of those three)

How I Can Work With You

Query Letter Package

I’ll help you compellingly introduce your project and yourself to agents. Includes both in-line comments and an end note, as well as a tailored list of agents seeking work in the vein of your project.

$125, with add-ons for additional rounds of edits or reading drafts of the project

Book Proposal Package

I’ll help you compellingly introduce your nonfiction project and yourself to agents and editors. Includes both in-line comments, an end note, and a one-hour Zoom or phone call to discuss my feedback. As with the query letter package, I will include a tailored list of suitable agents.

Starts at $1000 for nonfiction proposals, dependent on length, with add-ons for additional rounds of editing

Developmental and Line Editing

This option is well-suited to writers who have a full draft completed and are looking for a fresh perspective on how to take it to the next level. I’ll provide in-line comments on the small scale (sentences, paragraphs), and a detailed feedback letter to address the big scale (structure, organization, flow).

Starts at $200 for essays up to 6,000 words and $2,500 for manuscripts up to 80,000 words, with option to work chapter by chapter

Big-Picture Evaluation

Here, I’ll zoom out and give you only big-picture feedback on my overall impressions of the work—its style, scope, structure, and flow. I can deliver my feedback in the form of a letter or a one-hour call (phone or Zoom).

Starts at $150 for essays and $1500 for manuscripts, dependent on length

Copy Editing

As a copy editor, I focus on clarity of expression, ensuring that your words reach readers without grammatical or stylistic hiccups that may impede meaning. My past copy editing clients include Saveur and Bon Appétit, and I currently copy edit for Publishers Marketplace.

$45 an hour

Testimonials

“Kristen was the ideal person to offer feedback on my first book proposal, which resulted in my getting an agent. Not only does she know the publishing industry so well, but she's also one of the most detail-oriented editors I've ever worked with, offering recommendations around bigger picture items like organization and focus, as well as smaller elements such as line edits, drawing out details, and asking probing questions. Kristen’s care, intelligence, industry insight, and ability to sharpen key tensions within any piece of writing make her an editor I will return to.” — Samantha Paige Rosen, author of Living, Together, forthcoming from Beacon Press in 2026

“Kristen’s big picture evaluations have opened a window onto my writing that I wouldn’t have been able to access on my own. Her insights have helped me shape projects big and small, from book introductions to journalism pitches.” — Greg, academic writing for a public audience

“Kristen was so encouraging and knowledgeable. She breaks things down so they’re less daunting and her feedback made me want to try new things with my writing.” — Blue Stoop student