Laura Garwood, MA
Sacramento Editor and Writer
"Laura is a gem and fun to work with. I'm quite pleased."
--Anne Machonis, client
"Best. Editor. Ever."
--Melissa Eskue Ousley, client
"Wonderful mom."
--Selah Beth Meehan, daughter*
Welcome to my site! I am a trained and experienced editor and writer, and I look forward to helping you with your writing project, whatever it may be. You're an editor? What does an editor do? An editor comes alongside a writer, collaborating and giving advice with the aim of provoking a creative response in the writer. I work to make a writer's project the very best that it can be. I do not simply "correct" or criticize writing; I help shape it and smooth it, always ensuring that the writing still belongs to the writer but does its work to meet the writer's goals. Who do you work for? I am an independent contractor. Many people who hire me are seeking an agent or a traditional publisher, and I help them get their manuscripts into a clean, marketable, polished shape. These days, agents and publishers will not consider manuscripts that still need work, unfortunately. I often also help clients assemble query packages. My master's in book publishing helps me keep an eye toward marketability. Others start out or later decide to self-publish, and these clients may need more work, since they will not have a publisher's editor or proofreader. I also help self-publishing clients consider their marketing goals and plans, if desired. Are you an agent or a publisher? Sometimes I contract with publishers to clean up manuscripts they have already accepted for publication. This does not, however, mean that I can sell publishers manuscripts. I help with the writing process. An agent is a business representative who sells manuscripts to publishers, often for a commission. A publisher coordinates the parties who turn a manuscript into a book, possibly including an editor, designer, proofreader, marketer, and printer. However, I am able to help clients query agents and publishers. *For the record, my daughter actually hacked my website to add the above comment. But I will gladly take her praise. | Visit My LinkedIn Profile Indigo Editing & Publications My Personal Blog Some Clients: Amy HatvanyMelissa Eskue Ousley Sarah Pekkanen Wally Swenson Kristin Thiel Parallel45 Publishing Kaira Rouda Christopher Lord Paul Gerald The Other Bunch Linda Kuhlmann Anjuelle Floyd Mickey Burriss Dr. Molefi Kete Asante Rose St. John Sharon Wood Wortman (Portland Bridges) Westervelt Ecological Services Melissa Moraja |