why choose allegory editing?
At Allegory Editing, our experienced team of editors, educators, and publishing industry experts is here to guide you along every step of your writing journey. From workshops designed to help you hone your craft, to individualized coaching sessions, to personally-tailored developmental editing services, to skilled copy editing & proofreading, our goal is to support you as you write the best manuscript possible.
Ready to pursue publishing? We can help with that too. We’ll guide you through the query process or help you perfect your pitch. We can even work with you to compile a wish list of agents and independent publishers who are a good fit for your submissions.
Considering self-publishing? That doesn’t mean you have to forge ahead alone. We know what it takes to polish your book until it shines and we’ll be your support team along the way.
Just beginning? Our Zoom coaching sessions can help you solidify your concept, develop a plan, and get started on the right path.
Not sure what you need? Overwhelmed by all the options? Relax. We’ll sit down with you for an onboarding consultation to help you determine your next steps.
Each member of our team brings a wide skill set and eclectic background, allowing us to support your unique needs.
Welcome to Allegory Editing—Where Writers Thrive
services overview
Fiction + Memoir + Narrative Nonfiction + Nonfiction Proposals & Projects
The following services reflect the most common ways we work with writers, but they are by no means exhaustive. Contact us to discuss how we can support your unique project.
Not sure what you need? We can help. We offer free samples to help assess what service would be the best fit for your manuscript.
-
The Manuscript Critique is a detailed, big-picture analysis of your story. Feedback focuses on elements such as theme, plot, character development, and story arc. Specific examples will be pulled from your manuscript to illustrate our recommendations. Feedback comes in the form of a detailed editorial letter. This service level does not include margin notes.
-
This is where we dive in at the sentence-by-sentence level. The Comprehensive Evaluation combines the same big-picture analysis from a Manuscript Critique, along with line-by-line analysis and detailed feedback on word choice, sentence structure, grammar, dialogue and more. Feedback comes in the form of an editorial letter along with detailed margin notes.
-
This is where we identify and fine tune the smaller, line-by-line issues in a manuscript that already has a polished story. Grammatical errors, typos, specific word choice, and continuity issues can sink an otherwise solid manuscript. We will also check for passive voice and timeline glitches, along with other common errors that even experienced authors make. If you've put in the time with multiple rewrites or worked with a developmental editor and you're ready to query or self-publish, this is the service for you.
-
This service is designed for writers who are ready to commit to the hard work required to produce a polished manuscript. Most manuscripts need multiple rounds of editing before they are ready for next steps. This inclusive package takes full advantage of the benefits of Allegory's unique team model to guide you step-by-step toward your goals.
The service begins with a coaching call to assess the needs of your manuscript and tailor a plan to help you reach your goals. The deluxe plan includes four rounds of editing with coaching calls along the way to help you stay on track.
Writers who choose this package will enjoy bulk pricing, priority scheduling, and free access to all of our live workshops and back catalog recordings.
The deluxe plan includes four rounds:
Round one: A high-level assessment of your manuscript focusing on the big picture, with feedback on issues such as story structure, plot, character development, pace, genre conventions, and other high-level issues. Feedback is provided in the form of a concise editorial letter. This letter addresses the same issues as the Manuscript Critique, but presented in a condensed format designed to help focus the first rewrite on the foundational work necessary before moving to the in-depth work of round two.
Round two: A line-by-line evaluation of the manuscript, focusing on all of the big picture elements from round one, along with detailed feedback on word choice, sentence structure, dialogue, and more, all through the lens of developing your story. Feedback is provided through margin notes and tracked changes.
Round three: A thorough copy edit designed to fine-tune your manuscript once the story is fully developed. This round focuses on grammatical errors, typos, word choice, continuity issues, passive voice, timeline glitches, and other common mistakes that even the most experienced authors make
Round four: Agents and publishers expect increasingly polished manuscripts in order to take on a writer. This final proofread is designed to catch any lingering mistakes or additional errors that may have emerged after incorporating the feedback from round three to help your manuscript rise to the top of the slush pile.
(Additional services and rounds of editing may be added at à la carte pricing if you and your team determine it is needed to help you reach your goals.)
-
This package is perfect if you are ready to look for an agent or publisher. First impressions count and we’ll help you get your submission and query polished so it can rise to the top of the pile.
Package includes:
A hands-on edit of your query letter & synopsis. We’ll do as many rounds as it takes to get it just right.
A one-time Comprehensive Evaluation or Copy Edit & Proofread of your first 20 manuscript pages.
A one-hour coaching call with publishing industry expert.
Services may also be booked à la carte.
-
It's more important than ever for an author to have a strong online presence, and that starts with a great website. This service begins with a thorough analysis of your current website by a publishing industry expert and comprehensive feedback on how to improve it to help your online image. After you incorporate the industry feedback, you will receive a thorough copy edit and proofread of the website text.
Don’t have an author website yet? Let’s plan a coaching session to get you started.
-
A strong online presence is more important than ever, and that starts with a great website. This service level is designed for professionals, business owners, and bloggers in any industry. It includes a thorough copy edit and proofread of your website and/or blog.
Meet the Team
Andrea Karin Nelson
Founder & Executive Editor
In addition to her developmental editing work with published novelists, playwrights, and essayists, Andrea brings a unique set of experiences and skills to her editing craft. Twenty years as a writer and theater maker has developed her keen sense of story structure, plot and character development. Her plays have been commissioned and produced across the United States and performed in both English and American Sign Language. Fifteen years as a Master-Level, Certified Sign Language Interpreter has finely tuned her ear to the subtleties of language and the nuances of human interactions. And with over two decades as an educator, her teacher's heart allows Andrea to personally tailor her work with each writer. Click here to read Andrea’s recent interview on her journey founding Allegory.
Elena Hartwell Taylor
Senior Editor & Director of programming
In addition to working as a developmental editor and writing coach, Elena is a published author. Her most recent novel, All We Buried, appears under the name Elena Taylor. The Eddie Shoes Mystery Series appears under Elena Hartwell. Prior to writing novels, Elena worked extensively in the theater as a playwright, director, educator, and designer. She has taught writing and theatre courses at the college/university level for more than twenty years. She holds a PhD in dramatic theory and criticism, a Masters of Education with an emphasis in teaching theatre, and a BA in Mass Media Communications. For more information about Elena, you can visit her website and read her blog about authors, new books, and the writing process.
Christine Pinto
Developmental Editor
As a developmental editor, Christine draws on her experience as a fiction writer and writing instructor. She holds a Certificate in Writing for Children and a Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. Over a decade of experience teaching writing to children and adults, she has gained a deep understanding of the craft of writing and strong communication skills for sharing that knowledge with writers. Christine’s own journey as a writer informs her editing work with deep empathy for writers preparing a manuscript for publication. Her interests include historical and contemporary fiction, memoir, romance, fantasy, non-fiction, technical, business writing and writing for children.
Amy Cecil Holm
Copy Editor & Proofreader
As a copy editor and proofreader, Amy draws upon decades of teaching college English to help authors polish their prose. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in creative writing and has worked as a journalist, technical writer, and educator. Over her nearly thirty-year career, Amy has taught courses in English composition, literature, creative writing, journalistic writing, business writing, and developmental reading, among others. She has a keen understanding of grammar, punctuation, and diction and uses her careful attention to detail to help prepare manuscripts for submission and publication.
let's talk
We can't wait to meet you. Contact us to schedule an intro call. We'll discuss your project and specific editing needs. After our initial conversation, you'll be provided with a sample edit and a detailed price quote.
Phone (voice or text): 206.569.8544
Email: info@allegoryediting.com