Image of book with dried flowers

Longing for a manuscript that gleams with unforgettable characters and enthralling plots?

Your search ends here.

Welcome to Finicky Muse Editorial, dedicated to weaving literary excellence and alchemizing your prose into pure gold.

Whether you're just starting your journey, or several drafts in, Michelle is here to help!

editing Services

  • In-depth analysis of a manuscript, providing feedback on its strengths, weaknesses, and potential next steps.

  • Deep dive into the structure, content, and story-telling of a manuscript.

  • Intricate, stylistic line edits and copyediting.

  • Professional advice and guidance at any stage of the writing process.

Services*

* Most common services chosen by authors below, but I’m always happy to mix & match! Payment plans are available to meet financial needs - just ask!

Hold the Line!

Quick line editing to clean up syntax and grammar.

2-3 week turnaround

The First Encounter

Includes only an editorial assessment with basic marginal comments as necessary.

3-4 week turnaround

MarginAlia

Includes in-depth developmental edits as well as an editorial assessment.

3-4 week turnaround

All the Above

Includes in-depth developmental edits, line editing that focuses on not only general clean-up of syntax and grammar, but also stylistic suggestions, and an editorial assessment.

4-5 week turnaround

Quick Queries

What genres do you edit?

I cater to various genres in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoirs, and more. However, I do specialize in romance, mystery, and YA fantasy.

Can I ask for a sample edit before deciding to collaborate?

Yes, of course. Please send over no more than 5 pages of your manuscript via email, and I will aim to have a sample edit returned to you within 48 hours of receipt.

I’m not sure what my manuscript needs, or even how to start my manuscript! Do you offer brainstorming sessions?

I’m a big believer that writing should never be stuck in a bubble. Being able to talk with a fellow writer and/or lover of the written world is paramount for success! So yes, I do offer brainstorming sessions via my consulting services. Your first 30-minute session is completely free.

How do I submit my work?

Simply choose “Contact” from the header and complete the form that pops up, specifying your desired service and any other helpful details (word count, genre, goals, concerns, etc.).

Will my work be secure during our collaboration?

Absolutely! I will always fiercely safeguard your intellectual property as if it were my own. Authors are always welcome to provide their documents to me either as a Word document, Pages, or Google doc.

  • It was my first time collaborating with an editor, and Michelle put all my anxieties to rest. She was like a friend throughout this experience, and I was impressed with her ability to balance the professional processes with the very down-to-earth and comfortable conversations about the material. She made me feel heard and understood while also offering valuable insights. Not only would I work with her again, I plan to when my next project is ready!

    Jason R.

    Project: Emerald Penny

    October 2023

  • It was a scary process trying to choose my very first editor. Since I do not consider myself to be a writer, I was a bit intimidated sending off my work of passion to someone who was being hired to “pick it apart”. Michelle was the right choice. Her comments were instructive, and her editing notes changed my original words to what I intended them to be. Whether you are new to this process, or you have sold many books, I believe the insight and skill Michelle has to offer will elevate anyone’s manuscript.

    Sharon B.

    Project: Algebra Instruction Using ELL Strategies

    July 2023

  • Michelle knows her stuff! She gave an honest evaluation of my draft, specifying the best way forward and suggesting changes which were clearly stated and feasible. She also recommended resources that are available online on Amazon/public libraries. A few exercises were also included in her feedback. I could not be more satisfied and have already decided to have her review and developmentally edit the next, hopefully much-improved, version. She is friendly and respectful and amenable to Zoom calls at short notice. Lastly, the amount requested was much lower than comparable editors.

    Damir J.

    Project: Speed Trap

    March 2023

  • Working with Michelle has been a pleasure. You can certainly tell that she is an experienced editor with an eye for detail who truly cares about your project. Michelle went above and beyond what I had expected, spotting errors and repeated patterns in my manuscript I had not noticed, reworking sentence structure to better my writing, and leaving detailed comments with constructive feedback in the margins. Moreover, she sent along with her edits a thoroughly detailed editorial assessment with complete analysis of my manuscript, its strengths and weaknesses, and areas for improvement. She even wrote out a plan for turning my novel into a trilogy! I'm positive that working with Michelle has improved my manuscript tremendously, as well as given me more direction as a writer. Highly recommended! Plus her quote was more than reasonable compared to others I received, and her editing punctual and timely.

    Mark S.

    Project: The Monarchs

    January 2023

  • Michelle definitely knows her stuff. I've used her several times and she never disappoints.

    DeBora R.

    Project: Everything Prom

    January 2023

  • Michelle was absolutely incredible! Her line-by-line edits pointed out the things I missed, her overall analysis was in-depth, the timeline was more than reasonable, and she even provided outside resources for further development. Michelle was an excellent editor!

    Easton B.

    Project: Birds of a Feather

    November 2022

  • Michelle's feedback has been invaluable to my writing project, my first novel. She provided an honest and professionally crafted assessment of the overall manuscript, and a thorough, detailed edit too. She took a genuine, thoughtful interest in my writing and in making it better, and this came through with every suggestion, comment, and correction she made. I feel lucky to have found her on Reedsy and only hope she remains available to continue working on my project until it is done. Thanks Michelle!

    John D.

    Project: The Pygmy-Owls of Forest Park

    October 2022

  • Everything was very well done and she was very clear in all her explanations which is helpful for a new writer.

    Crystal M.

    Project: Botanical Meaning

    August 2022

  • Michelle was the best editor I could have asked for. She overdelivers, and she does an exceptional job at a short time. She highly elevated the quality of my manuscript with detailed comments and suggestions throughout the manuscript. My writing improved so much thanks to her feedback. She is very professional and easy to work with. I am certainly planning to work with her for my future writing projects.

    Luna G.

    Project: The Wisdom Keepers Book 1: The Rise of the Phoenix

    December 2021

  • Michelle really helped reign in the first twenty pages of my manuscript and truly gave the best advice on how to move the voice into a more authentic place for the direction I hoped to go toward.

    Jared M.

    Project: Fallen Crown

    January 2022

  • Michelle was wonderful to work with as a developmental editor. She provided honest, constructive, and prompt feedback. Will definitely come back to her for additional edits.

    Christina L.

    Project: Asian Duckling

    February 2021

  • Wow! So happy! Michelle turned my simple manuscript into an exciting story. Her edits were spot on. She not only provided exceptional services in her editing, but her feedback generated ideas I couldn't have thought of without her. I'm pleased that I'll be able to submit my manuscript to agents with confidence. Each response I received was professional and insightful. I plan on working with Michelle again in the future.

    Lynette F.

    Project: The Crowning Moment

    April 2020

  • Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed working with Michelle on a second round of edits. Her comments and insight were invaluable. She helped point my manuscript in the direction it needed to go. I'm so so happy that I chose Michelle to work with to help polish my manuscript. Thank you!!

    Lynette F.

    Project: The Crowned

    August 2020

  • Michelle is an absolute pleasure to work with. She has done a thoughtful and detailed job with our press release. She not only delivered a clean and professional content but also gave us some practical advice. We are looking forward to working with her in the future!

    Synced Review

    Project: The World’s First Satellite AI-ESG Platform

    December 2019

  • Michelle brought out a lot of useful thoughts that made me think even further about my book. She's very professional and I highly recommend her!

    DeBora R.

    Project: Glam Slammed It!

    September 2019