EDITING
I help with story arcs, character development, plotting, and all the mechanical aspects of your book.
"Ann Aubrey Hanson has been my critique partner for more than a decade. Her editorial judgment is first-rate. She has a sharp eye, a clear head, and a wealth of knowledge about what makes for gripping fiction. Working with her is a pleasure." Meg Gardiner, New York Times Bestseller and Edgar-winning author of the UNSUB series, Jo Beckett series, and Evan Delaney series.
"Writing is exciting and wonderful. It gives you a kind of power and glory. Editing, on the other hand, is destructive. It is painful. It forces you to face the ugliness you've attempted to cover up and hide from. It brings you face to face with your weakness and frailty, and all that is less than you hoped. In other words, editing just plain sucks. But if you have the courage to let Ann show you how much stronger your work can be, then you will once again experience excitement, wonder, and perhaps even find genuine glory; by then, she will have helped you write something more than you ever could have alone.
S.G.T. Grasmuck
"There are many qualified editors who can make a project better, but how they help you; the journey makes a difference. I am a new writer, and I believed I had done a pretty good job with the first draft of my novel. However, many beta readers disagreed, so I asked Ann to take a professional look. Not only did she point out where the book could be improved, but she also gave me specific examples and showed me how to be a better writer. I am not fast, and while I spent months on the rewrite, Ann was always available whenever I needed her help. She didn't have to do it, but she became my writing coach. I often questioned if my book was worth the time I was putting into it. Ann saw something in it that I did not. Throughout my rewrite, I felt I had an unofficial writing partner cheering me on. By the time she edited my book completely, she has masterfully captured my voice and helped me tell the story I had intended to write all along. I truly believe I might have given up if I hadn't had her support. For me, writing a novel has been a long journey. With Ann's encouraging support and expertise, I reached my final destination." Gene Koon, author of Another Try
"I hired Ann as a development editor and as a copy editor. I found her insights extremely valuale and her editing skills exceptional. She was easy to work with and met all of my expectations. I plan to work with her again." Marci Couet, author of Lover of God and Garden: Discovering the Divine Design of Self-Expression.
"When I selected Ann to be my editor, I felt vulnerable and fearful that she would not see merit in my new novel. To my great relief and sincere happiness, she saw my story as an emerging work of art. I observed her skill on each passage where she improved my writing. Her skill and professional validation gave me the confidence to finish my book and to craft an ending that has given me a feeling of pride and elation. In this, she exceeded all my expectations." Larry Kelley, author of Lessons from Fallen Civilizations and the new novel, An American Slave in Barbary
"Ann's Memoir Writing class gave me an inlet, an outlet, and a new purpose to my life in retirement. The prompts she provided, the constructive criticism she gave, and the enthusiasm with which she approached each class gave me an opportunity to take a fresh look inward at my life, both past and present, an outlet in the wonderful world of writing, and a new purpose in to my life—the hope of publishing my memoirs to help others reflect on their lives. Do not miss any opportunity to experience the tutelage of this phenomenal woman of letters." Anne Trevethan Birkhoff, The Wee Folk of Yorkentown
"Ann really deserves my gratitude for her patience, guidance, and professionalism in writing and editing this manuscript. She made an extraordinary effort to help me understand the things I missed in my narration of the stories." Dr. Alex Kodiath, author of Elder Care: Precious Presence
"As a writer of fiction, my first venture into popular Catholic nonfiction (A Case for the Eucharist) required me to find an expert editor in this arena. With a narrowed field of three potential editors, I opted not for the least expensive editor but for the one whose responsive follow-up, constructive review of my sample, and just plain likability appealed to me: Ann Aubrey. I am certainly happy that I did! Once selected, I gave Ann not only free rein when it came to the mechanics of the writing but also leeway in suggesting better word choice options, massaging sentence structure, and even adding to what I had written if she felt it would add value to the project. While I would, of course, review any such additions/edits, most of her content additions were retained due to their positive impact on the manuscript. While most clients may not ask for or want this collaboration from an editor, know that Ann is most capable of going above and beyond in these areas. Bottom line, Ann helped to elevate my project to a level higher than I could have achieved on my own or through the use of any other editor. I give Ann Aubrey my highest recommendation." Dcn. Dennis Lambert, author of The Table and A Case for the Eucharist
"In October 2020, I had finished writing a Catholic nonfiction book and was looking for a professional to edit it. I wanted someone Catholic who knew the Faith well. The thought of searching online for someone to send my manuscript to made me uneasy, to say the least. Eventually, my search led to Ann Aubrey, and she promptly replied, making me feel much more at ease. Ann accepted my manuscript and got to work editing it. She skillfully accomplished all one would expect from a professional editor. Also, without changing the meaning of what I was saying, Ann cleverly restructured sentences and wording where needed, making my book read much more smoothly. If the book were a road, she fixed cracked, filled holes, and smoothed out the bumps—making it a pleasure to navigate. Since then, I have contracted Ann's services for another editing project and will not hesitate to hire her in the future." William M. Simons, Living in the Light of the Face of God
"Ann Aubrey Hanson is an amazing editor. Ann was integral in helping me to edit my art history and criticism book on the late Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta. I don't think it would have turned out as beautifully as it did without Ann's help. She assisted me in all aspects of the book, from critiquing my pitch to various academic presses, to editing content and preparing the book for publication. Ann was always patient, prompt, and accurate with her work, meeting very quick turnarounds when they were demanded of me. I found her to be intuitive, knowledgeable, precise, and elegant when it came to smoothing out the way I said things. I always sensed that she understood where I was going with my writing and pushed back when I was unclear or making statements that did not quite fit. It is vital to have faith in your editor, and I truly did, always appreciating her exacting work and her encouraging attitude. Ann has since helped me with a second book and numerous contributed chapters, and I will continue to call upon her help as I embark on new writing projects. She is wonderful!" Genevieve Hyacinthe, Radical Virtuosity: Ana Mendieta and the Black Atlantic
