My Values
Empathy
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Be in the moment with individuals.
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Find the perspective behind their story, and let it guide your work.
Collaboration
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Listen twice as long as you talk.
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Never introduce an idea with "Yes, but . . ."
Respect
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Assume clients are just as smart as you are—or smarter.
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Build their confidence. Keep their confidences.
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Remember it's their story.
Continual Improvement
Quarterly Expertise Audit: Find the areas where you need to improve.
Give Back
Volunteer in the community—editing or otherwise—once a quarter.
Ted Olson
Are you writing fiction—say, literary, historical, or mystery? Or maybe you're working on a memoir. Looking for a ghostwriter? Okay, let's talk!
"That was a great story! You should write a book."
You've completed a manuscript. And chances are, in all those words you've got plenty of great stuff. You catch yourself staring at the pages like a proud parent. There's a sentence or two you relish. And you've crafted some riveting scenes. Then you get some feedback from your writing group or some trusted friends. The verdict? It still needs some work. At this point, anxiety begins to simmer, fueled by a little doubt. Because after numerous revisions, you've taken your story as far as you can.
Relax. Every published author has been down that road. This is where I can help you.
I’ve spent 30 years studying creative writing and honing my critiquing and editing skills. While working on my first novel, I spent hours with a developmental editor who’d read my manu-script and challenged me to make some significant revisions. It was literary thoracic surgery. I said goodbye to half my charac-ters and began plotting what turned out to be a much better story. That's when editing became a career pivot. The kick for me, now, is teaching authors the skills that will help move their manuscript toward publication.
I am an MFA graduate of the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University where I was the recipient of the Linda Bierds and Carol Houck Smith Graduate Scholarship. I’ve self-published a novel titled Cape Wrath. My writing has also appeared in The Write Launch, Griffel, Half and One, and The Santa Barbara Literary Journal.
