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

Don’t take our word for it . . .

Testimonials all

There is no way I could have pulled this book together without the incredibly talented and fun-to-work-with women at Allegory Editing: Andrea Karin Nelson, Elena Hartwell Taylor, and Amy Cecil Holm. Andrea convinced me about the importance of good editing, and agreed to pitch my project to Elena, who showed me how to write with increased clarity and confidence. Through examples, prodding, and her great sense of humor, Elena offered vital guidance about the arc of my story and how to keep the momentum going. Amy was my eagle-eye proofreader who gave terrific advice on word choice and grammar. Her knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style is simply jaw-dropping,

Genét Simone, author of Teaching in the Dark: A Memoir

I have had many editors in my writing career, but none as skilled as Andrea Karin Nelson. She is the best, bar none. With a sharp eye, she brings a fresh perspective, creative suggestions, and a balance to plot, characters, and timeline—picking up issues the writer might never see. I highly recommend her.

Bryan E. Robinson, award-winning author of Limestone Gumption (currently under series development for television).

When I became utterly stuck writing a synopsis, Elena Hartwell read my outline and patiently, cheerfully, helped me untangle the convoluted strings of my summary, advised me on brevity and throughlines, and demonstrated the importance of cause and effect in writing a synopsis. I could not recommend her higher.

Emilya Naymark, award-nominated author of Hide in Place and Behind the Lie. 

I've been working with Amy recently on a technical book with lots of references, footnotes and technical details. Amy is very knowledgeable and our work together has really improved the readability and consistency of the book. Two of Fathom Publishing's authors have relied on Allegory Editing's service for polishing their manuscripts with good results.

Connie Taylor, Fathom Publishing

Being a great writer doesn’t make you a great editor. Happily for my work—and anyone who signs up with Elena Hartwell—Elena is excellent at both. Her developmental suggestions for my now-completed manuscript were right on target, identifying areas where I needed to go deeper, scenes that needed the chop and places where the focus had to shift. My main characters are much the better for her recommendations. Elena also does a great job working at the line-by-line level. She caught plot contradictions, missing information, repetition and those annoying typos. Elena brings both a panoramic overview and tight focus to editing projects. Add the fact she is a pleasure to work with, which is key when you’re bringing her that precious novel of yours, and she’s got it all.

Rich Zahradnik, Shamus Award-winning author of the Coleridge Taylor Mystery series

Christine has a very clear and collaborative style of editing. She does not hesitate to point out plot flaws, character inconsistencies, questionable logistics, and of course, grammatical issues. However, she is even quicker to point out what isworking. She makes excellent suggestions about areas that could be expanded or trimmed, and what might work better as dialogue. She is astute, direct, communicates well, and gets the job done when she says she will. She is also funny and supportive. She made a plot suggestion for Parallel Secrets that I’m still kicking myself for not thinking of. (No doubt she could improve that last sentence.) Highly recommend!

ML Barrs, author of Parallel Secrets

Andrea extracted the writer I didn't know I had in me. In our work together on two rounds of developmental editing, she offered encouragement, insight and direct feedback captured in a very thorough and thoughtful editorial letter with specific examples and actionable items. With her help, my manuscript evolved from an adequate first attempt as a writer to a compelling story that others are captivated by and can relate to. Andrea is more than an editor—she's a great coach, vested in my growth as a writer.

Christine C. McHugh, author of From Barista to Boardroom

Elena Hartwell Taylor has read many of my novels in various stages of development. From a quick look at a final manuscript to a more time-intensive read of a messy first draft, she has given me invaluable feedback on my work. I would recommend her to writers of any genre.

Mary Angela, author of the Happy Camper & Professor Prather Mystery series

 

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 

 
Headshot Fall 2017.jpg

Image ID: Andrea, a white woman, with chin-length curly hair stands before a tree wearing a blue top. She looks into the camera and smiles.

Photo credit: Sara Rife Photography

Image ID: Elena, a white woman with short, dark brown hair wears a black shirt and jacket. She smiles into the camera with her chin propped on her fist.

Christine Pinto headshot.jpg

Image ID: Christine, a white woman with dark brown hair wearing a green top, smiles into the camera with her chin propped on her hand. Behind her is a wooden fence and ferns.

Image ID: Amy, a white woman woman with chin-length, medium brown hair and glasses smiles into the camera. Behind her is a large tree with leaves just starting to turn orange.

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 let us know about your project and your editing needs. You can reach us at the following number and email, or fill out the form below. Someone from our team will be in touch within 24 business hours.

Phone (voice or text): 206.569.8544          

Email: info@allegoryediting.com

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