SARA SHERBILL

Let me help you tell your story

Memoir Editing and Coaching

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Work with Me

Your story deserves to be told—powerfully and authentically.

Finding your voice as a writer can be a lifelong journey. With nearly twenty years of experience as a book editor, specializing in memoir, I help writers like you bring their stories to life with clarity, depth, and impact.

I have worked on multiple New York Times bestsellers and National Jewish Book Award winners, including To the Castle and Back by Václav Havel and Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom by Ariel Burger. As a writer, I also know firsthand what it takes to shape personal experiences into a compelling, cohesive narrative.

Memoir writing comes with specific challenges:

✔ What is the heart of your story?

✔ Which parts of your life truly serve the narrative?

✔ How do you write about loved ones with care and integrity?

✔ What is the personal cost of telling this story—and the cost of not telling it?

These are the questions I help writers navigate. Whether you need a fresh perspective on your manuscript or deeper, ongoing support, I provide the expert guidance to bring your book to its fullest potential.

I'm Ready

Choose the Right Support for Your Journey

I offer three different packages depending on your needs:

01

Manuscript Evaluation

Get expert insight into what’s working—and what’s not.

This package includes:

✔ A close read of your manuscript

✔ A detailed 2-page editorial letter outlining strengths, weaknesses, and key recommendations for revision

02

Editing Services

A structured, in-depth editing process to refine your manuscript:

✔ A comprehensive first-draft edit focusing on structure, voice, pacing, and character development, with suggestions for cuts and expansion where needed

✔ After you’ve revised the manuscript based on my editorial feedback, a second round of edits will focus on clarity, language, sentence structure, and style

03

Editing & Coaching

For writers seeking hands-on guidance throughout the writing process, this package includes:

✔ Editing Services package

✔ 4 private coaching sessions via phone or Zoom for deeper support, motivation, and personalized feedback

Who this is for

I work with writers at various stages of the writing and publishing process. My services are for you if:

✔ You have a completed draft of a manuscript but are not sure if it’s “ready” or what to do next. Maybe some friends or colleagues have offered feedback, but you have a nagging feeling it needs more work to bring your story to its full potential.

✔ You have a partially or mostly finished manuscript, but you feel stuck, unmotivated, or unsure how to complete it.

✔ You have already signed a publishing contract, and are looking for editorial support and guidance to deliver a polished manuscript to your publisher.

This is me

What Writers Are Saying

  • Ilana Sumka

    “Thanks to Sara’s impeccable editing skills, my manuscript has recently been accepted for publication. I couldn’t have gotten to this stage without her. I’d recommend her in a heartbeat.”

    —Ilana Sumka, peace activist, author of a forthcoming memoir about Israel/Palestine

  • Ariel Burger

    “Sara Sherbill pushed me to discover and then open new doors. Her presence throughout this project was an anchor. Her skill, precision, lucidity, and emotional insight enriched this book beyond measure.”

    —Ariel Burger, author of Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom

  • Joseph J. Ellis

    “Sara Sherbill ushered the manuscript through the publishing process with uncommon competence and grace.”

    —Joseph J. Ellis, bestselling author of American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic

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apply here.

Let’s Bring Your Story to Life.

I work with a select number of writers who are ready to shape their stories into powerful, publishable books. If you're serious about taking your manuscript to the next level, apply to work with me below.

Limited Spots Available – Apply Today

FAQs

  • You are ready to work with an editor if you have been working on your manuscript for months–or years–and are ready to move to the next stage. All writers, even the most famous, rely on an editor’s perspective to help them tell their story in the clearest, most engaging way possible. If you sense you are ready to work with an editor, trust your gut–you probably are.

  • Turnaround time varies from project to project, depending on the extent of the editing required and my current workload. We will develop a proposed schedule to meet your needs.

  • While I typically help writers who have completed a first draft of their manuscript, I also work with writers who have a partial manuscript. Reach out to see if it makes sense to work together.

  • I help you create a manuscript that is ready for publication. I do not send query letters or provide introductions to agents, editors, or publishing houses. However, in some circumstances, I may be available to help you craft a book proposal to send out to agents.