SARA SHERBILL

Memoir Editing & Coaching

with sara sherbill

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Work with Me

Let me help you tell your story. As a writer, it took me years to find my voice. As an editor and coach, it is my honor to help you find yours.

I have worked as a book editor for nearly twenty years, with a special focus on memoir.

As an editor, I’ve 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.

But it wasn’t until I wrote my own memoir that I came to fully understand what it means to craft a story from your own lived experience—and to navigate the challenges specific to this form: What is the story at the heart of your narrative? Which parts of your life are germane to your narrative and which are not? What are the parameters when writing about close friends, partners, and family members? What is the personal cost of telling this story—and what is the cost of not telling it? I offer steadfast support and guidance as you find your way through these and other questions.

I'm Ready

Offerings

I offer three different packages depending on your needs:

01

Manuscript Evaluation

I provide a close read of your manuscript and a 2-page editorial letter detailing what is working and what isn’t, offering recommendations for revision

02

Editing Services

The editing process takes place in four stages:

✔ I read the first draft of your manuscript and provide extensive edits, focusing on structure, voice, pacing, plot, and character development, indicating areas that need further development, and suggesting cuts where necessary

✔ You review the edits and create a new draft based on my editorial suggestions

✔ I review the second draft of your manuscript, providing detailed edits, with a focus on language, clarity, sentence structure, and style

✔ You create a second draft, incorporating these edits and suggestions

03

Editing & Coaching

This package offers the editing services outlined in 1 and 2, in addition to four to six coaching sessions via phone call or Zoom.

This option is for writers who are looking for more support and personal guidance throughout the writing and revision process.

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

  • 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

  • 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

get in touch.

get in touch.

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.