Kathryn Craft is a crafty woman when it comes to editing. She turned my novel Soap Opera from a soapy, clumsy, full-of-mistakes story into something fit for publishing. Kathryn read and reread the book, her professional eye caught each and every error and mistake, and her advice content-wise was invaluable. This novel was originally written in Hebrew and Kathryn not only Americanized its translation but also formatted the book to American publishing standards. On top of this she provided me with marketing materials, such as a convincing query letter and two furbished synopses: a short and a long one. I have worked with professional editors at publishing houses in the past, but none was as skilled and qualified as Kathryn Craft.
Naomi Gal
Jerusalem Literary Prize winning author of
Roman Romani
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Kathryn’s feedback regarding my young adult novel went far beyond my expectations. Not only did she provide me with an honest, thorough overview of the large areas of need in my manuscript, but she also provided me with line edits that showed she was invested in my story. After implementing the suggested changes, I utilized the one-hour follow up phone consultation. She helped me brainstorm further character development ideas, and even after hanging up, was kind enough to send a detailed e-mail with further suggestions. Kathryn’s devotion to her clients’ writing is her finest asset. She wants authors to succeed, and I am convinced her suggestions will help me to do so.
Scott Heydt
Author of O.Y.L.
Chalfont, PA
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Kathryn did an exceptional job critiquing my manuscript; I found her suggestions thorough and invaluable. She has a definitive eye for editing details, yet takes time to consider the project as a whole and will comment on the novel’s overall structure, characterization and plot. Kathryn’s critiquing style is honest and forthright. I also found her to be efficient in her estimation of turnaround time. I believe that her critique helped me to shape my manuscript to the point where it became a quarter-finalist in a national contest.
Fern J. Hill, author of Charley’s Choice
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
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Kathryn Craft is my writing partner. Her skills stand out above the rest because she not only pays attention to the nitty-gritties of sentence structure and word choice and grammar and punctuation, but she also can view the work as a whole and point out where the overall story needs work. She backs up her comments with information and anecdotes gathered from books, conferences, and interaction with other authors. I often think that if I'd had her on my side twenty years ago I would already be published.
Linda Glaser
Ithaca, NY
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In a publishing world where real editors are as rare as the Dodo bird it is imperative that submissions be ready for the typesetter. Kathryn can help a writer be assured that their manuscript is the best it can be. She wields her blue pencil like a surgeon’s scalpel, excising fat and pruning weak words and vague exposition. Kathryn uses her years of experience to see the skeleton beneath the surface, and then rearrange the bones in an order that brings clarity to the work. I am very glad I am rewriting my novel with her criticism in hand, rather than a thanks-but-no-thanks from some agent. . .
Steve Day
Blandon, PA
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Kathryn is an editor par excellence. She is thorough and precise. I appreciated her straightforward and honest approach to my story content. She was clear on the strengths of my work and what needed to be rethought, refined or recycled. Her enthusiasm for my novel was infectious, and spurred me on to complete the final much faster than I would have on my own. I would recommend her to any aspiring novelist without hesitation.
Jack Althouse,
author of Second Sight
Perkiomenville, PA
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After a series of rejections from the publishing world, I asked Kathryn to read my novel and give me some insight as to why no one was interested in it. She did so quickly and extensively, pointing out not only major faults in my plot, but also flaws in my grammar, word choice, and sequence of events. Together with the harsh truth, she offered recommendations on how to improve my story and a list of resources to help me develop my craft. Her advice was enlightening and, in addition to helping me rethink the first novel, has given me better vision and renewed excitement for a new project on which I'm working.
Simonee deFuccio
Allentown, PA
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When I decided that my novel writing skills were not developing as fast as I liked, I began working on short stories. My first submissions were countered with rejections; one included feedback that my work had promise (bad pun since it was titled, The Promise). I asked Kathryn to critique it; she came to mind since she had helped me with a synopsis a year or two earlier as I prepared for my first sales pitch to a literary agent. I built on her suggestions for improving the character and setting development for the next version I submitted. It was accepted—my first published fiction! In subsequent projects, even when we disagreed, I took all of Kathryn’s feedback seriously, reminding myself that pre-Kathryn equaled a rejection, and post-Kathryn brought publication success…
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Kathryn Craft has been an invaluable partner in all aspects of my new nonfiction book, critiquing not just a key chapter but giving me feedback on chapter order and helping me to pop up some promotional material. Though most know of Kathryn as a writer of serious fiction, she can jazz up a press release with her pacing and has an excellent sense of what will "sell" and draw readers in. She does it all with humor and a friendly attitude and catches the problems that would really embarrass you if they got out into the world!
Sunny Hersh, author of
Is it HOT in here or am I just HOT?
and Midlife Mamas on the Moon
Macungie, PA
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As an English major, communication is key; good grades are also a concern. In this age of daily accelerating technology, it is so tempting to “copy and paste,” or to have someone else write your papers for you. There is a thin line between plagiarism and critiquing. With writing-partner.com I am not concerned about whether I have crossed that line. While Kathryn has not rewritten my papers, she has corrected my punctuation (I tend to use commas like a child would decorate a paper with “Happy Face stickers”); offered valuable suggestions, comments, and questions for greater clarity; and taught me how to fine tune my writing. I appreciate a professional service with integrity and heart.
D. H.
Pinehurst, NC
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