draft, and whenever possible, I strive to do it as fast as possible. In my experience, a fast win creates momentum and gets results. I want that for my clients, too. While I love coaching and mentoring writers, I still love digging into manuscripts, offering a fresh perspective on structure, storytelling and content, as well as getting into the nitty-gritty of copyediting and proofreading.

Because I started out doing “coverage”—a term in the film industry for an initial assessment by a reader who grades a script with a “recommend,” “consider” or “pass” before sending it up the line to an executive decision-maker—I typically prefer to evaluate a manuscript before I edit. This allows me to set realistic expectations for both the writer and myself moving forward, with a clear roadmap in hand. Going in blindly into an edit does a disservice to everyone, in my experience.

I call the Treasure Coast of Florida, where pirates once roamed, home. I find it the perfect writing retreat for myself, and periodically I host retreats for others. My goal is always to spend more time playing volleyball, swimming, and spending time with family when I’m not writing or editing.