Manuscript Consultation and Workshops
I offer consultation and editing for full-length prose manuscripts, both fiction and nonfiction. To learn about working with me privately for manuscript consultation, or to have me lead a workshop or speak to your class, writing group, or library, please contact me and let me know what you have in mind—the more details, the better!
My debut novel won the Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature, Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award, First Horizon Award, and Micro Press Award. My essays, journalism, and short fiction have appeared in numerous publications. And I serve as associate editor of the online literary journal Good River Review.
What my clients and students say …
about my manuscript consultation services:
“What I found most helpful in working with Katy was her ability to articulate the inherent strengths of my writing. With those metrics, she was able to go through my manuscript, identifying patterns, relationships, and arcs that I would not have recognized on my own. She recommended actionable guidance I am now incorporating into my next draft. Truly, the best money I’ve ever spent on writing assistance.” — Lia Eastep, MFA
“I first knew Katy as a writing instructor, then as a writer. Her experiences & talent come together beautifully in the role of editor. Katy honored the time I’d spent on my novel and my creative efforts. She looked for my strengths and let the light shine on them. But she also scrutinized carefully and with honesty—finding missed opportunities and chances for growth. As she guided me on how to strengthen the narrative, she also stressed that I retain who I am as a writer—my style, my instincts, and my goals for my work. Her developmental edit was just what I needed to move on to the next phase of revision and finally complete my novel.” — Leigh Claire Schmidli, winner of the William Van Dyke Short Story Prize
“Katy is a thorough and insightful reader who gives helpful advice while never failing to point out areas of strength. She does this with the skill of a professional editor, and it’s obvious she cares about the potential of the work she reads. Her critique over the years has been invaluable to me and has done a great deal to keep me motivated.” — Nicholas Siegel, MFA
about my workshops:
“[Reading your essay] reminds me of Ross Gay’s Book of Delights and the writing prompt you shared with us in your online writing workshop during the bad old days of Covid. While life has gotten much better, I have returned to my notes from you and Gay’s essays more than once when feeling stuck or simply wrung out. It gives me a spark—a tug to write and simply be present." — Jennie Kiffmeyer, MFA, performer and award-winning playwright
and a few quotes from anonymous evaluations:
“Thank you, Katy, for an excellent workshop. I really feel satisfied. You have given me a new perspective for me to think about. I was working toward where you directed us, but was just not getting there. I feel that you showed me what it was I have been looking for. I was focusing on contrasts, but seeing connections and disconnections are much more life-giving to writing.”
“It was so well-planned, so accessible, and so practical! I especially loved the "very bad writing" examples, which helped to illustrate more clearly how NOT to write about emotion.”
“The lecture portion was great. The exercises gave us solid examples of the subjects presented.”
“A fabulous job.”