ALICE DAY has been an editor since 1988. After earning a graduate degree in creative writing at Brown University, she has worked at the book publishers Henry Holt and Company and Carroll & Graf Publishers. Writer Don Smith, whose awards include 19 regional Emmys, said of Alice Day, “She’s the kind of editor every writer should be so lucky to have.” Alice Day is an award-winning writer with eight collections of poetry and a novel that have been published by nationally-recognized publishing houses. Kathleen Wakefield, whose novella won the 2008 Cleveland State University novella contest, said “that [Alice] has been an editor at a major New York publishing house gives her insight into that complicated world; that she is a poet, I believe, gives her the sensitivity to find the beauty of a writer’s individual work.” Alice Day has the skill and experience to focus on a writer’s vision and help the writer realize it. She’s a hands-on editor who’s not afraid to cut words and offer insights. And she has a poet’s sensitivity to language.

Book Editing Services

Alice Day’s specialty is fiction editing. She has worked with numerous award-winning authors (authors who have won the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award) as well as first-time novelists. She does detailed manuscript evaluations, as well as developmental/substantive editing. She is also a skilled copy editor.

Her fiction specialties include short stories, novellas, literary fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction women’s fiction,
chick lit, thrillers, mysteries, and detective/crime novels.

BOOK EDITOR REVIEWS:

“I remember when my oldest daughter was born. I particularly recall handing her to my mother to hold for the first time. I think I said something like, ‘Isn’t she beautiful.’ But what I was thinking was ‘Be careful. Don’t drop her.’ That’s exactly how I felt when the time came to hand over my first novel to Alice. From the beginning, I knew I could trust her. Every line edit, every plot suggestion, every character tweak made perfect sense. Alice’s insights helped me take my story to the next level and then some. She combines formidable technical editing skills with the heart of a poet. She respected my story, and, more than that, she cared about it.” – Dee Smith, first-time novelist

“Your editing style is a true work of art. Enjoying every minute of it :)” -Myroslav Deschytsa

“I just want to thank you again for your help, sharp eye for detail, and clear, thoughtful advice. From start to finish, you were very articulate and thorough and showed great sensitivity to the manuscript material, both on the level of micro line edits for clarity and flow, as well as with the larger issues of character, plot, and pacing. I especially appreciated the conversation we had and how specific questions you raised led to new and stronger plot ideas. This kind of feedback was precisely the guidance I was hoping for, so I truly appreciate your efforts. For a writer itching to take her work to a higher level, there is no more valuable asset. I would recommend you to any writer who is serious about wanting to improve and prepare work for publication.” – Jade Keller

“After researching many, many book editors, I chose Alice because I was impressed with her extensive list of accomplishments, both as an editor with top publishing houses and as a poet and author in her own right. I was beyond excited when she agreed to take me on as a client, so the fact that she actually managed to exceed my (already sky-high) expectations was quite a feat! The best way I can describe Alice’s critique of my novel is that she took a manuscript that had completely gone off the rails in terms of pacing and focus, and put it squarely back on track – somehow she was able to see through all the extraneous, meandering subplots and envision the work as it was meant to be. As my editor, Alice not only extracted (read: rescued) the core story from its runaway cast of supporting characters and sub motifs, but went on to cultivate the roots of that core story until it transformed into a road map of the simply but poignantly plotted, character-driven literary novel I had sat down to write more than two years before.

“To cite an example, one of Alice’s most profoundly helpful suggestions was to eliminate an under-developed character who had a pivotal role in both my protagonist’s transforming identity and then to recast in this same role, a very strong, developed character who had ended up falling by the wayside by the end of the my novel. This one suggestion was so natural, and obvious, and organic once it was made that I found myself stunned and somewhat dismayed I had never thought of it myself! Through this relatively simple ‘character swap,’ not only did my outline become exponentially more cogent and compelling, but I was able to cut (pain-free!) a 70-page subplot that I could now see was distracting. For a manuscript that was already well over the 100,000 word maximum recommended for a first time literary fiction author, it was nothing short of a miracle.

“In addition to several such fundamental plot fixes, Alice also provided a meticulous list, complete with page numbers, of every chronological inconsistency, every mix-up of a character’s name or background, and every oversight in which I had unintentionally and prematurely revealed plot twists and other information to the reader. I was blown away by how thoroughly she knew every detail of each and every character and minor event of the novel inside out, in just two weeks – in this way too, she had become more versed in my own novel than I was at that time. Throughout the editing process, Alice was very generous and patient with me in answering my millions of questions about her invaluable feedback and suggestions.

“In summation, through her spot-on, razor sharp analysis and critique of my first novel, Alice not only deciphered my original, long-since misplaced intentions for the narrative, she also went on to help me construct a solid blueprint from which I can finally carry out those intentions in my rewrite. Oh, and my praise of Alice would not be complete if I did not mention that after helping me to ‘cut the fat’ from my overstuffed novel, she also zeroed in on a few undeveloped literary devices that I had no sooner created than all but abandoned in the manuscript’s first draft. Through her usual deft language and incisive (but always gentle) suggestions, she made me see the value in these nearly accidental ‘diamonds in the rough’; and advised me well on how to excavate and polish them. So, with these unearthed gems in hand, I feel confident that I’ll not only be able to rewrite the novel in accordance with the new, cogent outline Alice helped me create, but also, to use this restructuring to push the narrative, and the writing, to its fullest literary potential.” – Carrie Wharton-Hanford, first-time novelist

“Alice is that special someone who can be trusted to take an author’s manuscript, accurately cast her eye upon it, grasp its strengths and weaknesses from overall structure down to the smallest petty detail, and tell it like it is. In short, she is an author’s antidote to wandering in the wilderness.” – Thomas Lisenbee “Alice just completed an editorial review and critique of a novel for me and her work was excellent. After soliciting four proposals from editors I thought she would be a good fit for literary fiction and she was. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her and intend to use her again.” – Susan MacLean

“I searched hours on the Internet for someone who looked like the right editor for me: professional, first-hand experience in the publishing industry (what sells, what doesn’t), and someone who could give me a no-nonsense critique of where I was holding or losing my reader, where I was being redundant, verbose or unclear, and if the piece could be shaped more effectively – all this AND catching the grammar and mechanics details! After 8 email inquiries and 3 phone interviews, I asked Alice on the spot to be my editor. She proved to be everything I knew I needed and then some. I’m looking forward to our next work together. I have no doubt that she’ll help me out of the tangled woods I tend to create to see the forest as well as the trees!” – Barbara Wade “Each time I go over your comments I marvel at how good they are.” – Terris McMahan Grimes

“Since you sent your letter and the ms, I have not left my desk – I am working nonstop – You are the best editor in the world.” – Deborah Henry

“Copy/Edit – Her insight has been helpful. She finished before she said she would and made herself available for further questions.” – Lewis Heard

“I want to thank you very much for the terrific job you did editing my book!! I accepted the majority of your changes. And many of those that I didn’t prompted me to realize how unclear I’d been. The consequence was a change in the text that made it much more vivid and understandable. The quality of your work was excellent!! I realized from your first communication that you were the editor I wanted to work with me. There was a quality and balance to the way you handled each step that told me you were the right person, that I could rely upon you…. For the amount and quality of work you did the fee was very reasonable. Once more I want to thank you for your excellent work! And for being the kind of person you are.” – Don Fenn

“As a novice, writing my first novel, I was amazed by Alice’s ability to visualize my entire novel and make succinct comments that were specific to a particular sentence while referring to the structure and narrative of the entire work.” – Erik R. Brown, first-time novelist

“Alice Day is a clever, intelligent, thoughtful, and thorough editor. She is nurturing yet highly professional, with keen eyes and ears. She hones in on the heart and matter and delivers the goods…a goldmine for any writer.” – Taylor Barton, author of Hotheaded Saints and lyricist “Alice Day is a joy to work with and someone I recommend most highly to other writers. She is a skillful, sensitive editor with excellent judgment and tremendous respect for an author’s voice. Whether she’s commenting on the overall arc of a story or zeroing in on a specific phrase or line of dialogue, her comments are always insightful and instructive.” – Amanda Filipacchi, author of Nude Men and Vapor

“I have used a half-dozen editors (at least) for my fiction projects, from novels to short stories. Alice is the best one, by far. I won’t hesitate calling on her again.”

“I would like to thank my editor, Alice Day, for her professionalism, her hard work, and her keen suggestions. Thanks Alice for giving my book a chance. Thanks for your diligence and for caring for my characters. I know you may say, ‘It’s my job,’ but I think it’s not in the job description to do a job with heart. I think you were the most groundbreaking step in actualizing my book.” – Diamond Solamente

“I am a first time writer. Alice’s expertise was an immense help. Alice was very thoughtful and thorough in her initial comments. She was also extremely helpful in responding to my questions and comments after the initial review.”