Your Words Literary Services
The Difference
Pictured: a professional writer and editor
Pictured: not a publishable book
Your Book is Not a Toaster
My name is Kyle Fager, and for the past twenty years, I have worked as a professional editor, manuscript evaluator, book doctor, and ghostwriter to help more than 130 authors like you turn their publishing dreams into reality.
I’ve been in the business of writing and publishing for a long time, and I can tell you that there have never been more options for literary services providers. If you need an editor, all you have to do is Google the term and you’ll find thousands upon thousands of companies supposedly offering professional editing services. Same for ghostwriting. Same for manuscript critiques.
The problem is that the vast (vast) majority of these companies run on a model where they offer you obscenely low prices in exchange for treating your manuscript like it’s on a production line. They will take your project, and without considering anything about its merits or how to accentuate them with a careful, customized edit, they will churn out something resembling an edited manuscript. I use the term “something resembling” because experiences may vary. Some among their editorial teams couldn’t tell a “your” from a “you’re.” In many cases, their proofreaders and sometimes even their editors are stationed overseas and don’t speak English as a first language.
Over the years, I’ve re-edited dozens of books that have already been “professionally” edited by teams who somehow missed punctuation errors, run-on sentences, capitalization errors, awkward sentence structure, and mangled prose. Unfortunately, many of these books were published before the authors learned the hard way—usually from snarky reader reviews—that the edit was unprofessional.
Large editing firms rely more on their advertising budgets than the competence of their editors. For them, your book is not something to be passionate about. It’s just a job. They’re looking to turn it around efficiently and in production line fashion so they can profit by processing hundreds of manuscripts at a time.
Production lines are great for assembling toasters. But do you really want to hand your publishing dreams over to a production-line editor?
Concierge Service
Unlike production-line editors, I have the experience, credentials, and one-to-one availability to identify your book’s unique potential. I work with you directly to bring that potential to fruition.
Whether you need an evaluation, an edit, some help with a revision, a book proposal, or even a ghostwritten manuscript, I offer a personal, collaborative process that involves you and me working together to make your book the best it can be. When we’re done, I provide you with a list of legitimate, ethical literary agents who have experience in your genre and make for a good fit for you and your book. Throughout the process, I’ll be available via phone or email to answer questions as you navigate the often-bewildering world of book publishing.
I work only with novels, memoirs, and book-length nonfiction. I know what literary agents and commercial publishers are looking for, so I can help you make sure your book meets that threshold. If you need help with a short story, magazine article, term paper, or advertising pamphlet, I can’t help you. If you need help with a novel or nonfiction book for adult, young adult, or middle grade readers, then I’m your guy.
Full disclosure: I don’t usually dress like this.
I’ll drink as much coffee as it takes.
Commitment
If I evaluate, critique, edit, rewrite, or ghostwrite your book, you’ll have my full attention. For me to take on a new project, three things need to be true:
I believe in the project’s chances to meet with success.
I must have sufficient time on my schedule to do the work without distraction.
You are as passionate about the project and dedicated to its success as I am.
If we choose to work together, I’ll put everything I’ve got into the project. If your book has potential to meet the threshold of traditional commercial publishers, then you can be assured that I’ll do everything I can to make that happen. If you decide to self-publish your book, I’ll help you make sure it’s a book that will snare the kinds of reviews that can generate respectable sales numbers. If you want help with self-publishing, my publishing and marketing company, Your Words, LLC, can help make your publishing dreams a reality as well.
But don’t just take my word for it. Over the course of twenty years, I have helped more than 130 clients turn their manuscripts into published books. Whatever genre you’re writing in, I can put you in touch with past clients who have met with success in that same genre. They will tell you how important this level of commitment has been to them.
Success
I’ve been writing and editing novels, memoirs, and nonfiction books for more than twenty years. In this business, that’s a pretty good track record. I’ve been successful because of the level of commitment I give to every client and project I agree to work with.
The other reason I’ve been successful is repetition. I’ve put in the work to help my clients reach the mountaintop, and together, we’ve reached that mountaintop again and again. While I take great joy in doing what I love—reading, writing, critiquing, and editing books—the greatest joy is working with aspiring authors as they make their publishing dreams a reality.
Pictured: the exact feeling you get the first time you hold your published book in your hands
Questions about the publishing business or how I can help you with your book?
Call me at 608-213-7594
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