Manuscript Consultation

I knew Ariel had the right pair of editor glasses--that's why I sought her out like a pilgrim. So many of the things she said made me go, PING!

--Susie Bright, author of Full Exposure and other books

I offer manuscript consultation and editing for serious writers who are ready to take their craft to the next level or prepare their work for publication. 

Book editing and consultation includes extensive on-the-manuscript notes, a three-page editorial letter, and phone consultation. We consider the arc of the book, the authenticity and consistency of the voice, the overall structure and chapter-by-chapter breakdown, and the impact of each paragraph. What is essential to your story? 

One of my first writing teachers, Floyd Salas, said, "All considerations of language, of ideas, of symbols and metaphors serve only one function: to convey the soul of a living being to the soul of other living beings and in that process break us out of our isolation and loneliness and put us in touch with the universal spirit."

Has your writing succeeded in putting us in touch with the universal spirit?

Let's get to editing.

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I couldn't have written the book I wanted to without Ariel's remarkable editing skills. She was able to see where I wanted to go and give me the steps I needed to get there. She answered all my questions directly and honestly. Her knowledge of structure, style, and tone helped me polish and refine my manuscript and get it to a place where I felt confident about publishing.

--Rob Freedman, author of Fancypants

Ariel has a poetic heart that's hard to find in today's society. She sees the unique essence of what you are striving toward.  I had my first book published this year, an anthology of 16 years of my zine. Ariel was a mentor, literary coach, believer, encourager, and editor. First, she went through all the  original zines and gave me feedback about what should go in the book. Then, she helped edit and update the essays. Finally, she went over the 300-page manuscript with me before I sent it to the publisher, making cuts and shaping it with with an eye to the big picture. Her help was invaluable to me. I have worked with lots of editors over the years and no one has the skill that Ariel does. A good editor can make a world of difference to your work; Ariel can clean up a wild and wooly piece.

--China Martens, author of The Future Generation

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Email Ariel if you'd like to discuss your project.

Literary Coaching

My literary coaching practice is currently full--please check back in a couple of months

One-on-one literary coaching and creative coaching is highly personalized to help build your creative life.

• Make time to write.
• Focus on a specific project.
• Burn through creative blocks.
• Produce new material with weekly and monthly deadlines.
• Improve your craft with practice and critique.
• Create a portfolio.
• Write a proposal.
• Complete your book.
• Learn to perform your work.
• Build a platform.
• Empower yourself in publishing.
• Strategize to connect with the right agent or publisher.
• Make a d.i.y. action plan.
• Promote your book or project.
• Envision and plan your literary tour.

Email Ariel for more information.

Ariel's bio

"The Indiana Jones of literature," says ChuckPalahniuk.net.

Author, editor, literary coach.

Her books include Bluebird: On Women and Happiness (forthcoming from Farrar, Straus and Giroux), the critically acclaimed writing guide How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead (read an excerpt here), the Booksense pick novel The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show, the Oregon Book Award finalist  Atlas of the Human Heart, and cult classic The Hip Mama Survival Guide.

She founded the award-winning parenting zine Hip Mama back in 1993. Over the years, the zine featured many new and emerging writers. Still, The New Yorker raved: "It's the quality of the writing that sets Hip Mama apart." Ariel now serves as Hip Mama's consulting editor.

The Utne Reader said, "Ariel Gore's transformation from globetrotting teenager to the hippest of mamas reads like a movie script about a Gen-X slacker following her bliss to unlikely success."

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ariel ran away from high school at age 16 to become an international bag lady. She rambled back home a few years later as a new teen mom. She earned her BA in communications from Mills college and her Master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley. She lives in Portland, Oregon.