Lisa Gouldy
Writing Services
Freelance editing for fiction projects from picture books to pulse-pounding book club picks and all points in between.
About Me
I bring the experience of a former literary agent to your work in progress.
I am a passionate writer, reader, and advocate for stories that stretch the imagination and reveal important truths about the world around us.
Formerly an associate literary agent with Corvisiero Literary Agency, I’m now available for freelance editing to help you polish your project and achieve your vision!
I am a passionate writer, reader, and advocate for stories that stretch the imagination and reveal important truths about the world around us.
A former associate literary agent with Corvisiero Literary Agency, I’m now available for freelance editing to help you polish your project and achieve your vision!
Editorial Services
Query Critiques
I bring an agent’s eye to your query package, offering reviews of your query letter, synopsis, or first five pages — or all three!
Picture Book Critiques
Picture books may be short, but they’re certainly not simple! I help you elevate the stories you tell your children into picture book manuscripts that will captivate children everywhere.
What Authors Are Saying
Working with Lisa on my picture book manuscript was enlightening and invigorating. Lisa’s unique and skilled editorial style provided me with thoughtful questions and actionable guidance, while fully preserving the essence of my story. It’s clear that Lisa has the author’s vision in mind when critiquing, and will work to strengthen that vision, with both big picture feedback and line edits. Her encouragement, professionalism, and industry knowledge left me excited to jump into edits, and my manuscript found success shortly thereafter. Writers of all levels will benefit from Lisa’s editorial services!
Calling Lisa an editor is a little like calling Michelangelo a ceiling painter. She’s absolutely an artist. Lisa has a gift for recognizing the real heart of a story, and knows exactly how to guide changes to make it deeper and more poignant. Her comments left me excited to get back into revisions, and her feedback consistently led me find the inspiration that made my work better. I can’t recommend Lisa enough as a creative partner!
Lisa’s critique of my picture book FAR exceeded my highest expectations. With “stories from the heart”, it can be so hard to find the balance of showing care and giving constructive feedback. Lisa was able to simultaneously champion the strengths of my story and give thorough feedback that provided needed insights into the industry. With her support, I was able to elevate my story (and my writing skills!) to a new level. I am deeply grateful and I would absolutely seek a critique from her again!
Lisa is an extraordinary developmental editor! She offered clear guidance and actionable suggestions to strengthen my story and my prose, and helped me to improve my manuscript while preserving my voice and style. Her input was thorough, thoughtful, and insightful. Equally as important, Lisa is an encourager. Peppered throughout her edits are wonderful comments about what she loves and how well a thing has been expressed. She is both pragmatic and artistic, which are key qualities for a writing coach. Any writer would benefit from Lisa’s deft editorial eye.