Hi, I’m Maria!
A Little About Me
I’m Latina, born in Venezuela, raised in the Caribbean, and currenly residing in Virginia, USA with my husband and our too-sassy-for-her-own-good dog, Bonnie.
Not only am I an editor but I’m also a writer, currently working on my debut novel—a contemporary romance.
While I’m certified to edit novels and have been doing so for six years, there’s much that I’ve learned about crafting a novel from my own experience.
So trust me when I say, I get it. I get the long hours, the early mornings, the late nights, the spontaneous ideas at three in the morning, typing like rapid-fire under the sheets into your Notes app.
I get it when you say you want your energy not to have been wasted. I get it when you look at your novel with hope but also with apprehension and wonder: Have I done enough? Is this good enough? Will my efforts suffice?
I’m here to tell you, yes! Your efforts are enough! There’s a place in the world for your story!
But even the best stories need refining. After all, everything worth doing demands a great deal of time, attention, and energy. And that energy should be focused into the right channels, directed through the best paths. You don’t want to waste any more time.
This is what I focus on.
When I work on your novel, we get to the root of the issues. I take your characters and study their arcs, weigh them for emotional resonance, analyze whether your story beats are meeting their marks, are your A plot and your B plot gellin’, scope out what there’s a surplus of, what can be let go of, and what we can put in its place that will give your story its greatest emotional impact.
Do we vibe?
Choosing an editor is about more than making sure they have the skills it takes to edit your novel. Though that part is imperative, there also needs to be a certain chemistry that will help us work together more swiftly and coherently.
Below, I’ve compiled a few facts about me that may help you decide if I’m someone you think you might vibe with.
- I believe in equal rights for all. Women, LGBTQ+ folks, POC, and all minorities. There is no space for bigotry of any sort when choosing to work with me.
- I’m not religious, nor do I align with any existing religion. Which is why I don’t work with stories with heavy religious themes.
- Climate change is not a hoax but a real threat to our planet.
- I don’t believe in generative AI in creative spaces. I don’t use AI to edit or write, so if you want to work with me, you will not have used AI in writing your novel. (It’s in my contract.)
A bit more about me
- During my early days freelancing, it was a pleasure and an honor to help USA Today best-selling author Joanne Pence develop her sweet romance series, The Donelly Cabin Inn, currently available for purchase on Amazon.*
*Not a sponsored link.
- Check out some of my book reviews over on my friend Brittani’s site Untitled Thoughts! And while you’re there, be sure to check out her store and snatch up some of her previously-loved, well-preserved reads from her bookstore!
- Learn more about me in this interview I did for Edit Republic where I talk about finding my passion in books and editing!