Hi, I’m Maria!
A Little About Me
I’m Latina, born in Venezuela, raised in the Caribbean, and currently residing in Virginia, USA with my husband and our too-sassy-for-her-own-good dog, Bonnie.
I’m not only 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 help you figure out what your story needs next.
But even the best stories need refining. My job is to help you see what’s working, uncover what isn’t, and figure out where your time and energy will have the greatest impact.
This is what I focus on.
When I work on your novel, we get to the root of the issues. I study your characters and their arcs, look at their emotional resonance, and assess whether your story beats are landing where they need to. Are your A and B plots gellin’? Is there something the story has too much of—or something it needs more of? Where could a change create greater emotional impact?
These are the questions I ask while editing your manuscript.
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 everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. My editorial practice is inclusive, and there is no room for bigotry or discrimination.
- I’m not the right editor for manuscripts with heavily religious themes, and I’d rather be upfront about that from the start.
- Climate change is not a hoax but a real threat to our planet.
- I don’t use generative AI to edit or write. If we work together, I ask that your manuscript hasn’t been generated or substantially written using generative AI. This is part of 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!
- Learn more about me in this interview I did for Edit Republic where I talk about finding my passion in books and editing!