I am an expert editor with over twenty years of experience in book publishing, specializing in literary fiction, literary/commercial fiction, young adult fiction, narrative non-fiction, and memoir.
Editing and publishing fiction and non-fiction has been my driving passion for over two decades, combining my skill at helping shape complex narratives with my facility for building and maintaining the crucial relationships at the heart of the editorial and creative process.
As a freelance editor, I work directly with authors, as well as with publisher clients. I work by referral through publishing professionals, such as agents, published authors, or fellow editors.
I perform both substantive editing (addressing big-picture questions like theme, pacing, and characterization) and stylistic editing (addressing issues of style and clarity by helping refine the writing at the line level).
Editing is a conversation. Contact me and we can get the dialogue started.
“Jane Warren is a wonderful editor. The books of mine that she worked on were made infinitely better by her ideas and insights. She has a natural ability to hone in on what an author means to say, and to figure out the best possible way for the author to say it.”
—Helen Humphreys, author of The Evening Chorus
“Revising and rewriting is hard work, but it felt easy with Jane. She’s extremely insightful, knowledgeable, and generous. Ultimately, she made my manuscript a better story, and me a better writer. I highly recommend her, and I plan to work with her again on my next project.”
—Tara Gereaux, author of Saltus
“Quite simply, working with Jane Warren has been the most rewarding experience in my professional life. She has a most delicate means of nudging you toward your best writing self, understanding intuitively how to point you in the right direction without handing you the map—preferring to bequeath the greater gift of ensuring that the joy and the journey of writing are yours. A pen may be a one-person tool, but working with Jane means I’m never writing alone.”
—John Foden, author of Magenta
“Jane Warren is the best editor I know. Part of what makes her approach so special is that she’s genuinely interested in stepping into a work and helping it become more the author’s own. She doesn’t insist on her own rules or prescriptions—an unusual gift among editors, not to mention people in general. I can’t recommend her highly enough as a sensitive reader and expert guide through the publishing landscape.”
—Damian Tarnopolsky, author of Every Night I Dream I'm a Monk, Every Night I Dream I'm a Monster
I have worked in publishing for over twenty years, including as a literary scout in New York City, a literary agent with Anne McDermid & Associates, an editor at Key Porter Books, and an editor at HarperCollins Canada.
In 2014, I was the recipient of the IV Programme's Canadian Editorial Fellowship.
Esi Edugyan, Helen Humphreys, Megan Gail Coles, Ayelet Tsabari, Dave Bidini, Hadley Dyer, David Macfarlane, and Tara Gereaux.
Books I have edited have won or been nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award, the Amazon First Novel Award, Canada Reads, and the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, among others, and have been national and international bestsellers.
Read a recent interview with me about editing ("Editor for Life") on BoldFace.
For more on me, some fine publishers, and other associations, check out the links below.
I work by referral through publishing professionals, such as literary agents, published authors, or fellow editors.
Jane Warren
Jane Warren Editorial
Toronto, Canada
