Melissa Frain Editorial | Freelance Developmental Editor

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About

Services

Books Edited

Testimonials

Contact

About

Services

Books Edited

Testimonials

Contact

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Two individuals on horseback riding through a narrow, rocky canyon with rushing water on either side.

A black and white photograph of a mountain river flowing through a forested valley with tall pine trees and misty mountains in the background.

Black and white photograph of a mountain landscape with snow patches, dense forest at the base, and a towering snow-capped mountain in the background.

T R U S T E D B Y

Publishers I work with

T E S T I M O N I A L S

What authors say

“Melissa Frain is a creative and thorough editor. Her feedback is invaluable, always allowing me to take a step back and look at the novel with fresh eyes and perspective. I trust my novels in her hands.”

JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

#1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author

“Editorially, Mel has an expert sense of story and character; I can’t recall any of her notes that didn’t resonate, or advice I didn’t take. Professionally, she is timely and communicative. I really can’t recommend her highly enough.”

KENDARE BLAKE

#1 New York Times bestselling author

“Through revision, I want to make my books better. I want someone to be able to see my world with the same wonder and enthusiasm I can. Melissa has a gift for connecting with stories and making them the best they can be. She knows how to draw out the strengths of every character and plot line until they shine. I like my books when I turn them in to Melissa. I love them after we work on them together.”

KRISTEN SIMMONS

Edgar Award and Anthony Award finalist

“Working with Melissa was an absolute joy. She gave me honest, insightful feedback while still honoring my creative vision. I always felt she was on my team. Perhaps best of all, she helped me remember that there’s fun to be found within the hard work of revising and polishing a manuscript. I don’t know what else you could ask for in an editor.”

VERONICA ROSSI

New York Times bestselling author

“Melissa is unfailingly kind and encouraging as an editor, while simultaneously getting to the heart of what a book needs to make it shine. Every time, she understood what I was trying to do, and helped me make each project into the best version of itself. Basically, Melissa’s editorial letters always made me excited to dive into revisions—I can’t speak more highly than that!”

TINA CONNOLLY

Finalist for Hugo, Andre Norton, Nebula, World Fantasy, & Locus Awards

“Working with Melissa Frain was an honor and a joy. She is a fantastic editor with a keen eye that helped take my manuscripts to the next level. And her comments are my favorite! She’s thoughtful, insightful, and spot on. I highly recommend her as an editor!”

SARA B. LARSON

Author of Defy and Sisters of Shadow and Light

“Writing is a funny occupation. When you work with an editor, you are in effect saying, ‘Here’s a little piece of me that I’ve carved off my soul. Please help me shape it into something readers will see the way I want them to see it.’ It takes trust to do that. Trust that the editor will work within your vision, and trust that they have the experience and skill to help you achieve your goals. Melissa Frain, through many books together, never once betrayed that trust. Her insights and instincts, and, yes, even her criticisms, were always spot on. Plus, she’s one heck of a typo spotter. I would work with her again in a heartbeat, despite her unnatural aversion to bananas. (Note to Mel: You can edit out the bit about the bananas if you like. As always, I trust your judgment.)”

LINDA GRIMES

Author of the Ciel Halligan series

“Melissa Frain is an intellectual, kind, and generous editor, willing to share her brilliant insights in a way that’s clear, constructive, and always professional. With her encouraging feedback, Mel makes it a delight to revise your story into its best possible form.”

CARRIE JONES

New York Times bestselling author

“Everyone should have an editor like Melissa! She’s absolutely brilliant and a true pleasure to work with. I was impressed by how respectful she was of my voice—my story. Her tone was inquisitive, curious, and positive. Though she provided extensive feedback on structure, storyline, character development and language, she never came across as critical or judgmental. She asked the right questions, questions that forced me to really think about the choices I had made and to deepen my backstory. We’re already on our second collaboration, and I hope to work with her again.”

TANYA LEE

IndieReader Discovery Award winner

“Melissa’s editing talents are unique for their range and clarity—she sees the big picture but doesn’t miss a single comma splice. With humor and heart, Melissa digs into the world you’ve created and makes every detail brighter with spot-on suggestions that always keep the author’s vision in mind. I would recommend her to any author looking to make their story better from the most macro to micro level. She really can do it all!”

SARAH HENNING

Author of Sea Witch and The Princess Will Save You

“Melissa is everything you want in an editor: insightful, encouraging, and expert in both the broad, foundational aspects and the more minor facets of storytelling. She took my writing to the next level, and I’m forever grateful. If you’re searching for someone to help you do the same, I really can’t recommend her enough!”

ELAYNE AUDREY BECKER

Author of Forestborn

“Melissa has the rare talent of recognizing the heart of a story and this is reflected in her nuanced and detailed critiques. She honors each novel’s unique vision and gives editorial direction to help preserve it. She’s an expert in character depth and in getting desires and motivations to come alive on the page. Melissa edits with excitement, precision, and humor. It was both fun and rewarding to work with her!”

ALEXIS BASS

Author of Happily and Madly

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G E T I N T O U C H

Let’s work together

I bring to the table a sense of humor, an eye for detail, in-depth knowledge of the marketplace, plenty of experience, and genuine love for the job. Tell me about your project and I'll get back to you within two to three business days.

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