Testimonials

  • “Sending your work off for revisions is so hard. Trusting your book in someone else’s hands is so hard! But Friel has been such a joy to work with. Her keen insight to storytelling and her gentle delivery has made the process so enjoyable. Working with her has strengthened not only my story, but my writing too. She’ll preserve your writing style while making your story shine! I will be returning to her for every book I write.” — C.A. Farran

    C.A. Farran

  • “I have had the pleasure of working with Friel as my copyeditor for 3 short stories and one novel so far—and I plan to continue in the future. She is meticulous in her work while still being relaxed, and her editing process is seamless and easy. What I love most about her services is that she explains her edits—so you can’t help but learn as you go. As a person, she is deep, artistic and truly cares about your characters. Her developmental suggestions are really helpful, and you can tell she’s put thought into each one. I promise you will be delighted to have her as your editor.”

    Elaine DeBohun

  • “I can’t more strongly recommend Ms. Friel Black’s work as an editor. She has helped me with multiple drafts of three manuscripts as a developmental editor, pushing me to develop threads I’d left unseen, highlight themes I’d neglected to polish, and tighten the plot to keep the reader turning the page. Ms. Black has a special talent for the emotional underpinnings of a book, and she will undoubtedly ensure that your characters’ true voices emerge and speak their truths. ”

    Meg O'Connor

  • “As both an editor and an author herself, Friel offers the best of both worlds. Not only does she have the keen eye necessary for polishing a manuscript—and the grace to do so without changing the author’s voice and intent—but she also sees through the lens of an artist. She genuinely cares for the characters and the story itself, and is determined to help them shine the best they can. There is no other editor I’ve trusted so dearly with my precious characters. I know Friel will always have their best interests (and mine) at heart whenever my work is passed into her caring hands.”

    Stephanie Escobar

  • “Friel offers a keen eye and attention to detail when reviewing fiction manuscripts. Her reactions to the work are genuine and thoughtful, and help drive effective redirection in tightening a manuscript. She specializes in genres including romance and fantasy, but given how wide a reader she is, I would recommend her to review any literary genre. ”

    Katrina Woznicki

  • “My manuscript felt safe in Friel’s hands. Her feedback was not only helpful but educational. Most importantly, the delivery of her critique was gentle. I felt encouraged rather than discouraged at the parts which needed improvement.”

    Elle Caldwell

  • "As a first time writer of a novel, I am beyond grateful for Friel's expertise and kindness. She has been full of praise and encouragement through every step of my writing journey. Her attention to detail and love for what she does makes all the difference. I am excited to continue this journey with her through my next round of edits. Friel is a good soul and a really talented writer and editor."

    Krystal Pederson

  • "I didn't think people, let alone editors, like Friel existed before I had the privilege of working with her. I was terrified to share my messy, unfinished manuscript with anyone, but the moment I sent it to Friel, I felt safe. She has a way of being constantly reassuring and reaffirming, even when delivering feedback and making gentle suggestions. What stands out most to me about the way she works is how she's able to highlight what exactly is unique about your writing, and then help you enhance it. She never pushes her own ideas but helps her writers bring their own into focus and light. I would be lost without her!"

    Hadas Knox

  • Sharing your work can be hard, but with Friel Black it doesn't have to be. She quickly soothed my nerves and created a space that felt safe, allowing my writing to be molded into something better yet still uniquely me–my voice. She encouraged areas of my writing that she felt were strong, giving me insight into what a reader or publisher might like and why, and when she found prose or structure that wasn't quite right, she informed me in a way that was educational. This allowed me to 1. know how to fix the structure for the future, or 2. be able to change the word to convey most accurately what I meant it to be. In the past, I have worked with editors who would change a word to something I didn’t like, because I felt it would’ve changed what I was trying to convey. Friel didn’t do this. Instead, she would tell me why the word or phrase didn’t work, and then she even gave me examples of what would work. Additionally, Friel is an author on top of being an editor, meaning she understood my whimsy. Instead of only sticking to facts and rules of structure and prose, she also understood how to mold my creativity to make sense to a reader and publisher. She has earned my trust, hands down, and I will return to her every time for her editorial services. Be it to submit my research to a medical journal, or my fantasy manuscript to an agent.

    Freya Inkwell

  • "As a writer, I trust this editor with my work to not only spot my mistakes, but to also give feedback on how I can make the piece better, all-the-while maintaining the integrity of the prose. Not only is Friel a brilliant editor—as her passion for written language shines through in her work—but she is also a cheerleader of my work, and she encourages me to tell my stories and grow professionally as a writer. Her turnaround is quick and, once a piece has been edited and returned, I feel confident that it’s ready for submission. I will continue to use Friel for all of my editing in the future."

    Steven Olson

  • When I chose the path of self-publishing, finding an editor with whom I could establish a close partnership and who genuinely grasped my story and vision was important. I discovered more than I could have ever hoped in Friel as an editor. She had the uncanny ability to enhance my novel. Her insightful questions prompted me to dive even deeper into the intricacies of my plot and the development of my characters. Not only did Friel exhibit exceptional attention to detail and professionalism, but she also surpassed all expectations. Whenever I had questions or needed to discuss matters quickly, she made herself readily available without hesitation. Her reliability and dedication made her an indispensable part of my writing journey, and I cannot imagine anyone else playing such a crucial role in the process!

    Shelby McFadden