Editing and coaching services for short stories, collections, and anthologies.
Short stories are demanding.
You must capture your reader’s attention, reconfigure their ethos, and make your exit in less space than a novel requires to begin.
And sometimes you get stuck.
It can be hard to know what to leave out, what to leave to interpretation, and how to layer the purposes of the remaining prose to meet your word count.
I can help.
Whether you’re adrift in the drafting phase, jockeying for a position beyond the slush pile, or struggling to unite the stories in your collection or anthology, I can help.
I’m Lisa, an editor specializing in the preparation of short stories, collections, and anthologies for submission, query, and publication.
Lisa has the ability to see directly to the heart of the work and provide suggestions that invariably lead to a better story.
Margie Taylor, author
Get started with free stuff.
Need to level up your skills, find inspiration, or get motivated to write? Join the Short Story Writers of the Earth!
We are a group of silly but noble short story writers unified in the pursuit of omitting needless words. To help keep our creativity flowing, I facilitate four weekly and monthly events. Join in to get the coveted submission starter pack and full access to the nerdom.
Short Story
Writers’ Group
SSWG is a traditional writers’ workshop with a twist. Give feedback and get feedback every damn week.
Short Story
Write-In
Two hours of silent, supported, focused writing time. Near daily opportunities to write together.
Short Story
Club
Like a book club, but for short stories. Every month, we read a classic or modern short story and talk about it.
Short Story
Accounting
Accountability and account management. Every month we prep, submit, grieve, and celebrate.
Join in. Get Presents. Nerd Out.
What sets you apart from other editors is the fact that you work on each story as if it were your own.
Daniela Diamantino, author
Get short story specific editing and coaching.
Let me help you prepare your short story, collection, or fiction anthology for submission, query, or self-publication.
Short Story Editing
Detailed feedback on your short story, from plot and character development to pruning the text to meet word count.
Short Story Coaching
One-on-one post-edit support, guided short story revision, and personalized advice for honing your short story craft.
Collection Editing
Complete support for curating, structuring, and editing your collection for submission, query or self-publication.
Anthology Editing
Services for assembling short fiction anthologies featuring multiple writers with diverse skill sets.
Not sure where to start?
Book a free consult. I’ll read your story and help you decide.
Authors’ Stories
I find your approach meticulous, exacting, but also compassionate and understanding. I can’t recommend you enough to anyone who’s considering your services.
Chris Fash, author
Lisa provided thoughtful, specific, and helpful critical feedback on my writing. She has the ability to see directly to the heart of the work and provide suggestions that invariably lead to making for a better story. Her feedback on my manuscript was insightful and efficient; I accepted all of her recommendations and believe I have a much better book than I would have had without her input. Every author needs an editor, and every editor should be a Lisa!
Margie Taylor, author
I am overjoyed to have found a mentor and guide in Lisa Hislop, who teaches the craft. Lisa will let you know what is working in your story in the context of not just grammar but style and form. How would I describe Lisa’s editorial magic? She has no intrusive ego; her expertise, professionalism, and passion make her an invaluable beacon for writers (like me) who want to refine their work and achieve creative brilliance.
Amanda Boggan, author