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Working with Carrie as my developmental editor was great! She really knows what makes a good story and how to take works in progress to the next level. She is organized, a good communicator, and kept the facts of the world I had created consistent—catching so many minor details that I had missed.
Carrie understood my novel by outlining each key plot point and my characters (their motives, development, and relationships). She had the insight to ask pointed questions and was helpful in coaching me to add more detail. We had great conversations about the theme of my book and how to layer in new information. I especially appreciated her prompt responses, openness to dialog, and all the little things she did to encourage and support me along the way.
I’m grateful for her assistance and plan to work with Carrie on my upcoming books!
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus and developmental edit for Ogre; beta read plus and line + copyedit for Secret Keepers; comparison of written text to audiobook for Star Fall; and line + copyedit for Ogre 2: Alliance, Wenapreem, and In Frost & Fire. Upcoming engagements include: line + copyedit for the rest of the Forge trilogy.
Shanna Therese
I truly enjoyed working with Carrie. She was thoughtful and thorough in her notes and the in-depth write-up she returned made developmental edits easy. I’m especially grateful for the timeline and outline she provided for my novel, which helped me see exactly how the story unfolded. As a writer, I’m often too close to the manuscript to notice all the nuances that Carrie’s outline provided, giving me the opportunity to catch any flow issues.
She prepared notes listing areas she loved about the book and pointed out where the novel could use improvements in plot, story structure, and character development. The highly detailed work she provides is what sets her apart from other editors I’ve worked with and is why I will continue to do so for a long time to come.
The twenty-two books in her collection have sold over 500,000 copies; many of her books have been an Amazon’s Best Seller #1 in Christian Fiction and her books have been in the Amazon Top 100 List; they’ve won seven awards, including The Rone Award, Faith Hope and Love Award, and a Reader’s Choice Award.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus and developmental edit for Back Inn Time: A Gilded Age Getaway, The River Queen, and Moonlight on the Mississippi. Upcoming engagements include: beta read plus and developmental edit for the third book in the River Romances series.
Stephenia H. McGee
I finally found my forever editor! After dealing with sub-par results for far too long, I went searching for the perfect editor and I actually found her!
Not only did Carrie provide feedback within the manuscript itself, but she also provided a detailed write-up showing what she loved about the book and what needed to be adjusted. I thought I was organized, but Carrie went above and beyond. She listed all the double-checks for timeline, character consistency, and plot (and more)—I missed way more than I had thought! This process helped build trust, something I have learned over time to guard.
Sometimes I find myself too close to the story and characters to see areas that need more description. Carrie asked great questions, to which some of them I didn’t have an answer. She helped me understand why my characters acted as they did and allowed me to expand on their emotional journey. She asked my thoughts about changes she suggested and helped me dig deeper into specifics, offering fantastic ideas to enrich the story.
Carrie allowed me to be “me” and helped to develop my writing as my characters deserved. When I had reservations about scenes, she asked why and talked me through the best solution, which sometimes was to leave it as is because it was great how I originally wrote it.
In addition to being supportive, kind, caring, and excited to help, Carrie is very personable. She offered to be available for brainstorming sessions and ultimately understood my goals, which assisted in my success. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to create such a great books. I’m lucky to have found her and plan to partner with her in my future writings.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for Eagle Pass, Whiskey Scars, Faded Scars, and Buried Scars. Upcoming engagements include: the developmental edit and line + copyedit for the rest of the books in the series.
Kristi Copeland, Amazon Best Seller #1 Contemporary American Fiction
Every author needs a cheerleader who isn’t afraid to speak up when they see something that needs to be changed. As a beta reader, Carrie provided both “live” commentary as she read, as well as her overall thoughts on the flow and plot points. She called out cliches, out-of-character actions, and linear issues and offered suggestions to improve.
On top of all that, she was a pleasure to work with and made the entire experience a lot of fun! I definitely recommend Carrie’s services and can’t wait to work with her again.
⇒ Engagements include: Beta read plus for Broken Records; Mother Road; and developmental edit and line + copyedit for The Unmasking of Kelly James.
Bree Bennett
In a word, Carrie’s work as an editor on our cookbook project has been: superlative. Meticulous in her communication style, Carrie clearly laid out her edits and suggestions both in-line and with her organized style guide to keep our manuscript consistent. We have worked with a few editors and none hold a candle to Carrie’s enthusiasm, professionalism, constructive feedback, and kindhearted spirit.
She even went above and beyond on our project by making some of our recipes herself just to verify the instructions were clear and accurate! Having a capable and supportive editor makes a huge difference for an author, and we cannot say enough about how wonderful it has been working with Carrie.
With her help, we are confident self-publishing this second volume of our cookbook series will easily outshine the first volume that we had published with a big five publisher, and we look forward to working with her again for volume three!
Video mention at time stamp 2:42.
⇒ Engagements include: line + copyediting for Plant Based Cooking Made Easy, Volume Two.
Jill and Jeffrey Dalton
Carrie provided an in-depth developmental edit of my first novel. As a first-time author, I really needed an editor with a sharp eye for where the story is lagging and give insight into areas that can add an immediate boost to the reader experience. Carrie showed me places in my novel that needed propping up. She has been excited about my story, which is important to me. It’s one thing to work with an editor going through the mechanics of editing; better yet, as Carrie has been, to be genuinely engaged in the story and want to see it succeed in readers’ hands.
Carrie has provided invaluable editing guidance through three books in my Pudge Amazon series for middle-grade readers. As she became more familiar with my characters after multiple novels, Carrie helped point out dialog or choices that certain characters would or would not say given their personalities. This helped maintain consistency across three books. I have learned much from Carrie in how to develop and structure an engaging story.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental editing, beta read plus with children, and line + copyedit for Pudge Amazon and the Ugly Ostrich, Pudge Amazon and the Death Spiral, and Pudge Amazon and the Unfair Science Fair.
John Krause (no relation to myself)
Carrie provided a unique, delightful, and extremely helpful beta reading for my middle-grade novel! One of her comments is among my all-time favorites. I cut 9,000 words because of it! I’m certain it saved the book..⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus with my children for Alice Blue, The Time-Jinx Twins, and The Time-Jinx Twins 2: The Missing Magician..Carol Fisher Saller, contributing editor for The Chicago Manual of Styleand author of The Subversive Copy Editor
I have worked with several line editors, but none like Carrie. I gave her my latest book and she polished it like a gem! She created and provided a four-page style sheet identifying each grammatical and style item specific to my book. She read my manuscript multiple times, ensuring consistency. She sought to understand my voice as the book is set in Ireland and is written with Irish accents and sayings. Not an easy edit!
I am really happy with the result and have already sent her another of my books to polish! Many thanks, Carrie. You did a fantastic job.
⇒ Engagements include: line + copyedit for Passage to Inis Mór, The Boy in the Boat, Waking Walter, and Endor’s Way; developmental edit and line + copyedit for Return to Inis Mór: Redemption.
Brian O’Raleigh
I’m thankful for Carrie’s excellent work on my book. I feel like it really smoothed out plot holes and tightened everything up in a way that completely elevated the book. Having the collaboration piece afterward was even more helpful than I anticipated. She identified where I was overreaching with POV because as a writer I knew all the character motivations but forgot my main character didn’t! It was also reassuring to know that the magical rules and nitty-gritty details about time and space were all matching up.
I really loved working with Carrie and appreciated her keen eye and enthusiasm for the story!
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit, beta read plus with elementary-aged children, line + copyedit, and review of the physical draft book for Elsie and the Magic Pen; and developmental edit, beta read plus, and line + copyedit for the Steps in Rhyme picture book collection: Hand Washing Time, Getting Dressed Time, and Bath Time. Upcoming engagements include: developmental edit, beta read plus with elementary-aged children, line + copyedit, and review of the physical draft book for the next book in the Elsie series.
Courtney Katos
Carrie has been a game-changer. I engaged her for a beta read plus which turned into a developmental edit. I’d had feedback from editors and professional writers in the past, but not recently. She helped me take my novel to the next level. Carrie provided valuable feedback on plot, characters, story arc, voice, point of view, syntax—everything. She told me when things weren’t working and when they were, helped me tie up loose ends, and made numerous suggestions, but not so many that I felt overwhelmed. She had a vision for where to take the story and a feel for how readers might react.
If I hadn’t found Carrie, I would have sent the novel off as is. And it would have been good, but not good enough. She helped me honor my characters and their story. She is also a delight to work with. Two thumbs up!
The Children of the Children won the Literary Titan Book Award and Bookshelfie called it “an ambitious cult drama that tackles religious manipulation with extreme realism.” It is also available as an audiobook.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus, developmental edit, line + copyedit, and review of the physical draft book for The Children of the Children; and developmental edit and line + copyedit for The Catchings Press. Upcoming engagements include: review of the physical draft book for The Catchings Press.
Robin McMillion
Behind every great storyteller is a great editor. George Lucas, Scott Fitzgerald, Martin Scorsese. Carrie has gone above and beyond what I would expect an editor to do. She was very thorough in her notes, specific in what she liked and didn’t like, and what she would recommend changing.
Even after edits were done, Carrie stuck around until the draft was finalized. She was open to discussion whenever I asked for it. She encourages me as I’m recording the audiobook. I would recommend her services to all my fellow authors.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for Mindstorm: The Order of Valan. Upcoming engagements include: the developmental edit and line + copyedit for the rest of the books in the series.
Ryan Franey
Working with Carrie was an absolute dream. Her keen eye, attention to detail, and thoughtful suggestions brought my manuscript to life. She didn’t just polish my words; she elevated them. Whenever I struggled to find the right phrasing, she always had a couple of thoughtful options that fit the tone and heart of the story perfectly.
Throughout the entire process, she was patient and encouraging. I can’t recommend Get Carried Away Editing enough to any writer, not just as an editor but as a true creative partner.
The Sleepers of Harmony Falls was an Amazon Best Seller #1 in Disaster Fiction.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for The Sleepers of Harmony Falls; and developmental edit and line + copyedit for the picture book, The Booger Monster Under the Bed. Upcoming engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for the rest of the books in the Sleepers series.
Susan Howard
I am so pleased I found Carrie to edit my debut novel. She is remarkably detailed and has been genuinely interested in making my story come to life. After considering her respectful questions and gentle suggestions during the developmental edit, I found myself saying more than a few times, “She’s right. Making this change will enrich and round out the story.”
For authors who are extremely detailed, Carrie is your person! The several pages of items that all authors (and editors) need to watch for are beyond impressive. From the get-go, after reviewing her write-up, I was confident she fully understood the essence of my story. Along the way, I felt like we made necessary adjustments together. Even if she made a notation I didn’t agree with (which didn’t happen very often), it was easy for me to say, “I want to keep this bit as it is.” Carrie reminded me that ultimately, this work belongs to me.
Carrie’s encouraging comments about how a particular conversation or scene in my story “touched her” also helped make our collaborative journey together, not just satisfying, but fun. The compliments added a little smile to my soul.
Carrie truly is the best kind of editor (and supportive coach) with mad skills and passion for a story that will pull readers gleefully along—all with a healthy respect for your goals and personal timelines. I won’t hesitate to employ her again!
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit, line + copyedit, and review of the physical draft book for Love Beyond the Bucket List.
Dawn McMillion
I had Carrie Krause beta read and critique my new novel. She reads passionately and imaginatively. She found errors that had escaped other readers, offered many concrete suggestions regarding character development, and uncovered several plot holes. I highly recommend Carrie Krause’s editing services.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus for End Man.
Alex Austin, Nakamura Reality 2016 Publishers Weekly starred review
From the outset at our initial Zoom meeting, Carrie showed her enthusiasm for my project, a collection of short stories built around recurring characters in foreign locales. She jumped in feet first. She provided excellent feedback with close beta-reading comments that touched on a character’s motivations. Her developmental review took a step back to view the stories individually and collectively. She pointed out weaknesses and strengths in a straightforward manner. As the project is ongoing, her suggestions are especially helpful—concise and quite frank. She raised critical questions about plot and character development while listening to my concerns.
As a new, unpublished author, I value her editorial assistance. She genuinely wants to work through my uncertainties in shaping the eventual collection into a publishable book. She went the extra mile to read up on suggested short story authors to better understand what I am trying to achieve. And most critically, she understood my voice and tailored her suggestions to preserve my style. Together we will press forward.
Carrie is a thoughtful, creative, and incredibly professional editor. I engaged Carrie for a beta read plus of my novel and she exceeded my high expectations. She clearly communicated her process, timeline, and the structure/content of the feedback she would deliver. Her comments were direct and constructive, providing insights into reader reaction and identifying plot and character weaknesses. That would have been enough to earn her a favorable review but she went beyond that, suggesting possible approaches for resolving the plot issues, doing a second read and adding commentary and recommendations. After completing her work, she met with me to review my responses to her comments and to discuss my ideas for revising the story. In our conversations, Carrie was positive and personable. I have already engaged Carrie to copyedit and proofread my novel. I am looking forward to working with her again and recommend her highly. She is my preferred perfectionist.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus, line + copyedit, and review of the physical draft book for Missing Details; and developmental edit and line + copyedit for Off-Limits. Upcoming engagements include: developmental edit, line + copyedit, and review of the physical draft book for the rest of the books in the Common Ground series.
My first professional writing assignment was in 1994. For thirty years I have been studying and practicing the craft of writing fiction. I thought I had it figured out. But then I handed my manuscript to Carrie for editing…. and was shown that there are always things to learn in this art form.What impresses me the most about Carrie is how balanced she is with both the artistic and the practical. She understands how to enhance all the literary elements of a novel… and she is also good at helping me reorganize the mechanical aspects. After Carrie finished editing my work, my characters were more developed, the chapters flowed more logically, the settings were enhanced, the storyline was jazzed with a few lovely plot twists, and she pointed out a structural inconsistency I had overlooked.She is brilliant. Plus, she is a genuinely kind person. Warm, friendly, and a delight to work with. If you need the best… you found her.
I would like to highly recommend Carrie as a content editor. She does an outstanding job and has an unusual ability to focus on the specifics and the big picture at the same time. She reviewed previously edited material and found numerous small items other professionals missed. She quickly picked up on the strategic intent of my book and politely and with humor nudged me back to my main theme.
She has helped me immensely by tightening my writing. In a few cases she struck entire paragraphs. When I read the remainder, it was far more concise and readable.
Carrie created a detailed outline which allowed us to see how the book should be restructured and what could use further development. After reviewing her ideas and suggested rewrites, I see how she has a knack for helping me keep my readers engaged. She was kind, collaborative, and felt like a member of my team.
Over the years, I have worked with scores of editors. Carrie is by far the best.
Certainty is an Amazon Business Best Seller and has won seven awards, including the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, the Literary Titan Book Award, and Outstanding Creator Award.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit for Certainty; prepared content for marketing; website review and brainstorm; and developmental edits for blogs.
Mike Mears, retired CIA Chief of HR. Leadership Speaker and Consultant
As a first-time author, I count myself lucky to have found Carrie Krause as my editor. Her calm patience and expertise brought structure and oversight to my rather messy project and propelled me in great steps toward publishing.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for Vallée Cachée: Her Hidden Valley. Upcoming engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for the next book in the series.
Vanessa Fallis
I loved working with Carrie. I hired her for a beta read plus, and she went through my manuscript twice. Her comments were very detailed and labeled as first or second reading. In the first reading, she shared her emotions as a reader. On the second reading, she gave suggestions to deepen character arcs or other ways to improve the book.
I highly recommend working with her to make your stories impactful and clear.
A Woman on the Knife’s Edge has 4.5 stars (42 ratings) on Amazon.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus for A Woman on the Knife’s Edge.
Carrie put the frosting on my book. A good editor does far more than I thought. It goes way beyond spelling and grammar. Carrie transformed a good story into a standout adventure yarn. With a 105,000-word novel that leaps between timelines, places, and characters, she made sure every thread wove together seamlessly.
She pushed me to grow as a writer. Carrie taught me how to make my scenes leap off the page, offering tweaks that made my characters feel real. My only regret is not working with her earlier. Once she finished editing my “completed” novel, I realized a major rewrite was needed.
She helped me complete my first novel and the accompanying novella and short story. She assisted me with the outlines for the writing projects in the continuing saga. No matter how many times I ran a spelling and grammar checker, Carrie still spotted plenty of issues. On a personal note, I chose Carrie partly because I sensed her perspective was different from mine. I wanted my book to reach readers beyond my own worldview. As a man, I worried about writing believable female characters, but now my story is filled with vibrant, authentic women, including two unforgettable leads.
She is the most important part of my team as I move toward publication this year and toward new books in the future.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for Inheritance of Earth, Castle Doctrine, and Shada Ba Magic. Upcoming engagements include the developmental edit and line + copyedit for the rest of the books in the Void saga.
Jack R Nelson
Carrie has been such a pleasure to work with. As a first-time author, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to hire her as my editor for the project I have poured my heart and soul into.
She is an incredible talent, and I will be forever grateful for her expertise and thorough, professional workmanship. She’s organized, detail-oriented, creative, and importantly—kind. Thank you, Carrie.
⇒ Engagements include: line + copyedit for Young Yaga and the Thrice Nine Kingdoms: Tears of the Alkonost. Upcoming engagements include: line + copyedit for the rest of the books in the series.
I have very much enjoyed working with Carrie on my book. She has been excellent at helping bring clarity to my work and in giving feedback to improve the text in a supportive way.
I would be happy to work with her again in the future.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for a book whose title will be released upon publication.
Stephen Warr
Carrie is a talented editor who provides detailed, encouraging feedback. She isn’t afraid to tell you if she believes something isn’t working or if you’re heading in the wrong direction. Carrie was particularly helpful in refining the story arc and developing the characters’ inner lives through dialogue. She consistently returned her edits before the agreed-upon date, which helped me avoid procrastinating. It also motivated me to get my revisions back to her in a timely manner..At times, I felt she was overly positive because she had fallen in love with the two main characters in my book, but isn’t that what you want from a reader? Carrie exceeded expectations by creating a playlist of the music the boys listened to in the book, which is available on Spotify via a QR code.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for Two Boys Clinging. Upcoming engagements include developmental edit and line + copyedit for the next book in the series.
Rick Bell
Carrie Krause is more than just an editor—she is a source of motivation and direction for writing. Her gentle guidance and unwavering consistency have been invaluable to me on my journey. Collaborating with her is a pleasure; she has a friendly and welcoming personality.
Her leadership will motivate you to tap into your creativity and write endlessly. She is well-versed in what captivates the average reader and will guide you toward achieving publication and gaining recognition. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Carrie for her exceptional work and for being an incredible individual.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit for Astarr Rising and One More Encore; developmental edit and line + copyedit for the short story Have a Seat; and line + copyediting and formatting for a book of poetry. Upcoming engagements include: line + copyedit for Astarr Rising and One More Encore; and developmental edit and line + copyedit for Haunting Melodies and short story contest submissions.
C.J. Lessman
Carrie did a wonderful job editing. She translated my book into American English, meticulously checked it for mistakes, and provided excellent paragraph outlining.
Thanks to her, my book is now professional and well-written. I would definitely rate her work as five stars!
⇒ Engagements include: line + copyedit and converting to American English for Little Panda. Upcoming engagements include: line + copyedit and converting to American English for A Mother’s Heart and My Angel.
Patricia Siciliano
I highly recommend Carrie for her quality editing services. She was professional and edited my self-publishing novel with a high level of skill.
If you’re on the fence about getting an editor, know that your work will be 10x better if you work with her. If you need anything edited, you can trust Carrie.
⇒ Engagements include: line + copyedit for Dragon Fang. Upcoming engagements include the line + copyedit for the second book in the series.
Eric Drell
I worked with Carrie on a beta read of my manuscript. Her feedback was exactly what I was looking for at this stage. She provided reactions, thoughts, and questions throughout the manuscript.
These comments allowed me to focus on friction points as I began my next rewrite and provided me springboards to ultimately start the work of making the story even better. She is professional and thorough.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus for The D Word.
Bryant Joseph
As a debut author, I appreciate the expertise of talented “helpers” along the way, preferably ones with whom I can build a lasting writer-editor relationship. Carrie is just such an editor. I’ll be incorporating many of her suggestions from both the developmental edit and beta read plus.
Her thoughtful, detailed, and prompt notes were full of insight and sensitivity. But what I appreciate most is the encouragement, advice, and continued support with questions that popped up along the way. I can’t thank her enough.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and line + copyedit for Rosé Sunsets.
Rachel Pommier
Working with Carrie on my manuscript has been a phenomenal experience. She was collaborative and perceptive, demonstrating she cared for my story as deeply as if it were her own. The feedback she provided both challenged and inspired me. Her suggestions never eroded the narrative; instead, they helped create a much more powerful manuscript. I found the most valuable part of the service to be the inclusion of her children as beta readers, as their reactions and comments provided incredible insight. While I have been behind on my revisions, I truly look forward to working with Carrie again in the near future to finalize this manuscript and collaborate on future stories.
⇒ Engagements include: developmental edit and beta read plus for the picture book Rowan and the Beespeaker’s Lullaby with the line + copyedit planned. Upcoming engagements include: developmental edit, beta read plus, and line + copyedit for the rest of the books in the series.
Adam Swain Ferguson
Ceres Inks ghostwriting agency was impressed with Carrie’s editing services. She brought a high level of expertise, attention to detail, and professionalism to our project. Her editing style perfectly aligned with our vision, and her suggestions were invaluable.
We appreciate her dedication to delivering high-quality results and look forward to working with her again.
⇒ Engagements include: line + copyedit for a nonfiction management book. Upcoming engagements include: line + copyedit for a leadership book.
Benjamin Adebayo
Carrie was a fantastic beta reader. She kept me informed of her progress and completed the project ahead of schedule. I found her comments constructive and helpful in refining plot, character development, and pace. She also pointed out things she thought were strong in my story, which is always what the anxious writer is looking for! She caught a few factual errors and helped me make the story crisper.
I would 100% work with her again!
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus for Hello, Goodbye.
Kate Zarczynski
Carrie is a pleasure to work with. She always has a positive attitude and is careful and thoughtful in her editing. I highly recommend her.
Clayton Grissmeyer
I am very glad I found Carrie as a beta reader. Not only did she have a quick turnaround, but she also gave thoughtful feedback. From the questions she asked, I knew she read my manuscript carefully. She offered suggestions in a respectful manner. I like how she commented on her thoughts along the way, as it gave me an indication if I was on the right track on where I was leading my readers. She was open in her communication and has been very professional throughout.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus for When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun.
Justine Laismith
She was very timely and gave me many useful comments.
⇒ Engagements include: beta read plus for Lifting Fog.
Lani Fehr
Mommy is a good editor because she helps me fix my words and decide what to say. His poem: “I like to show you my books, and you don’t give me dirty looks!”
⇒ Engagements include: encouraging and guiding my seven-year-old son with his story, Why the Gecko Has Sticky Feet.
T. Krause