Clara Carlson-Kirigin
Fantasy and Romance Editor
I help Fantasy and Romance authors turn their manuscripts into novels that readers won’t want to put down. I would love to show you how to shape your words to make your story more engaging and compelling.
I started my freelance editing business in 2018 and went full-time in the spring of 2019. Prometheus Editorial is named after the Greek Titan (god) of forethought who is best known for giving humanity the gift of fire. Prometheus is also credited by Aeschylus with the invention of writing.
I’m based in the US and offer developmental editing for authors writing in all variations of English. I only copyedit manuscripts written in US English.
Whether you’re planning to self-publish or increase your chances with agents and publishers, I’d love to help you bring your writing to the next level.
Background & Qualifications
General Education
I have a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College where I majored in Latin Language and Literature with minors in History and Ancient Greek.
During my time in school, my love of books led me to co-teach a 1-credit course on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth and The Silmarillion.
My classics-based education gave me a solid understanding of English grammar as well as a depth of knowledge of the Greek and Roman writers that much of modern literature can be traced back to.
Four years studying social science and the humanities helped me develop my writing skills and my ability to critically analyze stories and writing in general.
Specialized training
Editing courses I’ve taken for continuing education include the following:
“Proofreading and Copyediting with the Chicago Manual of Style” (Kirk Perry/The EFA)
“Editing for Conscious and Inclusive Language” (Crystal Shelley/The EFA)
“Copyediting and Line Editing for Fiction” (Jennifer Lawler)
“Essentials of Developmental Editing” (Jennifer Lawler)
“How to Edit Query Letters, Synopses, and More” (Jennifer Lawler)
Favorites from My Bookshelf
References & Books on Editing
The Copyeditor’s Handbook (by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz)
The Subversive Copyeditor (by Carol Fisher Saller)
What Editors Do (edited by Peter Ginna)
The Chicago Manual of Style
The Associated Press Stylebook
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Garner’s Modern English Usage (by Bryan Garner)
The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation (by Bryan Garner)
Books I Recommend to Writers
Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (by Janet Burroway)
Economical Writing: Thirty-Five Rules for Clear and Persuasive Prose (by Deirdre Nansen McCloskey)
Self-Editing Fiction for Writers (by Renni Browne & Dave King)
Fiction Editing: A Writer’s Roadmap (by P.S. Dobie)
Behind the Book: Eleven Authors on Their Path to Publication (by Chris Mackenzie Jones)
The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction (by Phillip Athans)
More About Clara
I live in the beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont. When I’m not editing novels or writing articles for my blog, I’m often hiking and doing other outdoor activities. I also enjoy spending quality time with cats.
