“Your edits helped me grow as a writer, learn how to be an editor myself (and maybe more importantly a self-editor), and taught me how to accept and ultimately embrace feedback from others. This was my first real foray into the world of professional, published writing, and I never would have grown into the role and successfully adapted without your guidance, wisdom, endless reserves of patience, and genuine joy and passion for our shared work. I look back on my earliest drafts from 2019 and I can only reflect that I'd still be stuck churning out that unfocused, intensifier-laden, ‘look how much I know’ prose without you gently steering me in such a better direction.”

— Rob, writer and editor

“She is compassionate, is grounded and grounding, is oriented towards a positive outcome, and can solve seemingly any problem thrown at her with grace and care. I've always had absolute confidence, and been comforted by the fact, that I could go to Amanda with pretty much any issue, have a conversation about it, and know that she'll do everything possible to think it through with me and figure out the best way forward. Amanda’s always made me feel like I and the things I have to say matter.”

— Erin McGill, writer

“I grew so much as a writer under your guidance.”

— Chelsea Nealy, writer, editor, and educator

“I was always impressed when I got my drafts back at how she was able to zero in on the exact thing that would improve the writing, sometimes with what seemed like supernatural ability. When I took on editing duties myself, I was continually asking myself how on Earth she made this seem so easy! It turned out, as I got to know her, that her editing skill was simply a side-effect of a broader characteristic: She has an almost uncanny ability to see to the heart of an issue - any issue - and know exactly what the true problem is, what the solution is, and what to suggest as the best way to go about fixing it. She also has the ability to then explain all this in a way that makes the other person feel heard, valued, and appreciated. It always feels like she's on our team, looking out for our best interests and working to help us achieve our goals in ways that mesh with our distinct personalities and circumstances. It's been truly wonderful to work with her.”

— Joan Maher, writer and editor

“I’m not a people person and don’t do emotions, so I’m a bit disconcerted by how well Amanda managed to sneak past my defenses.”

— Indi, writer and editor

“Amanda was one of the best editors I’ve ever had. She has a way of pointing out what needs to be fixed without making you feel bad for having made the mistake in the first place. And she is a master of focusing on the big issues without nitpicking (but without letting the quality slip at all).”

— E Misailedes, writer and editor

“I really admire Amanda’s groundedness, openness to disagreement, and willingness to talk about difficult things. I always walk away from conversations with Amanda feeling valued. In this way, Amanda has set a high bar for all my working relationships going forward and for my own behavior—I aspire to communicate as clearly and compassionately as Amanda one day!”

— Paige Greene, writer

“Amanda's an incredibly clear, thoughtful communicator. When you're speaking to her, you can tell she's listening closely. She checks that she understands what you're saying before she responds. These qualities show up in Amanda's editing, as well: Her feedback is consistently clear, encouraging, and nuanced.”

— Julia Styles, writer and editor

“When I was writing my first book guide, I found a lot to be anxious about. While overthinking is how my anxious brain handles the excitement and discomfort of new challenges, I found it immensely reassuring and even grounding to check in with Amanda throughout the process. With grace and empathy, she saw and validated my anxiety and uncertainty. But she also always helped me to feel a deep sense of joy that I had the opportunity to learn this new writing process. Amanda has SO MANY skills and qualities I admire. (I want to be like Amanda when I grow up!) But her ability to help me find the joy in ascending a steep learning curve is something I will never forget and will always feel grateful for.”

— Jess, writer

“Amanda was incredibly insightful, reassuring, and supportive as I took the time I needed to learn the ropes of efficient and high-quality writing.”

— Ian, writer

“She’s good at combining extremely polished and well-organized ideas with a willingness to brainstorm out loud at a moment's notice, and I've always appreciated the sense of emotional balance Amanda brings: Whatever's going on—good, bad, or indifferent—I always feel calmer and steadier after talking to her about it. That's a real gift.”

— Aaron, writer and editor

“I used to think I was ‘feedback averse.’ However, after a couple of rounds of feedback from Amanda, I realized that this wasn’t the case—I’d just never gotten good constructive feedback before. Not only does Amanda wield this skill masterfully, but she also knows how to make others into better editors, guiding them to put themselves into a feedback recipient’s shoes and think carefully about the value of the changes they’re suggesting. And while a writer or editor might react to a problem (external or internal) by spiraling out or self-flagellating, Amanda always brings a healthier balance to the conversation by navigating the tension of ‘Yes, we’re acknowledging this is a problem,’ and ‘Let’s move on from it, think more productively, and decide what needs to happen next.’”

— Tess, writer and editor