Whether you are a debut novelist navigating your first draft, a short story writer looking to break into top-tier journals, or a professional seeking to sharpen your narrative voice, Wendy Wimmer offers bespoke consulting services designed to elevate your craft.
As an award-winning author and experienced editor, Wendy brings a sharp eye for structure, a deep understanding of the publishing industry, and a supportive, “writer-first” approach to every project.
Editorial Services with Wendy Wimmer
There are three primary tiers of engagement to meet you wherever you are in your creative journey.
1. The Narrative Deep Dive (Full Manuscript Review)
This is our most comprehensive service, ideal for writers with a completed draft who need a professional “roadmap” to publication.
- What’s Included: A full reading of your manuscript followed by a detailed Editorial Letter (usually 10+ pages) covering pacing, character arcs, thematic resonance, and structural integrity.
- Best For: Novelists and short story collection authors preparing for agent queries or independent publication.
- $.09 per word, $2000 minimum per manuscript.
2. The Story Spark (Short Fiction & Essays)
Wendy’s specialty lies in the “small but mighty” forms. This service focuses on polishing individual pieces for submission to literary magazines and contests.
- What’s Included: Line-by-line feedback on prose, voice, and “the hook.” We also provide a curated list of 3–5 literary journals that would be a perfect fit for your specific style.
- Best For: Short story writers, flash fiction authors and personal essayists.
- $450 flat rate up to 6000 words, $150 for flash stories under 1000 words.
3. The Strategy Session (Hourly Coaching)
Sometimes you don’t need a red pen; you need a sounding board. These 60-minute virtual sessions are dedicated to unblocking your process.
- Topics covered: Plot hole troubleshooting, building a writing habit, navigating the “query trenches,” or developing a brand as an author.
- Best For: Writers at any stage who feel “stuck” or overwhelmed by the business side of writing.
- $175 per hour
4. Choose Your Own Writing Adventure
Not everything fits into the above buckets. Need a fresh set of eyes on a query letter? A sounding board for how to deal with a plot problem? Leave a note in the Contact Wendy page and describe what you’re looking for help with and she’ll get back to you.
How long does a “Narrative Deep Dive” take?
A full manuscript review typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the length of the project and Wendy’s current editorial calendar. If you have a specific deadline (such as a grant application or contest entry), please mention it in your initial inquiry.
Do you offer “Line Editing” or just “Developmental Editing”?
The Narrative Deep Dive is primarily developmental (focusing on the “big picture”). However, Wendy’s feedback naturally includes notes on prose style and voice. If you are looking strictly for a line-by-line polish (grammar, syntax, and flow), this can be added as a custom service.
Can you help me find a literary agent?
Wendy cannot act as your agent or guarantee representation. Her Submission Strategy Sessions are designed to help you craft the perfect query letter and synopsis. No consultant can guarantee you’ll get an agent or a book deal — and if they’re promising such a thing, they’re lying. Your manuscript is the only thing that really matters. Wendy can provide industry-standard advice on how to research agents and position your book to stand out in the “query trenches.”
What is the typical workflow?
The process is designed to be collaborative and transparent:
- Initial Inquiry: You submit a 10-page sample and project overview.
- Consultation Call: If Wendy has availability, there will be a 15-minute phone chat to ensure our styles align (free) and project sizing discussion, along with timeline and deliverables agreement, followed by 50% deposit of project estimate.
- The Work: Wendy dives into your manuscript or piece.
- Delivery & Follow-up: You receive your written feedback, followed by a Zoom session to discuss the notes and your next steps.
What kind of credentials does Wendy Wimmer have?
The Professional Edge
Wendy Wimmer is the author of the critically acclaimed short story collection “Entry Level” (Autumn House Press), which won the Autumn House Rising Writer Prize and was a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. Her fiction has appeared in premier literary journals including The Southern Review, Epoch, Magma Fiction, Bellevue Literary Review, and Blackbird, among others.
Why Choose Wendy?
Wendy holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, where she studied post-WWII American Literature and the novel form, as well as taught undergraduate nonfiction and fiction creative writing. She has served as fiction editor or assistant fiction editor of four different award-winning literary journals (Barrelhouse, Witness Magazine, Cream City Review and Sheepshead Review) and has served as literary judge for Pen America Robert Bingham Award for Debut Short Story Collection (2025), Midland Authors Adult Fiction Novel (2024), Charlotte Short Story Competition (2023), and introduced the Witness Literary Awards in 2018. Stories she has published have gone on to be selected for Pushcart Prizes, O.Henry Awards, Pen America awards and were featured in the Best American Short Stories collections. Her debut short story collection ENTRY LEVEL received the Autumn House Fiction Award in 2021, was a finalist for the Hudson Prize and the St. Lawrence Book Award, and was listed as a Kirkus Review Top 100 books of 2022. Her novel, The Doomscroll Companion, was a finalist for the James McPherson Novel Award in 2024. She is the recipient of numerous literary fellowships, as well as serving as a Black Mountain Institute PhD fellow from 2017 through 2020. In addition, she has worked as a non-fiction and technology editor and journalist for over a decade. With many years of experience navigating both the academic and commercial sides of the industry, Wendy bridges the gap between high-level craft and practical marketability.
She has spent years in the “editorial chair,” giving her a keen sense of what makes a manuscript stand out in a slush pile. Her consulting style is defined by:
- Genre Versatility: From contemporary realism and “literary” fiction to speculative and genre-bending stories.
- Technical Mastery: A deep-seated knowledge of narrative theory, pacing, and the “mechanics of wonder.”
- Radical Encouragement: Wendy believes that every writer has a story only they can tell, and her goal is to help you find the clearest way to tell it.
Ready to Elevate Your Writing?
The best time to invest in your craft is now. Whether you have a messy first draft or a polished piece that just needs that final “spark,” Wendy is ready to help you cross the finish line.