Hi! My name is Mandy. I edit novels and non-fiction manuscripts for clients all over the world in my freelance editing business, Polished Pear Creative Editing. I am passionate about teaching clients how to craft deeply compelling narratives and characters regardless of genre.
I am a fan of books with strong voices and POVs. I am currently obsessed with The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone (Biography). Other books I recommend: Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton (Memoir), Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard (Non-Fiction/Spirituality), A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman (Non-fiction/Nature), The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Fiction), The Collected Stories by Amy Hempel (Fiction), and any poetry collection by Kim Addonizio.
When writing and editing overload my brain, I paint abstracts. With my mind on low, I let my intuition guide the process. The canvas is never what I imagine it will be when I start (likely due to inexperience - ha), but I enjoy the unraveling of a piece, how it changes and transforms into something I didn’t intend. This looseness of creating is where I find surrender.
Other areas of intrigue: astrology (Cancer sun/Libra moon here), spirituality (connecting with God/Source), meditation, travel, psychology, exercise, music (Julian Baker, Arcade Fire, Beach House), exploring artists on Instagram, chatting with my family, dancing with my husband, photographing my cat doing unremarkable things (“Oh, you’re cuddled up like a snail?” Snaps photo, posts to Instagram “Oh, you’re yawning again?” Snap, post within the same hour)
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p.s. not a robot.