Rhoades Writing & Editing
Rhoades Writing & Editing
My Story
Greetings, I'm Evan Rhoades! I am a professional author and editor with nearly a decade of experience helping fellow authors succeed in every area of writing. As an undergraduate, I studied, wrote, and edited fantasy, science fiction, poetry, and literature while earning my BA in English at Northwest University. Afterward, I spent two years studying under some of the greatest poets and fiction writers in the country, graduating from the University of Saint Thomas with an MFA in Creative Writing and a concentration in poetry. Since then, I have spent thousands of hours working as an editor for numerous authors, especially in the YA, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, Christian, and literary fiction genres. I’ve also had the privilege of coauthoring multiple books, which has provided me with an understanding of not only what feedback to give as an editor, but how to give it in a kind, honest, thought-provoking, and genuinely helpful fashion. Thanks to my broad experience, I excel in every part of the editing process, from copyediting to line editing to developmental work and more. My greatest aspiration is to write and edit poems and stories that re-enchant both the imagination and the soul.
My Editing Experience and Philosophy
When it comes to editing expertise, my MFA helped me master developmental concepts. I've worked as a developmental editor on projects ranging from high fantasies like Whispers of Thunder to allegorical fantasies like The Shore Speaks, and sci-fi/fantasies like Whispers of Worlds, just to name a few within my portfolio. I’ve also done in-depth developmental work as the coauthor of the science fiction series Space Pioneer, the science fiction novel The Remnant, and the Christian devotional The Gratitude Reset. I'm particularly adept at editing for plot pacing and flow, characterization, worldbuilding, concision, literary themes, and emotional resonance.
Line editing is my greatest gift. I perfect sentence flow, clarity, rhythm, style, and impact, all while ensuring grammatical accuracy and maintaining your authorial voice. My background in poetry provides a level of grammatical and stylistic precision that few other editors can replicate. I've line edited everything from poetry collections like The Marrow of Change to high fantasies like The Curtain Over Nov Salus, to memoirs like Faith Within The Voices, and I'm the acting line editor for the UCEF science fiction universe. I’m also a highly capable copyeditor/proofreader with an accuracy percentage that rivals even major publishers.
But perhaps more important than any of that is my editing philosophy. My goal as an editor isn't just to improve your book, but to refine your skills as a writer. This sets me apart from other editors. Enhancing your ability and confidence in editing, revising, and writing is just as important to me as completing your current story. The same can be said for my intentionality in maintaining and cultivating your authorial voice. One of my unique skills as a writer happens to be absorbing the voices of other writers, and I use this skill as an editor (along with suggesting/track changes for edits and comments in the margins for any questions I may have) to keep the voice, tone, and intent of your writing intact, while maximizing your agency over the changes. On top of perfecting your manuscript, I’ll impart important principles specific to your genre, characters, plot, and writing style that take your work to the next level and apply far beyond the bounds of your current book. This focus on long term benefits and on maintaining and cultivating your voice as an author ensures you get the most value from me as your editor and helps develop a meaningful editor-author relationship. It’s this interactive, relational focus that brings authors back again and again for help with new projects—and to review my ever-expanding editing guide, a continuously updated and comprehensive editing resource which I provide free of charge to all my clients.
Because of my focus on providing value to you as a writer rather than merely completing your project as quickly as possible, my clients are often amazed by how much they have improved as writers, especially at the developmental and line levels. Not only will your manuscript be polished to a mirror shine at every level, but you will find that your own skills as a writer have grown in leaps and bounds along with them. This transforms the editing process from rote and repetitive to exciting and invigorating!
With all that said, my greatest aspiration is to come into your project with just as much passion as you have, and to come out of it with a book that amazes both you and your readers, all while ensuring you have the skills and confidence to write an even better one in the future. Writing is a long, hard journey, especially when walking alone. I want to come alongside you, acting as a guide, a partner, and a champion to ensure you reach the end of the road with a smile, a laugh, and an abiding sense of enchantment. I can’t wait to share this journey with you and bring my lifelong passion for editing to your book!