I was introduced to Vanessa through a very pleasant conversation, significant encouragement, and a commitment that the existing deadlines could and would be met. After reviewing some of the previously edited sections, Vanessa dove into the work and completed the entire task in a very competent and professional manner on time and on budget. A writer really can’t ask for anything more, and yet (apologies to Sham wow) there was more. I also received an updated and formatted style sheet and we held a number of subsequent discussions to clarify certain conventions and styles, including footnote and bibliography formats. The manuscript was completed on time and submitted – resulting in the publication of a 673 page book on schedule. I can’t say enough positive about my experience with Vanessa and Night Owl Freelance. 

Vanessa Anderson at Night Owl Freelance has an extraordinary way to assist new and published writers to reach their goals with ease. Her stress-free approach to getting your work edited and published has been a gift for me...and will be for you too! Her honest encouragement will help make your writing “sing,” and the goals you have for your writing will be realized.

Vanessa Anderson of Night Owl Freelance & Indie Owl Press is a down-to-earth, jane-of-all-trades editor who cares for the success of her clients. I find her feedback on my manuscripts invaluable to the success of my writing projects. On top of her impressive ability to edit and review a manuscript, she has the skills to design and format the exterior and interior of your book, including designing the cover. (Secretly, I think designing the covers for the books she edits is her passion.)  Her cover designs are intuitive and so eye-catching they demand attention. As an indie author, Vanessa is perfect for all of my writerly needs, from development to publication.

Vanessa Anderson edited my debut novel Woodstock Bound, and she nailed it! When I began my writing adventure, it was merely a hobby. No way did I think I was worthy of the title "Author." However, after sending Vanessa my first ten pages for a sample edit, and viewing her comments and suggestions, everything changed. She instilled in me a confidence that aided me in pushing forward with the belief that I belonged in the "author" community. Vanessa broke down my strengths and weaknesses, while at the same time providing me guidance on how to better my work with each. By the end of our journey, Woodstock Bound became a polished gem that I couldn't be happier about. This editor turns writers into authors. If you have dreams of joining the ranks of published authors,  Vanessa Anderson is the editor to get you there!

I can recommend, without reservation, Vanessa Anderson and her Night Owl Freelance editing and publishing services. Vanessa painstakingly works to revise and perfect your work without deviating from the story and, more importantly, your voice. With a unique blend of classic training and professionalism coupled with a modern touch, she provides quality feedback and, as a writer herself, she is keenly aware of the mind of a writer. Her publishing services always create a finished product on par with any publisher I have worked with or seen. You truly could not be in better hands than with Night Owl Freelance!  

I worked with Vanessa to edit and publish my debut series. Her vast industry knowledge proved beneficial throughout the whole process. Her witty sense of humor made each step of the way easier to understand and navigate. I was most impressed with her "notes" after she completed a full review of each manuscript. I expected to receive a few pages of notes along with the grammatical corrections. I was blown away by what she provided: an incredibly thorough assessment of what worked, suggestions for improvement, and considerations that had never occurred to me. And, once each book was published, the relationship didn't end. Even today, she continues to answer my many questions and offer support and advice! Highly recommend. 

Vanessa was wonderful to work with. She customized the timeline for my professional editing project, and she delivered as agreed. Her suggestions were all on point, followed the Chicago Manual of Style as requested, and made the book a better product. I considered her an essential part of the team bringing my book to market. I look forward to working with her again. I just wish we had connected when writing my earlier books. 

I found Vanessa through the writing community on social media when I was looking for an editor. I did some research, asked a few questions, and decided that I would give her a try. Having never worked with a professional editor before, I wasn’t quite certain what to expect. Turns out that she is amazing to work with! Her edits are extremely thorough and make perfect sense. They mesh with the story very well and enhance it in a way that I would not have been able to do. The work she did on the cover was astonishing and left me as an incoherent puddle for about a day. She put so much effort into helping me get everything ready for publication through Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark. And if I had any issues, they were solved very quickly. Honestly, she is absolutely lovely to work with and I am never looking back.  

Writing a book isn't easy. But what's even harder is editing, formatting, and looking at your work objectively and with a fresh and unbiased perspective. This is where Vanessa shines! With a keen eye for detail, she was able to quickly turn my haphazard collection of words into a readable (and highly professional) work of art. A true pleasure to work with and professional in every sense of the word. Highly, highly recommended!  

Vanessa is an editor who cares deeply about the projects she takes on and will invest herself in your creative work. She’s got very broad experience, which I appreciate. I enjoy working with someone who can look at a situation objectively, draw on their experience, and give a set of suggestions for how to move forward. Vanessa delivers a winning combination of traditional publishing experience as well as experience working with independent authors. Not only was she a great editor, she also played the role of mentor and motivator in my journey.

In your corner
Lonely
Principle #1. “Don’t get it right, get it written.” This principle has worked for me for 40 years, through my academic years writing for scholarly journals; through my years as a magazine editor, coaching delinquent writers, way past deadline; and through writing and publishing my novel, Minerva’s Fox. That process taught me about how fiction differs from every other genre I’ve tackled. It taught me the importance of having access to fresh eyes, once you’ve finished a working draft. Writing fiction is fun, most of the time. It is also demanding. I am too close to my story and my characters to always know what works and what doesn’t. So when I had completed working drafts of several stories last year, I activated Principle #2, “Get some fresh eyes.” Enter Vanessa Anderson, who agreed to be my reader and provide feedback about character development, pacing, balance of dialogue and exposition and to be my glitch spotter. Thanks to her sharp eye and focus on these issues, and to her generous support and editorial expertise, I saw my story afresh and made adjustments that work. I got my stories written; Vanessa’s fresh eyes helped me get it right. 

With how saturated the market is, it’s far too easy these days for new books to sink to the bottom of the pile and never be read. That is why Night Owl Freelance is so important to today’s new or established indie authors. Vanessa has the experience and expertise to guide you through every step of the process and help your book launch to a professional standard. Whether you are going the traditional route of looking for a publishing deal or you are on your self-publishing journey, Night Owl Freelance can do everything to help you from crafting the perfect query letter to doing a deep dive edit of your manuscript. If you need editing, book cover design, publishing advice, or book marketing coaching - I highly recommend Vanessa at Night Owl Freelance.

As a new author, a high concern of mine was to team up with a reliable and experienced editor. With Vanessa (the Night Owl), I was able to obtain that and more. Regarding the knowledge I lacked, she was insightful with leading me to options that would accommodate my goals, not just her preferences. She was always available to answer (what must have felt like to her) my endless questions, for which I will be forever grateful. I worked with her on editing, cover design, interior layout, as well as Amazon & IngramSpark account creation. We flowed as a team and put out two books in a very short time. I am looking forward to working with her on my third release. It is my pleasure to recommend the Night Owl.  

Vanessa Anderson is extraordinary! I have just published my third book, and it was a first in many ways. A fiction, an indie publication, and my first time being edited by Vanessa. So first let me say, what a joy to write fiction after popular academic. And second, but more importantly, “Thank you, Vanessa for rescuing me from the dank ivory towers of Academia.” This lady is right on target. She understands your characters, she follows your story, and she knows you…her author. These are the ingredients of a love affair that will lead to a successful novel. Throughout the process, Vanessa made time for me, with even the most indie-novice of questions. She knew when to calm, when to cheer, and when to just wait for me to settle. I highly, highly, highly recommend Vanessa Anderson to edit your first, or your next, book. And, she is better than the best at interior and cover design as well. Don't let her get away!

What can I say about working with Vanessa from Night Owl Freelance? Her quality of work and her beyond professional product was more than I could have ever hoped for. As a new author, you have to be careful who you align yourself with, and Vanessa is top notch. She is your editor and publisher, but also your cheerleader, your voice of reason, and an indie spirit who makes you a better writer. I highly recommend her to any new, or not so new, author looking for a premium editor or publisher. You will not be disappointed.   

I write in two different genres, fantasy and romance. I like to blend the two together to create fantastical worlds where my main characters fall in love with each other. Vanessa understands that my author voice is unique and doesn’t try to push me into writing just the one genre. Her feedback is honest, yet never harsh or overly critical. She never makes me feel like my story ideas are stupid or unworthy of publishing. She listens to me about my concerns, working with me to craft the best stories that I can create. The writing industry can be a lonely experience; you need someone like Vanessa in your corner, coaching and cheering you on. Vanessa will laugh along with your characters, swoon over them, or hate them—in the case of antagonists. Vanessa has become more than just an editor to me. She has also become someone I can turn to for advice about the writing industry and marketing. And she always makes time for her clients.

I struggled with whether to try to find an agent or to indie-publish. Vanessa stayed with me, supporting me with email after email. When I finally decided that indie-publishing made the most sense, my relationship with Vanessa got busier. She created a unique and eye-catching book cover. Everyone I’ve ever shared the book with comments on the “great cover.” She also put together the interior layouts for both the Kindle and the paperback versions of my book, adding her special touch to each chapter head. Vanessa’s talents are many and make working with her easy and gratifying. However, the traits that, for me, separate her from so many others with her skills, are her kindness and generosity. She has encouraged me every step of the way, taught me more than she will ever know, and she made it possible for a long-held dream of mine to come to fruition beautifully.