Welcome

I'm Karinya Champoux, a developmental editor and publishing consultant with 20 years of experience helping writers turn rough drafts into polished, submission-ready manuscripts. From introductory critiques to full manuscript evaluations, I offer honest feedback delivered with kindness — because your story deserves both.

My Editorial Philosophy

Sharing your writing with others, whether it’s your first or 500th time, is an act of bravery. Putting the manuscript that you’ve toiled over (often privately and sometimes for years) out there for another person to read and critique is a vulnerable act, and I feel honored every time a writer trusts me with their work.I cannot promise that all your feedback will be glowing, but I can promise that it will be honest, and delivered with kindness and humility. False praise doesn’t make writers great, but neither does cruelty.I also recognize that art is subjective, and that writing is most definitely an art. The writer and the reader each bring their own mix of lived experiences, beliefs, and preferences to the page. You may not agree with all my comments or suggestions, and that’s to be expected! I will never try to “force” a writer to turn their project into something it’s not, or go in a direction they’re uncomfortable with. I usually ask my writers, once they’ve received their feedback, to take a few days (or however long is needed) and let things marinate. The ideas that resonate and ring true? Hold on to them and use them! The ones that don’t? Let them roll right off those shoulders.I believe in meeting writers where they are, and doing my best to help them get to where they’d like to be.

Genres and fit

When choosing an editor, it’s important to make sure the fit is right, both genre and personality-wise. (We don’t have to be best friends, but our working relationship will be smoother if we don’t have diametrically opposed world views!) That said, I’m a progressive feminist who believes in intersectionality, LGBTQ+ rights, and the idea that no human is “illegal.” If your project glorifies sexual violence or child or animal abuse, or has a racist, homophobic, pro-MAGA, or anti-science slant, then I’m probably not the editor for you.In the fiction realm, I’m a good fit for: literary fiction, magical realism or surrealist fiction, mainstream fiction, women’s fiction (including “chick lit”), romance, erotica, “book club” fiction, mystery, young adult fiction, new adult fiction, middle grade fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, dystopian fiction, historical fiction, some (lighter) speculative fiction, and short story collections.In the nonfiction realm, I work primarily with memoir, essay collections, biography, narrative nonfiction, and business/leadership/personal finance projects.Genres that aren’t my strong suit include epic fantasy, most sci-fi, intense thrillers (especially if they’re tech or military related), poetry, and academic writing. (I am very happy to recommend some excellent colleagues who excel in those areas, though!)Have a project that straddles a few genres, isn’t mentioned here, or you’re just not sure what it is yet? Please reach out -- I’m always happy to take a peek!

Services and Pricing

Are you someone who...Has a completed draft of a full manuscript and are looking for full-scope editorial feedback? Your best bet is either going to be a manuscript evaluation or a manuscript annotation.With evaluations, your feedback will be contained in a comprehensive stand-alone editorial memo that assesses the manuscript both as a whole and element-by-element. (We look at plot, structure, characters, voice, dialogue, mechanics, genre considerations, market potential, etc.)An annotation covers the same bases, but includes margin notes, along with an editorial memo to discuss the condition of the manuscript overall and suggestions for moving forward.
Personally, I love annotations because they’re as close as you can get to being in the reader’s head as they go through the manuscript, and to me that’s very valuable. If the idea of scrolling through hundreds – or possibly thousands! – of margin comments doesn’t appeal to you, then an evaluation might be a better choice. Pricing for both services is usually in the $.015 to $.02/word range.Has a completed (or nearly complete) draft but want to dip your toe in the water first before committing to a full evaluation? An introductory critique looks at the first ten pages* of the manuscript.I’ll read your pages with the same critical eye that I approach full manuscripts with, but the scope of feedback will (naturally) be more limited. The first ten pages of a manuscript are key though – are you hooking the reader, or are there red flags that will make the reader put the book down? – so even if this is not followed by a full-length critique, it can be very valuable as you move forward with your manuscript. (It can also be a good, low-risk way to see if we’re an appropriate fit for each other!)*Ten pages is usually roughly about 2,500 words. I’m not a monster; if the end of your first chapter or a good stopping point is 2,700 words, that’s fine, but please don’t send me ten pages of single-spaced text in 8-point font with no margins. I’ve raised too many kids to be tricked by that one ;-) Introductory critiques are a flat $70.Has a manuscript (partial or full) and want more of a general yea/nay type response to see if what you’re working on has legs? Or maybe you’ve edited the manuscript (either alone or with another editor) and just want another set of eyes on it to see if it’s ready to submit to agents or self-publish? A beta read is probably what you’re after.Beta reads don’t come with full-scale editorial memos, but they can be a useful tool to gauge a manuscript’s commercial/market readiness or identify major issues that warrant further consideration. They are priced lower than full evaluations or annotations, but do not include as much feedback.Is a man (or non-binary, or whatever the case may be) writing about (or in the POV of) a woman, or you’re kid-free and writing about parenthood, or you’ve never met an LGBTQ* person in your life and aren’t sure if what you’ve written is true-to-life or potentially problematic? My friend, a sensitivity read may be for you ;-)This is very similar to a beta read in that it’s not a full-scale evaluation. This is a read that’s focused on what may be perceived as not realistic or offensive to members of those demographics. I never want to play the “politically correct police” role, but these reads can be helpful if you’re trying to write for, or in the POV of, a demographic that you do not belong to. Since the scope is limited, these are priced the same as beta reads.*In the spirit of full disclosure, I am an ally and not an LGBTQ+ person myself, though I am well-versed on the subject as a family member and advocate for folx who do fall into that group. I do encourage you to support LGBTQ+ editors when possible, if this is the specific perspective you’re looking for!Is an author who is ready to get this show on the road already? If you have a manuscript that you’re ready to send out to literary agents, I can either critique or create a query letter and synopsis. I can also do research and create lists of literary agents that I think may be a good fit for your project, and provide advice on the best way to approach them. A read of your full manuscript is required if I’m writing the query or synopsis myself, though a full or partial read is extremely helpful even if I’m only providing query/synopsis feedback or suggesting agents. Billing for this is highly dependent on the particular situation, but reads generally are around $.01/word and publishing consult services are billed at $75/hour.Is not sure what you need, or know what you need but don’t see it listed here? Drop me an e-mail, text, or call and we can talk about what your goals are and what might be right for you. I’m flexible, and we can probably figure something out together, even if that “something” is me recommending a different editor for you that better suits your needs!While we’re at least adjacent to the subject, please know that I accept credit/debit cards, checks, Zelle, or cash (if you’re local and want to work that way). For introductory critiques and beta/sensitivity/marketing reads, I ask for payment in full upfront. For more intensive services (manuscript evaluation or annotation) for new clients, I ask for 75% upfront and the remaining 25% upon delivery of the work. For returning clients, I ask for 50% upfront and 50% upon completion. I will always provide you a quote before beginning work. In the case of hourly consult services, I will provide a good-faith time estimate and not go over what you have initially approved without your permission.

My bio

Karinya ChampouxI grew up in the best place possible: right across the street from a library, where I got my first job as a “volunteen” the moment I was old enough to do so. (Stamping those summer reading club folders and handing out prizes is important work!) Ever since, my professional life has been centered around books and writing.I’ve helped students pass English 101 at the university writing center. I’ve read for two literary journals, eventually becoming editor-in-chief of PERSONA, and nonfiction editor of THE SONORA REVIEW. I’ve matched talented writers with their dream agents as a literary agent liaison. I’ve offered my opinions on literature, film, and music as a book critic and arts desk writer for an old-school print newspaper. I became an expert at figuring out what folks meant when they said, “I can’t remember the title, but I know the cover was blue…” while working as a bookseller.Just shy of 20 years ago, I found my niche in the literary world as a developmental editor and publishing consultant. It’s incredibly rewarding to discover new talent and help shepherd a project from a rough draft to a polished, prime-time-ready manuscript. (And the thrill of seeing those books on actual shelves never gets old!)I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona, majoring in creative writing. I also hold a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing, again from the University of Arizona. (Bear down!)Outside of the literary realm, I’m married to the love of my life and am a mom to five humans, five dogs, two horses, two cats, and a handful of snakes and guinea pigs and lizards and whatever other creatures the kids have smuggled into the house while I wasn’t paying attention. I am looking forward to sleeping again. Someday. Fingers crossed.

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