À la carte Editorial Services

for Writers of All Levels & Survivors in Recovery

If you have ever said, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body,”

or, “I can barely draw a stick figure,” or,

when observing anyone else’s artistic expression, “I could’ve made/written that,” but you didn’t,

I believe you have simply forgotten your birthright.

If you exist, you have been created.
If you have been created, you are a creator.

I found creativity inside of me, so I know you have creativity inside of you. I want to help you find it.

Manuscripts for Writers Who Don’t Want to Write

  • My mission is to help you articulate your life experiences without the stress of traditional writing. Through a personalized interview process, we capture your memories in your own voice, allowing you to share your journey authentically. Whether it’s cherished moments, significant milestones, or recovery from trauma, I transform your words into a beautifully crafted manuscript that reflects your life story. Let me take the pressure off—you focus on storytelling while I focus on the writing and editing.

    Consultation
    We will meet for an hour to identify the time period for your memoir, review photos and important memories to guide our discussions.

    Interviews
    Then you will tell me your story and I will record interviews, asking clarifying questions to ensure we cover all the essential details. I recommend two-hour sessions per appointment. Minimum of four hours to gather information, maximum of 11, per manuscript.

    Outline & Sample Chapter
    When interview hours are complete, I upload the audio and, using the transcript, draft an Outline & Sample Chapter. You will review the Outline & Sample Chapter to approve the narrative and adjust outstanding details.

    Ghostwriting & Editing
    I will now use all the transcripts to ghostwrite and edit your memoir in your unique voice! Because I am both ghostwriter and editor, this round blends my writing ability and editing styles, addressing spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, eliminating redundancies and unnecessary words, and supporting the overall presentation of content and the flow of the manuscript.

    At this stage, your manuscript will be delivered to you in DOCX format.

    Add-ons: Light Copyediting
    You can receive one additional hour of Light Copyediting post-delivery before the project is complete.

    • One-hour Consultation, $29 or free with interview purchase

    • Schedule & Conduct Interviews, $29/hour

    • Outline & Sample Chapter, $69/hour

    • Ghostwriting & Editorial Round, $99/hour

    • Add-ons: One-hour Light Copyediting, $69

Editing for Seasoned Writers

  • Editorial Reviews help writers identify and address structural issues in a story: plot holes, character development inconsistencies, and pacing problems. The review focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation and formatting, and provides recommendations for revising and improving the manuscript, as well as a snapshot of how a reader might engage the work. The review will be delivered in DOCX format.

    Proofreading
    Sometimes we are too close to our own projects as we close in on a deadline. As a Proofreader, I lend a new set of eyes to a project to clean up minor typographical errors, eliminate redundancies and catch final design flaws.

    Light or Heavy Copyediting addresses spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, eliminating redundancies and unnecessary words. Light or Heavy is dependent upon gravity of need.

    Developmental, or Substantive Editing, assists writers with the overall presentation of content and the flow of a manuscript. Using the comments feature in MS Word or Google Docs, I will identify sentences that pack a punch, uncover thematic elements, note structural issues—recommendations for revising and improving the manuscript—and cheerlead from the margins. Together, we will enhance your manuscript in preparation for publishing.

    • Editorial Reviews, $49/hour

    • Proofreading, $69/hour

    • Light or Heavy Copyediting, $69 or $99/hour

    • Developmental Editing, $119/hour

Break Writer’s Block with a Ghostwriter

  • Beginning or returning to a writing practice, facing the blank page, can be daunting.

    For these sessions, I invite writers to a two-hour recorded interview—you bring the story, and I bring my curiosity. The audio from our conversation will be used to develop a transcript. The audio will not be kept on file.

    From the transcript, I will spend one-hour of Light Copyediting to extract your voice. This includes addressing spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, eliminating redundancies and unnecessary words. The edited transcript will be delivered to you in DOCX format.

    This practice removes the barriers of the blank page; seeing your words, in your unique voice, can encourage the creative writing flow, and you can get back to writing.

    • Two-hour Virtual Session, $129

Creative Storytelling for Aspiring Writers & Beginners

  • This workshop introduces Memoirtistry’s process and methods, often attended by writers seeking one-on-one guidance, encouragement and editorial support. 

    These sessions can be repeated as many times as desired. This is a focused time for you to engage in personal reflection with a story, and to practice sharing your work & receiving feedback.  

    We will use various methods of approach to write, rewrite, and/or edit together; stream-of-consciousness sprints, word exploration & poetic verse, visual & invisible elements (colors and senses), one-line self-portraits, symbolism, oral tradition, and meditation.

    • Two-hour Virtual Session, $59

Write a Recovery Story for Mental Health Professionals

  • A recovery story is a “first-person account of lived experience from mental health challenges that outlines strengths and successes through adversity or struggle to offer a sense of hope and inspire personal wellness”. In this workshop, we will work together to write your recovery story based on the requirements of the Pennsylvania Certification Board—a minimum 1000 word essay describing your experience with recovery and your history of sustained recovery.

    You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the session to account for two hours of continuing education credit.

    • Two-hour Virtual Session, $donation-based

Writing Prompts via Text or Email

  • There are two ways to engage with Memoirtistry for this session: Text or Email.

    At the time of your scheduled appointment, you will receive a writing prompt from Elizabeth Dawn via text message or email. There is no wrong way to respond to the prompt. When you send your response, you will receive another prompt.

    For texts, we will engage for 15 minutes to inspire an ongoing writing practice.

    For those who prefer email, we will engage for 3 rounds and you will receive three prompts.

    The prompts can focus on a single story to further develop content or the prompts can be independent, allowing the writer to explore various topics.

    These sessions can aid writers who need accountability to practice the craft.

    • 15-minute Texting Session, $15

    • Three Sprints Email Session, $33

  • “Being able to freely share is liberating. As I began to write, and work with Elizabeth, I started to peel back layers of myself, like an onion. I discovered some not so great feelings and kept censoring myself. I panicked and told Elizabeth I couldn’t continue but she is a great cheerleader. I wrote about my warts and all, and she didn’t flinch.”

    Sarah, writer // TX
    contributor to 31 Confessions blog series, 2015

  • "That WAVE RIFF!!!!! Omg!!!! I mean no shit no surprise but your voice is MASSIVE ... *iridescent* <3 Magnificent. & i fuckin LOVE that jacket

    Maddy, poet // PA
    in response to this performance

  • "Thank you so much. What you've written, it is so thoughtful and captures what I do in a way I've never read before, in a way I've never seen before. I appreciate you and all the hard work you put into [the art commentary]!"

    WONGFACE, artist // OH
    BEcomING the Ultimate Self

  • "I'm so incredibly grateful of how rewarding your presence is. Not only for creativity that can always fuel me and others, but a spirit that seems to always find a winning side of things. Those both have been key to so much for me. Thank you, for being you!"

    Loghan, poet // PA

  • "I'm sitting in a coffee shop reading [I Left a Stranger: A Coming Out & Into Estrangement] and welling up like every five minutes. Such an incredible writer!"

    ON, book club member // WA

  • “Are you some kind of writing wizard? Your insights are nothing short of magical!”

    Erin MacCoy, creative coach // WA

  • “Your suggestions are excellent and so nicely presented. My mind is churning with ideas you’ve inspired for my manuscript. Thank you; I think that’s your primary job: get in my head and stir things up a bit.”

    Jeremy, writer // PA

  • “Thank you for helping me craft the content, develop the flow, edit and proofread my book Permission to Leap. Working with you was a dream—not only did you have valuable insights about creating the most impact with my words, but your technical knowledge is unparalleled. I felt so lucky to have you on my team for this project. I could not have done it without you and my manuscript wouldn't be nearly as powerful without your assistance. You are an invaluable asset as a writer and editor.”

    Bri Seeley, author // MN

  • “You are one of the most fearless and inspiring women I know. Your encouragement reminds me of my own strength and resilience as a writer.”

    Meghan, artist // WA

  • “Your thoughtful communication makes the editing process feel safe and inviting. I’ve never felt judged for the experiences I share, which is refreshing.”

    Kitty, performer // MN

  • “This was my first feature [The Bloodmire Empire of Chiina], and everyone who reads the art commentary notices how you captured me so well! I truly appreciate you.”

    Chiina Bloodmire, poet // PA
    The Bloodmire Empire of Chiina

  • “Working with you has profoundly impacted my writing journey. I am eternally grateful for your sophisticated and thoughtful insights. My words are elevated. Your artistic consulting supported me as I wrote and self-published my first book of poetry.”

    Rasaja Wolfe, poet // WA

  • “Thank you for sharing your authentic experiences. Your honesty and vulnerability have provided me with practical tools for my own writing journey.”

    T.H. Kainaros, artist // PA
    Exploring Gnosis & Randonautica with T.H. Kainaros

  • “I’m still trying to grasp how you bring clarity to my thoughts, but I’m incredibly grateful that you do! You show me what I mean!”

    Nicole, art collector // WA

  • “For much of my life, I’ve grappled with the desire to be seen while hiding my true self. It’s been challenging to believe in my authenticity, but your honest reflections on my work offered me reassurance. It’s comforting to know there are genuine people like you who truly see me, even without having met in person.”

    Nick, author // WA

  • [Your writing] reads beautifully. Smooth, engaging. Thank you again for your invaluable contributions to our mission of capturing thousands of priceless life stories."

    Michele, editor // StoryTerrace

  • "Thank you so much for capturing this aspect [via art commentary] behind my work and me, it’s very meaningful to me."

    Leslie Benigni, artist // PA
    Rewriting Family in Embroidered Vintage Fashion

  • "Wow, [the art commentary] is incredible! Extremely well written. I am beyond touched, thank you!"

    CARO, artist // PA
    The Artist’s Battle

  • "I just finished I Was a Good Wife: A Self-Portrait. I love your voice in the writing. At times I was taken by the words, and at others (fewer than I thought) I heard your speaking voice. Your writing voice is different than your speaking voice. I like how you choose words and the story just flows. It was easy to read."

    Quincy Schmidt, mental health & relationship coach // NV
    cohost of COMPLEX

Write with Elizabeth Dawn

The first step to begin a writing journey with Memoirtistry is to schedule a consultation.

Once we have been introduced, we will determine the best À la carte plan for your editorial needs.
I look forward to exploring the craft of writing with you.