Developmental Editing
The following editorial letters were delivered to their respective authors along with the annotated manuscripts as part of my work as the Managing Acquisitions Editor for Ooligan Press.
Editorial Letters and Author Testimonials
I was the developmental editor on this graphic novel-style nonfiction guidebook.
“Alena’s skills as an editor are second to none. As someone who has worked with countless editors across a dozen publications as a journalist, I know how critical that role is for the success of a project and can only hope that all my future editors are as talented and fun to work with as Alena. She is thoughtful regarding the writing process, effectively communicates her feedback, and she sticks to deadlines. If it were not for her encouragement, drive, and commitment to the project I brought to her I am certain my book would never have been completed. I strongly recommend Alena to any writer who wants to improve their project and get it out into the world.”
Henry Latourette Miller, author of The Pacific Northwest Disaster Guide
I was the lead developmental editor on this historical nonfiction title, writing all but the section on image placement of this letter.
“As a first-time book author, this process was new to me, but Ms. Rivas laid out the plan and worked with me to follow the procedures and timeline to complete the project diligently. . .[She] is an effective communicator, and a good taskmaster for a very distracted author. . .[Her] reviews then did help me strengthen the manuscript for the audience who would be reading the book in the future. . .I feel I could work with her again on a similar subject to complete a book.”
David Lewis, author of Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley
I was the lead developmental editor on this memoir, leading a team of editors in evaluating the manuscript. I wrote this editorial letter nearly in its entirety. My co-manager Kelly led a team of fact-checkers and wrote that section of this letter.
“I am deeply impressed with Alena’s work on my book, A Family, Maybe. She read the manuscript several times, diligently ensuring the continuity of the story arc, consistency of the tone and details, and the overall effectiveness of the story structure. Alena’s detailed comments and responses to my revisions improved the manuscript tremendously. She was also effective and courteous in coordinating the workflow among the acquisition team members and kept the team and me, the book’s author, on tight deadlines. I’ll be delighted to recommend Alena for other editing projects.”
Lane Igoudin, author of A Family, Maybe
I was the lead developmental editor on this thriller/suspense title, though my co-manager Kelly and I wrote this letter together. My focus was on elements of the plot including pacing and credibility as well as character development.
“I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Alena Rivas. Alena gently pointed out plot points that were a little too convenient, sections to tighten to improve the pacing, and suggestions to build suspense. She listened patiently as I argued to save chapters that I loved and gave me space to realize her edits would ultimately make my story more compelling. Her empathy for my characters helped me strengthen their personalities, motivations, and relationships with one another. I highly recommend Alena and hope to have an opportunity to work with her in the future.”
Pamela Statz, author of Thorn City (formerly Highbrow, Lowlife)
For this YA fantasy title, I worked as part of a team on the editorial letter. My focus was on the development of two characters: Jay and Dylan. I also addressed unanswered questions that remained after reading the full manuscript.
This letter is for a currently unpublished work of literary fiction.
Annotated Manuscripts
See my editorial and communication style by viewing these manuscript notes.
Acquisitions
Beyond reading and evaluating manuscripts, acquisitions work involves market research & positioning and persuasive written and oral communication in the form of pitches, submission lists and letters, reader reports, query letters, proposals and more. As the Acquisitions Manager at Ooligan Press, I’ve also written several blog posts to help guide and inspire authors.
Acquisition & Editorial Credits
Pitches
I have led teams conducting market research and analysis to determine the viability of the following titles. As Acquisitions Manager of Ooligan Press, I delivered several pitch presentations to the press and successfully acquired them.
Quarterly Sales Report
Sample Marketing Plan
This sample marketing plan contains a tipsheet, paid ad campaign, paid social media ad campaign, a onesheet, press release, proposed author tour, media contact list, and email marketing campaign.
Submission List, Submission Letter, and Reader Report
This sub list and letter are written from the point of view of the agent to an editor on behalf of a client. Included is the logic behind the submission strategy. A reader report is an evaluation provided to an agent or individual interested in representing the author and the title or looking to acquire subsidiary rights like film, tv, and merchandising.
Blog Posts
My Research
The Identification of Representation Gaps in Diverse US Children’s Picture Books was published on PDX Scholar in June 2023. Download it from PDX Scholar here.
