Editor Val M. Mathews
Get Your Storytelling Moxie On
Edited by Val
Happy Authors
Val, thank you so much for your edits. They are amazing. They really brought the whole thing together and made it feel like the White-Blazes were’nt an afterthought but a genuine evolution throughout the book. I love it!
Val’s most valuable skill is to perceive where you are as a writer and then help you take it to the next level.
Val Mathews is an exceptional editor. She was instrumental in my developmental edit of Blame The Dogs, helping me halve my debut’s word count, which allowed me to focus on the main storyline. She helped to elevate not only the structure of my novel, but her expertise also taught me how to improve voice, balance, and flow. Moreover, she has the loveliest personality, making collaborating with her a breeze. Whether you are starting as a writer or are at a more advanced level, Val has your back.
“With an expert eye for detail, Val caught redundancies and irrelevancies, mistakes that muddled the clarity and disrupted the rhythm of the story.”
Val’s sensitivity to my manuscript made it a pleasure to work with her. She knew exactly what had to be cut and what was needed to make my manuscript soar.
Val’s a super rock star editor!
Val worked to understand where I was coming from. Through our partnership, I have learned to make my characters grow and evolve.
You’re my best editor ever!
Dig Deep Into an Editor's Mind
Editor Interview – Val Mathews; Interview by Novelist Debbie Burke
Have You Dreamed of Being a Book Editor
Sign Up for My Online Developmental Editing Course With the Editorial Freelancers Association
Happy Editing Students
“I’ve learned so much from this class. The handouts, the feedback, and the insights from Val and classmates on the discussion board have all been terrific. And what has been invaluable is working with actual manuscripts and seeing her actual revision letters and editorial feedback to the authors. I’m looking forward to her next class.”
Val “was awesome! She has an incredible command of all the topics we covered, and her feedback helped me learn so much. Best editorial instructor I’ve ever had. I’ve signed up for her next class.”
Book Val for Your Next Writers' Conference
“Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.”
Val M. Mathews
Instructor & Developmental Editor
As a big-hearted, fun-loving editor and teacher, Val M. Mathews has garnered 10+ years of relevant experience. She teaches courses in developmental editing for the University of California Berkeley Extension, Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, and the Editorial Freelancers Association in New York City.
Val also works as an editorial consultant for CRAFT and The Masters Review, two well-established online literary magazines, and freelances on the side. Previously, she worked as an acquisitions editor for The Wild Rose Press, a small traditional publisher in New York. She earned an MA in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University and a BFA from the University of Georgia.
Fun fact about Val: She’s been an FAA-certified flight instructor for over twenty-five years, and in the past, she flew Lear jets for a living.
- Flathead River Writers Conference, Kalispell, Montana
- Southeastern Writers Conference (SWA), St. Simons Island, Georgia
- Las Vegas Writers Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Carrolton’s Writers Guild, Carrolton, Georgia
- PNWA Writers Conference, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Inc., Seattle, Washington
- Writers Alliance, Author Showcase, Cartersville, Georgia
- Oklahoma Writers Foundation, Inc. (OWFI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
