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Kelli Sallman, writing mentor and editor
Fiction · Narrative Nonfiction · Inspirational & Religious

Help your story become the book it deserves to be.

Kelli Sallman is a freelance editor, writing mentor, and author coach. Whether you have an idea, a rough draft, or a manuscript that needs the final push, she brings the craft and clarity to get it across the line.

Schedule a Free Consultation → Explore Services
Fiction
Novel & short-form editing
NF
Narrative nonfiction & memoir
Inspr.
Inspirational & religious titles
5
Service levels, one editor
Kelli Sallman, lead editor and writing mentor
About Kelli

A gardener at heart. An editor by trade.

A pleasant garden is well-pruned and weeded and engages eye, ear, nose, hand, and mouth. Good writing does the same.

Kelli is a freelance editor, writer, and writing coach who specializes in fiction, narrative nonfiction, and inspirational and religious nonfiction. Editing credits include Hope for the Heart and Insight for Living.

She combines teaching skills and editorial instinct to help writers find their unique voice and bring their stories to fruition, and uses her knowledge of both traditional and self-publishing to help authors create platforms, get published, and get heard.

Kelli's approach is personal. Every manuscript, every author, every goal is different. She will meet you wherever you are in the process and work with you until your book is where it needs to be.

Hope for the Heart Editing credit
Insight for Living Editing credit
Work with Kelli →
What I Do

Every stage of the manuscript, covered.

Whether you have a book idea and need help getting it onto the page, or a finished draft that needs tightening before it goes to agents or readers, there is a service here that fits. I offer editing and mentoring for both fiction and nonfiction, from the first rough concept to the final proofread.

Nonfiction

Nonfiction Editing

  • Manuscript Critique — broad assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and specific problem areas with options for improvement
  • Developmental Services — advance your concept, outline, and draft through a mix of Zoom meetings and manuscript editing
  • Content Editing — clarify ambiguities, fix conceptual problems, maintain tone, and flag unnecessary content or cloudy explanations
  • Copyediting (Basic to Line) — correct grammar, syntax, and style problems at the level your manuscript actually needs
Enquire About Nonfiction →
Fiction

Fiction Editing

  • Manuscript Evaluation — full read-through with detailed critique of structure, premise, plot, voice, and pacing
  • Content Editing — page-by-page notes on character, plot, motivation, pacing, POV shifts, dialogue, and style
  • Copyediting (Basic to Line) — grammar, syntax, style, inconsistencies, and formatting across three levels depending on the draft's current state
Enquire About Fiction →
Mentoring

Writing Mentorship

  • Manuscript development — turn great content into strong prose
  • Market positioning — understand where your book fits and how to pitch it
  • Publishing navigation — traditional and self-publishing guidance from someone who knows both
  • Platform building — establish your author presence before and after publication
  • Accountability — dedicated meeting blocks and editing reviews every month
See Mentoring Packages →
Which Service Fits

Not sure where to start?

Use this table to match your manuscript's stage to the right level of service. When in doubt, schedule a free consultation and we'll work it out together.

Service Best for Fiction Nonfiction
Manuscript Critique / Evaluation Early draft, first feedback Yes Yes
Developmental Editing Concept, structure, direction On request Yes
Content Editing Strong draft, story-level fixes Yes Yes
Copyediting Final polish before publication Yes Yes
Mentoring Package Ongoing support through writing Yes Yes
Mentoring Packages

Consistent support, every month.

Each package combines meeting blocks (via Zoom) with editing and review blocks. The balance shifts by level so you get the right mix of conversation and manuscript work for where you are.

Level A
$300
per month
Option 1
1 meeting block + 3 editing / review blocks
Option 2
2 meeting blocks + 1 editing / review block

Meetings via Zoom. One editing / review block is approximately one hour of work. Meeting blocks take more overall time due to prep and follow-up.

Get Started →
Most Popular
Level B
$600
per month
Option 1
1 meeting block + 7 editing / review blocks
Option 2
2 meeting blocks + 5 editing / review blocks
Option 3
3 meeting blocks + 3 editing / review blocks

The higher the number of meeting blocks, the fewer total blocks per month, because of the preparation and follow-up work for your project.

Get Started →
Level C
$900
per month
Option 1
2 meeting blocks + 10 editing / review blocks
Option 2
3 meeting blocks + 8 editing / review blocks
Option 3
4 meeting blocks + 6 editing / review blocks

Maximum access and output. Suited to authors working on a deadline or in the middle of a complex manuscript overhaul.

Get Started →
How It Works

From first message to finished manuscript.

A clear path from wherever you are right now to a book that is ready for readers.

01

Free Consultation

30-minute Zoom call. We talk about your project, goals, and timeline. No pressure, no pitch.

02

Service Match

Based on where your manuscript is, we agree on the right service or mentoring level for you.

03

Manuscript Review

Kelli reads your work with fresh eyes, takes notes, and prepares a response that is specific to your book.

04

Edit & Feedback

Edits delivered with clear editorial notes. For mentoring clients, follow-up meetings are built in.

05

Publication Ready

Your manuscript is in shape. Kelli can also help you navigate agents, publishers, or self-publishing next steps.

What Authors Say

The work speaks for itself.

Words from authors Kelli has worked with across fiction, memoir, and nonfiction.

“
★★★★★
Kelli helped me see the structure problems in my memoir that I had been too close to notice. Her notes were specific, kind, and completely actionable. The book is better in every way.
Sarah M. Memoir · Level B Mentoring
“
★★★★★
I had a great concept but my prose was rough. Kelli worked through it with me chapter by chapter without ever making me feel like the work was beyond saving. It was not. My book is published now.
James T. Inspirational Nonfiction · Content Edit
“
★★★★★
As a first-time novelist I had no idea what developmental editing even meant. Kelli explained everything plainly, asked the right questions about my characters, and the story clicked into place.
Rachel D. Fiction Novel · Developmental Edit
Editorial Background

A track record in published work.

Kelli's editorial credits span major inspirational publishing imprints. She brings that same standard of care and craft to every independent author she works with, regardless of where they are in the writing process.

Specializations include fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and inspirational and religious nonfiction. If your book fits one of those categories, you are in the right place.

Hope for the Heart
Insight for Living
Inspirational Nonfiction
Religious Titles
Writer at typewriter in a library

Cover reveal
coming this summer

Coming Summer 2025
The Book

Kelli's own title is on the way.

Kelli is a writer as well as an editor. Her own book is forthcoming this summer. Pre-order and purchase details will be available here as soon as the book is live.

If you are an author looking for an editor who genuinely understands what it takes to write and publish a book from the inside out, this is that person.

Notify Me at Launch → Visit Full Site

Buy button will be live once the book is available for purchase. Enquire now to be notified first.

FAQ

Common questions, plain answers.

The questions Kelli gets asked most often before the first consultation.

What kind of manuscripts does Kelli work with?

Fiction and nonfiction, including narrative nonfiction, memoir, and inspirational and religious nonfiction. If you are unsure whether your project is a fit, schedule a free consultation and she will tell you honestly.

I have a book idea but nothing written yet. Can you still help?

Yes. The mentoring program is designed exactly for this. You will get structured monthly meetings plus editing and review blocks to help you develop the concept, build the outline, and write the draft with accountability and expert feedback along the way.

What is the difference between content editing and copyediting?

Content editing looks at the big picture: structure, clarity, tone, concept-level problems, unnecessary sections, and cloudy explanations. Copyediting comes after and deals with grammar, syntax, style, and formatting. Most manuscripts need both in sequence. Kelli will tell you which level applies to your draft after reviewing a sample.

How do the mentoring package blocks work in practice?

Each package has meeting blocks and editing / review blocks. One editing block is approximately one hour of work on your manuscript. Meeting blocks take more total time because of the preparation and follow-up Kelli does for each session. The higher the number of meeting blocks in a month, the fewer total blocks your package includes. All meetings happen over Zoom.

Do you help with publishing and platform building?

Yes, this is part of the mentoring program. Kelli will help you understand both traditional and self-publishing routes, position your book for the market, and start building your author platform. The editing work and the publishing strategy are connected, and she treats them that way.

How do I know which service level I need?

Start with a free 30-minute consultation. Bring your questions and a description of where the manuscript is. Kelli will give you a straight recommendation, not a sales pitch. The comparison table on this page is also a useful starting point.

Get In Touch

Start with a free consultation.

Tell Kelli about your project, your timeline, and what you are hoping to achieve. The first 30-minute conversation is on her. No obligation, no hard sell.

Tell me about your project.

An auto-confirmation goes to your inbox the moment you hit send. Kelli follows up within one business day.

What happens next: You will get an auto-confirmation immediately. Kelli personally responds within one business day to schedule your free consultation.
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