Developmental
Editor & Story Consultant

Are you looking to hone your skills as a writer, tackle a tough revision, or turn a big idea into a book?

I offer clear, cohesive solutions.

As a developmental editor, I clarify core story and overall story structure—preparing writers for comprehensive and effective revision. 

As an educator, I train prose writers to utilize the different narrative elements—scene, summary narration, exposition, & interiority—to create more vivid stories. 

As a story consultant, I collaborate with clients on developing and shaping narrative content across a variety of media. 

And as a writing coach, I provide a rigorous (but encouraging!) program for writers drafting and revising new and existing stories.


  • “Tanya has given me more than mere criticism—I have newfound inspiration and hope.”

    —Roseann Corey

  • “Tanya’s ability to zero in on the emotional core of my story was truly amazing. I’m so happy I found her!”

    —Deborah Shepherd

  • “Tanya is witty, on-target, thorough, and has proven to be an invaluable compass on my journey as a writer.”

    —Diana Petrakos

  • “Tanya offers not only constructive feedback, but incremental steps to move a project forward. Working with her challenged and energized me as a writer in the best way possible.”

    —Diane Reid

  • “Tanya is a delight to work with: efficient, prompt, and constructive. She’s a taskmaster for sure, but when she gives positive feedback, you know it’s earned.”

    —Rufus Brown

  • “Tanya helped me find a way forward with my manuscript, coming up with a logical order of stories. The result was my first collection, DO NO HARM.”

    —Clara Stites

More About Me

Tanya has done developmental edits on over thirty books, including the memoirs AN OLD MAN’S DARLING (Deborah K. Shepherd, Heliotrope Books, May, 2026) A DREAM LIFE (Wendy Swift, Vine Leaves Press, May, 2026); and SAILING AT THE EDGE OF DISASTER (Elizabeth Garber, Toad Hall Editions, 2022); the novel THE LAST WHALER (Cynthia Reeves, Regal House Publishing, 2024); and the nonfiction titles GIN (Shonna Milliken Humphrey, Bloomsbury Academic, 2020) and ARE YOU REALLY MY FRIEND? (Tanja Hollander, MASS MoCA, 2017).

Tanya has taught creative writing and professional development courses for the University of Southern Maine, Lesley University, the Stonecoast MFA Program, Ocean Park Writers Conference, and Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, and for ten years, she served as Associate Director of the Solstice MFA in Creative Writing Program, helping build a nationally accredited graduate writing program from the ground up.