Authenticity / Sensitivity Reads
Freelance editorial services for both indie writers & big publishers.
As a professional Sensitivity Reader, I provide valuable feedback on the representation of characters from diverse economic, cultural and health backgrounds.
To date, I have partnered with major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster, Penguin Randomhouse, etc) and multiple New York Times’ bestselling authors to provide feedback on 30+ manuscripts, ranging from picture books, graphics novels, essay/poetry collections, memoirs, YA texts, how-to manuals and adult literary fiction.
Check out the list of questions below to learn a bit more about me & my services.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A sensitivity reader plays a vital role in ensuring that a written work reflects the experiences and perspectives of marginalized communities in an accurate, respectful, and authentic manner, by analyzing manuscripts for potential biases, cultural inaccuracies, and harmful representations. Their feedback ultimately helps create more inclusive and empathetic narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, promoting cultural understanding and fostering a more inclusive literary landscape.
Drawing from my own lived experiences and publishing expertise, I’m able to carefully examine the narrative, characters, dialogue, and overall themes of a piece & provide constructive feedback and suggestions, to help you navigate sensitive topics and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or tropes.
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I am able to provide feedback on the following topics:
Black American Culture & History
Black Femme Identity / Black Girlhood
Black in majority white spaces
LGBTQ+ / Queer Identities
Body Image & Body Dysmorphia
Interracial Relationships (Romantic and/or Platonic)
Chronic Illness (personal experience of living with and also caring for a loved one)
Mental Illness (Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder)
Neurodivergence (ADHD & Autism)
Christian & Spiritual Backgrounds
Poor/Working and Lower Middle Class
The overlap/intersection of any of the demographics listed above
Please note: Any feedback provided is based on my own individual thoughts and experiences. I do not represent the holistic experience of any particular demographic or community.
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I love reading as an art form and am interested in reading pretty much all genres, most notably: romance, erotica, self-help books, spirituality & healing, art/photography books, short story and/or essay collections, children's books, YA novels, Middle grade novels,YA and adult poetry, humor, women's fiction, contemporary fiction, LGBTQ+ narratives, literary fiction, nonfiction narratives (memoirs, biographies and autobiographies), science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, action/adventure, thrillers and graphic novels
I would prefer not to read horror, economic or ancient history texts.
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If you book a sensitivity read with me, you can expect the following deliverables:
Careful line-by-line reading of your manuscript, complete with in-text comments & feedback
A final, one-page report summarizing my overall observations, notes, takeaways, suggestions, etc
Additional resources (articles, podcasts, books, movies or other forms of media) that support my feedback
Please note that this is not an editing service, so direct changes will not be made to the manuscript.
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Each sensitivity read needs requires its own unique level of evaluation and involvement. To meet the specific needs of your project, I provide each client with a customized proposal that outlines the timeline and a fixed project fee, so you can know exactly what to expect from the very beginning.
Project Workflow
Generally, your project will follow along to this typical process:
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Fill out the form below with some basic details about your project (word count, genre, timeline, goals, etc). From there, we’ll chat (either via email or phone) to discuss your goals, questions and/or areas of concern. After that conversation, I’ll send over a written proposal, detailing the price & turnaround time.
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After you confirm the details of the proposal, I’ll send over the project terms and conditions (our official contract so we both know exactly what to expect) for us both to sign. After it’s signed, you’ll pay your deposit to reserve your spot.
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As your start date nears, I’ll check in with you to make sure you’re on track to submit your manuscript by the previously agreed upon date or if you need some more time. You’ll send me the latest version of your manuscript on our scheduled start date & I’ll get reading! You’re welcome to ask any questions along the way and I’ll address them in my feedback.
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The due date for my deliverables is previously decided before I start reading. Once the date arrives, you’ll receive an email with 3 key things:
An edited Word doc with in-text comments & notes
A 1-2 page final write-up to summarize my analysis & provide additional resources
An invoice for final payment
Let’s work together.
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly! I can't wait to hear from you!
“A writer’s job is to bring diverse characters to life.
An authenticity reader’s job is to bring an author’s characters out of flat stereotypes and into complexity.
Together they create richer stories.”
by Hans Lindahl