Verto Literary
Verto: To turn around / To change / To transform
An editorial consulting studio that works with authors, agents, and publishers to bring important stories to life.
“Verto came in at a crucial point in the process, helping us sift through volumes of material to see the story we wanted to tell. Gareth’s organization, vigor, and talent with structure and ideas gave us important direction on a very complicated project that was unfolding in real time.”
— New York Times journalists Cecilia Kang & Sheera Frenkel, authors of the New York Times bestselling An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook’s Battle for Domination
Proven Success
Is your publisher telling you the manuscript isn’t quite working, or do you have your own misgivings? Are you facing deadlines or other demands that feel increasingly out of reach? Or have you just signed your contract and feel lost? Under the guidance of Pulitzer Prize winner Gareth Cook, our team has helped authors overcome daunting problems and achieve success—rave reviews, New York Times bestsellers—with top publishers like Random House, Crown, Liveright, Portfolio, Riverhead, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster. We work with top agencies, like CAA (Creative Artists Agency), WME (William Morris Endeavor), Aevitas Creative Management, Cheney Literary Associates, the Frances Goldin Literary Agency and UTA (United Talent Agency). And, most important, people love working with us.
Discuss Your Editorial Needs
Decades of experience; expect a response within two days.
“I have worked with many editors over a 35-year career in journalism and book writing and have only encountered a few with Kate’s abilities. They include a remarkable talent for structural editing, a deep understanding of how story works, and above all, the capacity to communicate her insights to a writer. She is a delight to work with.”
— S. C. Gwynne, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of New York Times bestsellers Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell
What we do
From idea to finished book. From rough draft to polished manuscript. From stuck to unstuck. We help writers transform their work so that it can find its greatest expression and the widest possible audience. We celebrate new voices and the desire to change the world through ideas and stories.
As writers and editors with decades of experience, we know how to quickly diagnose and solve problems—from conceptual architecture to narrative voice—so that authors can tackle what they set out to accomplish with energy and creativity.
Nonfiction
We help authors navigate the complex demands of argument, narrative, and pacing to craft a manuscript that is persuasive, moving, and downright impossible to put down. We evaluate research and reporting, provide big-picture editorial feedback, and offer detailed line editing to ensure clear, incisive writing.
Fiction
We assist authors with working drafts of short stories and novels. Are the characters intriguing and their actions compelling? Is the structure right for this particular narrative? Does the voice suit the material? Every piece of fiction is different, of course, and we help authors clarify what they are trying to do and say in their work, and how best to bring their vision to life. We provide both line editing and structural guidance.
Memoir
It can be a challenge to narrate one’s own story. We guide authors as they find the best angle, tone, and time frame for their personal essays and memoirs. Which parts of the narrative hold the real energy for both the author and the reader? Through broader development work, as well as fine tuning, we help authors structure and enhance personal writing so that readers will find it engrossing and affecting.
Sprint
Do you have a project with a seemingly impossible deadline? Using our unique full-team editorial strategy, we have a successful history of working with agents and Big 5 publishers to help writers complete high-stakes projects on (very) tight deadlines. (We do not take on ghostwriting assignments.)
“Kate, Gareth, Chaz, and Eli broke an otherwise daunting process into manageable steps—whether it was sending me out to hunt for new characters or giving smaller writing assignments—that gave me a continual feeling of progress (and helped me stay sane). I grew into a much stronger writer from this collaboration: they were incredible teachers as well as editors.”
— Maya Shankar, creator of the award winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans and author of the forthcoming The Other Side of Change
Why Verto?
We are collaborative
Our goal is never to prescribe our own set of preferences, but to guide you towards the best version of the book you envision. When you work with Verto, you aren’t just paired with one editor—you’ll work with a team of editors, all of whom want to see your book succeed.
We are focused
When we take on a literary project, we treat it with the respect and attention it deserves. We limit the number of projects we take on, so that your manuscript is always our priority.
We are nimble
Our team of editors is fast, communicative, and responsive. We help authors meet tight deadlines and keep them writing at a steady but manageable pace.
We are flexible
We adapt to your writing style, your goals, your circumstances, and the needs of your manuscript.
We are in your corner
We know how difficult it can be to write a full book project, and how many obstacles—expected and unexpected—the process can present. We meet you where you are, to help you overcome those obstacles and bring your manuscript to where you want it to be.
Is Verto Right for Your Project?
Decades of experience; expect a response within two days.