About

About This Site

For more information on scheduling an interview or guest post please visit our policies page.

---

Who I am

My name is Rebekah Montgomery, but you can call me Bex. I’m passionate about words and stories, and I’ve made it my mission to help writers bring their visions to life. When I’m not reading, writing, or editing, you’ll find me sharing my love of books with students at my favorite elementary school library or exploring other cultures around the world.

FIND ME ALL THE PLACES:

Facebook |   Goodreads |  Twitter |  Instagram |  Pinterest | TikTok

As an editor for Ampersand & Co., as well as for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, I have extensive experience working with writers at all levels and in various genres. My previous roles as an acquisitions reader for Entangled Publishing and a literary agent intern for Corvisiero Literary have given me a deep understanding of the publishing industry and the importance of crafting compelling and marketable stories.

Locally, I co-founded Half Light Publishing and worked as an editor with AZ Publishing Services, helping independent authors achieve their publishing goals. I’ve also written for TheWOD Newspaper and Blogcritics Magazine and worked as an editor for WritingNews.org.

What sets me apart as an editor and literary coach is my commitment to building a collaborative and empowering relationship with my clients. I believe that every writer has a unique voice and story to tell, and my job is to help them hone their craft, elevate their writing, and navigate the complex world of publishing. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned author looking for fresh ideas and feedback, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Let’s work together to create something amazing.

---

Before becoming a full-time editor and literary coach, I had my fair share of less literary (and therefore less interesting) vocations and hobbies. Some of them involved staplers and spreadsheets and required wearing sensible heels. But others were glamorous and exciting, involving bright lights, stages, and music.

I dabbled in music and performance for a time, belting out tunes into microphones with guitars blasting in my eardrums while wearing absolutely non-sensible heels. While my rockstar dreams didn’t quite pan out, I learned a lot about the power of storytelling through music and the importance of connecting with your audience. Those lessons have stayed with me and informed my approach to editing and coaching – I believe that every writer has a unique voice and perspective to share, and it’s my job to help them amplify that voice and connect with their readers.

So even though my days of rock and roll may be behind me, my passion for words and stories remains as strong as ever. So let’s work together to create something amazing.

What I Do

As a developmental editor and literary coach, my job is to help writers achieve their goals and produce their best work. I work with writers at various stages of their projects, from brainstorming and planning to revising and polishing. My services are tailored to each writer’s needs and preferences, so I offer different levels of support and feedback depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

Here are some of the things I do for my clients:

• Brainstorming and ideation: I help writers generate and refine ideas, plotlines, characters, settings, and themes. I offer prompts, exercises, and questions to stimulate creativity and problem-solving. I also provide feedback on the feasibility, originality, and coherence of the ideas.
• Outline and structure: I assist writers in creating a solid and engaging structure for their works, whether it’s a novel, a memoir, a screenplay, or a non-fiction book. I analyze the plot points, turning points, arcs, and pacing of the story and suggest ways to improve them. I also help writers organize their ideas into a coherent and logical structure that enhances the reader’s understanding and engagement.
• Characterization and dialogue: I help writers create believable and compelling characters that resonate with the readers. I offer feedback on the characters’ motivations, conflicts, personalities, and relationships. I also help writers craft realistic and engaging dialogue that reflects the characters’ voices, emotions, and perspectives.
• Writing and language: I provide feedback on the writing style, tone, and voice of the author. I help writers improve their grammar, syntax, and punctuation. I also offer suggestions on how to enhance the descriptive and sensory details, imagery, and figurative language of the text.
• Revision and editing: I help writers revise and edit their drafts to improve their clarity, coherence, and impact. I provide feedback on the overall structure, pacing, characterization, and language of the work. I also help writers identify and fix plot holes, inconsistencies, redundancies, and other issues that may detract from the quality of the work.
• Coaching and support: I offer emotional and practical support to writers throughout the writing process. I listen to their concerns, fears, and doubts and provide encouragement, motivation, and accountability. I also help writers set realistic goals, deadlines, and milestones and track their progress toward them.

In summary, what I do as a developmental editor and literary coach is to help writers turn their ideas and visions into compelling and polished works that can engage and inspire their readers. I bring my expertise, experience, and passion for storytelling to every project, and I strive to create a collaborative and supportive relationship with my clients.

Have Questions? Want to know more?

“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”

William Faulkner

This site is dedicated to the memory of my former writing partner, blog co-host, and dear friend:

Leslie Anne Jones