Work with Me
Helping writers shape their stories—from the first spark to the final page
After nearly twenty years in the writing and publishing world, I’ve learned that it takes a whole lot of hard work, a little luck, and plenty of support to bring a book to life.
As a teacher, I spent over 15 years teaching creative writing and queer literature at CUNY Hunter College. For the past decade, I’ve led one of the most popular courses at the Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop—a manuscript generator class designed to help writers turn their ideas into full-length books.
As an independent editor and coach, I work with fiction, nonfiction, and memoir writers at all stages—from those just beginning their journey to bestselling authors. Whether you're getting started or preparing for publication, I can help you refine your craft and build confidence in your creative process. Many of my clients have gone on to publish with major houses, including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Hachette, and W.W. Norton.
REVIEW
my offerings
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Below, you'll find details on my manuscript consultations and coaching services.
“A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”
— THOMAS MANN
Manuscript Critiques & Developmental Editing
So… you’ve written a book! Your blood, sweat, and (let’s be honest) probably a few tears are poured onto every page. Whether it’s your first draft or your tenth, whether it took a year or a decade—you’ve hit an incredible milestone.
Congratulations!
Now what?
You’ve probably heard that the best thing to do is to set your manuscript aside for a while, so you can come back to it with fresh eyes. But once you’ve done that, it’s time for feedback.
Friends and family might seem like a good place to start, but even with the best intentions, they may not be able to give you the honest, constructive feedback you really need.
That’s where a developmental editor comes in.
A developmental editor provides professional, in-depth feedback to help take your book to the next level by focusing on key areas for revision such as:
Character development
Narrative arc and plot
The world of the story
Voice
Point of view
Dialogue
Language
Pacing
Thank you so much for your interest in working with me!
I’m currently unavailable to take on new clients, but you’re welcome to add yourself to my waitlist to be notified when availability opens up. I look forward to staying in touch and to the possibility of working together in the future. In the meantime, best of luck with your project—keep going!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I can't say enough wonderful things about Heather as a teacher and editor.
She is the perfect blend of supportive and challenging--a cheerleader who asked the necessary questions to push my writing further. I owe Heather a huge debt of gratitude for helping me not only shape my book, but also for giving me belief in myself as a writer.”
Molly Roden Winter
AUTHOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, More, Doubleday
“Extraordinary warmth, insight, and generosity…
Heather’s extraordinary warmth, insight, and generosity led me not only to a much stronger draft, that I could not possibly have come to on my own, in the time I spent in her class, she also equipped me with the confidence and necessary knowledge to move through the years of drafts and books to come.”
Lynn Steger Strong
AUTHOR OF Hold Still,
W.W. NORTON’S LIVERIGHT
“Heather is fantastic.
Her insight, intuition, and careful study of my early writing cut right to heart of its intention. She is clear and concise and her margin notes have stayed with me, reshaping my writing years later. Whether discussing editorial changes or querying agents, Heather's advice cut a clear path through the murky publishing process.”
Kristin Fields
AUTHOR OF A Lily in the Light,
LAKE UNION
“I don’t know which makes me more miserable: writing or being unable to write.”
— E.B. WHITE
One-on-One Coaching
The idea that writers must “go it alone” is a romantic myth. Yes, writing requires time and solitude, but having a trusted reader can make all the difference in keeping you moving forward and guiding the process.
As a writing coach, I help writers refine their craft, build a sustainable writing practice, and stay motivated. Many writers come to me feeling stuck or discouraged by rejection, but they’re still determined to share their stories with the world.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked with writers who were told by past teachers that they weren’t “good enough”—writers who nearly gave up—only to go on and publish with major houses or study at top MFA programs. A little support can change everything.
When we work together, my goal is to help you:
Establish a productive writing routine
Hone
your skills
Launch or finish a project
Build confidence in
your work
Develop your voice
See your words in print
To support that, I provide actionable editorial notes and one-on-one meetings to discuss every aspect of your project. After working with me, I want you to feel inspired, accomplished, and confident in your ability to tell the story only you can tell.
Thank you so much for your interest in working with me!
I’m currently unavailable to take on new clients, but you’re welcome to add yourself to my waitlist to be notified when availability opens up. I look forward to staying in touch and to the possibility of working together in the future. In the meantime, best of luck with your project—keep going!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“Heather is amazingly gifted at getting writers to transform a bunch of chapters and ideas into a beautifully complete narrative.
Her editing was phenomenal, both for big picture stuff like plot, momentum, character arcs and motivation, but also down to the littlest details of language and line editing. She was instrumental in helping me finish both my novels. I don’t think my books would have made it to publication without her incredible wisdom, insight and support. Smart, generous, intuitive, she is who you want on your team. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
Iris Martin Cohen
AUTHOR OF The Little Clan,
HARPERCOLLINS
“Without the careful, directed feedback from Heather, I would have never gotten my first novel in good enough shape to land an agent and eventually to sell.
When I got the marked up MS back, I was sure she must have discovered some time-warp phenomenon, because the amount of care poured into each page seemed too much of an accomplishment for the two short weeks she had to read. She told me what worked, and didn’t hold any punches about what didn’t. What was best about the experience was that she somehow framed the critique in such a way that I walked away energized to get right back to work, firm in my belief that I had spot-on insight into the steps needed to make my book the best it could be.”
Timothy Lane
AUTHOR OF Rules of Becoming a Legend,
VIKING
“Lifted me out of a personal creative funk...
[Heather’s] intensive novel class not only lifted me out of a personal creative funk, it enabled me to write almost an entire novel that (five years, many revisions, a second baby, and a global pandemic later) has been bought for publication by a dream imprint. It was a joy to be part of, and I am convinced that being workshopped around Heather's table of writers, who were both serious about craft and jovial company, undoubtedly put lucky fairy dust into my manuscript.”
Sarah Seltzer
AUTHOR OF The Singer Sisters,
MACMILLAN
Writing Clarity Session
A 90-Minute Project Consultation
If you’re feeling stuck, not sure where to start, or have a specific challenge with a project, this Clarity Session is designed to help you break through. We’ll do a deep dive into your project focusing on any stage of the process, including:
-
Getting Started
Developing an idea and launching a project.
-
Writing Process & Motivation
Staying focused, maintaining momentum, and overcoming creative blocks.
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Craft & Structure
Deepening character, clarifying motivation, strengthening structure, or refining plot.
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Overcoming Roadblocks
We can explore ways to move forward or brainstorm new directions.
-
Finishing Strong
Strategies for completing your project.
Thank you so much for your interest in working with me!
I’m currently unavailable to take on new clients, but you’re welcome to add yourself to my waitlist to be notified when availability opens up. I look forward to staying in touch and to the possibility of working together in the future. In the meantime, best of luck with your project—keep going!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“Heather not only contributed her professional expertise to the writing process, but she also provided invaluable insights.
Her unwavering dedication to our shared vision cultivated a deep sense of trust, which, in turn, allowed her to draw out even greater depth and vulnerability from us—qualities essential to creating an outstanding book!"
Cynthia L. Bentzen-Mercer and
Kimberly Rath
AUTHORS OF Now, Near, Next: A Practical Guide for Mid-Career Women to Move from Professional Serendipity to Intentional Advancement, AMPLIFY
“Heather changed me as a writer.
She planted clarity in the content that we worked on, my first novel, and she provided macro input that armored me. She has an eye for important details, facts, distill writing – she is a poet. I crave that in the narrative. I hope I get to work with her again.”
Ioannis Pappos
AUTHOR OF Hotel Living, HARPERCOLLINS
“Heather is smart, insightful, tenacious, encouraging, generous, cheerful and brilliant.
She pushed me with one goal in mind – to do my best work and to be real and true to the characters. She helped the story shine. I wish she could be perched on my shoulder every day while I’m writing.”
Susan Batten
AUTHOR OF Showing Roots,
FILM PRODUCED BY MICHAEL MAILER AND STARRING MAGGIE GRACE, UZO ARUBA, ADAM BRODY AND CICELY TYSON
“Literature is the operating instructions. The best manual we have. The most useful guide to the country we’re visiting, life.”
— URSULA K. LE GUIN
Classes
Taking a class with me is the most affordable and accessible way to work together, so I encourage you to check out my offerings at the Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop by clicking here.
If I don’t have a current class available, you’ll find plenty of other wonderful teachers there to support your writing and help you connect with a writing community.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“Thinking of signing up for a class or consultation with Heather O'Neill? Do it!
I first met Heather as a student in her Novel Generator course at Sackett Street Writers. Her feedback on my project was invaluable. Heather has a way of engaging seriously with the material while offering a light editorial touch. Her critiques are sharp yet gentle, always opening up questions and possibilities about a work while guiding the writer in a way that feels authentic to that writer's vision. I took Heather's workshop three times, then hired her privately as an independent consultant. Nearly every story of mine she consulted on has been accepted for publication. She is one of the most encouraging, warm-hearted and tough (in a good way!) readers I've encountered. I recommend her wholeheartedly.”
Becky Tuch
of Lit Mag News
“Working with Heather allowed me to produce over 200 pages over the span of 20 weeks, more than I have ever produced before in such a short timeframe.
In her manuscript generative workshop, every other week, I turned in 20 pages that Heather critiqued with enthusiasm and care, and I looked forward to reading her thoughtful and illuminating feedback on my work. Heather was generous with her time and made sure that each student was given individual attention. I’ve taken several workshops since Heather’s and none have been quite as instructive, generative, and community-focused. I still remain in touch with several of the fellow writers who took the workshop, a testament to Heather’s ability to create a true writing community and be a champion of emerging writers’ work.”
Stephanie Jimenez
AUTHOR OF They Could Have Named Her Anything, LITTLE A
“Heather delivered everything I needed…
In search of an editor to help me through the next draft of my novel, I made a wish for a Mary Poppins/Dom! It was a tongue-in-cheek dream, but Heather delivered everything I needed. Not only was she insistent upon finding the very best in my work, but she held me accountable to deadlines. She brought curiosity and insights, asking all the right questions for me to discover more about my characters and what I came to say. The time I spent with Heather taught me the importance of digging further, of listening to my own voice, and persevering. Heather is incredibly generous and she guided me to a much stronger draft which I could not have reached on my own. I am so grateful!”
Natalie Serber
AUTHOR OF Community Chest
and Shout Her Lovely Name
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