Writing Services

Books

Whether she serves as ghostwriter, coauthor, author, or contributor, Dina is a go-to resource for book production, where she uses her writing, editing, and managerial skills to produce quality books that are well-organized and smartly written. Enthusiastic and professional, Dina has worked with first-time authors as well as New York Times best-selling authors in both fiction and nonfiction. She has a knack for turning complex subjects and lengthy manuscripts into digestible and enjoyable copy, and works hard to keep the author’s voice authentic and consistent while meeting a publisher’s text needs and time constraints. And, best of all, she works fast—without sacrificing quality.

Book Proposals

Have an idea for a book? Dina helps nonfiction authors develop a marketable book concept and a compelling book proposal that remains true to their essence and vision. One of the most recent book proposals she worked on garnered the following reaction from a literary agent: “Utterly fantastic…This is the best proposal I’ve read in a long time! It’s powerful, instructive, sensitive, smart, and, yes, a big, bold bestseller all in one.”

Articles

Dina is a fearless, seasoned general-assignment freelancer with a proven track record and versatile palette. For more than 20 years, she has written on a wide variety of topics—military, parenting, health, fitness, business, weddings, real estate, home, etc.—and has interviewed scores of high-level and high-profile CEOs and celebrities. She has covered subjects that are complex and sensitive, and loves to immerse herself in specialized fields.

Editing Services

Developmental Editing

Manuscript development is Dina’s specialty. She has developed, structured, and written nonfiction books in the areas of technology, self-help/psychology, parenting, fitness, music, pop culture, law enforcement, and memoir. As an author herself, she knows the challenges and emotional investment that come with book writing and likes to work closely with authors to help them present their ideas in the best light possible. Dina works in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, depending on author preference.

Line Editing

As a line editor, Dina works directly in clients’ manuscript documents, using Track Changes and Comments in Word, or Comments in Google Docs, depending on author preference. She looks for discrepancies in plot or organization, suggests rephrasing or word changes, asks questions about character motivations, helps to maintain narrative voice, highlights inconsistencies, points out “telling” versus “showing,” and checks the overall narrative flow of the manuscript. She works with both fiction and nonfiction writers.

Magazine/Newspaper Editing

Dina has strong organizational and managerial skills and has experience working with a team of writers and making sure copy is clean and deadlines are met. Having edited thousands of articles over the years, Dina has developed a keen and confident eye when it comes to polishing writers’ text. Her style is not to be too heavy-handed—striving to retain the writer’s voice even when she has to edit for space constraints—while correcting grammar, deleting redundancies, and improving overall clarity and organization.

Coaching Services

Writing Coach

For clients looking to kick-start a writing project or who have a partial manuscript they want to revive, Dina offers coaching services that will help them see that writing project through to fruition. Serving as an accountability partner, Dina helps clients stick to a schedule of writing, brainstorm ideas, figure out how to untangle plot knots, and, most importantly, get the job done. For those who prefer a more personalized approach, Dina guides clients through the writing of their manuscripts, chapter by chapter, so that they can learn from their mistakes, hone their craft, and grow as writers throughout the process.

Self-Publishing Coach

Thinking about self-publishing your book? Dina, a best-selling and award-winning indie author, is a staunch advocate of self-publishing and has helped many new authors determine if self-publishing is right for them based on their needs, goals, and personality style. An indie author for more than 10 years, she is intimately familiar with the promises and pitfalls of self-publishing, and can help fledgling authors navigate the often confusing and constantly changing waters. Dina has taught a continuing education course on self-publishing at Hofstra University for more than nine years.