I hired Aigner as a developmental editor for my literary speculative fiction manuscript. She did incredible work helping me with plot issues and character development, as well as some style issues. She was thorough and detailed in her feedback letter, and in our video calls. She knows the genre … Her feedback was extremely helpful and she helped me get on the right track … – Author Bela Gary (The Ambivalent Prophet)

Story Help for Writers

Aigner’s detailed comments helped me see where my intentions weren’t coming through clearly on the page and gave me concrete ways to revise. I’ve come away with a clearer understanding of my writing, and I really appreciate her support.- author Yuqing Kong

Inquiry Form

If you’d like to order one of the services above, please fill out the form below. Once I receive your responses, I will respond within 48 hours to talk through what you’re looking for.

All contracts and payment are handled through Upwork or Paypal. Debit and credit accepted.

Full Breakdown of Services

Short Story Assessment

If you’ve ever wanted to know what an editor at a publication thinks of your story, this is for you.

This service is designed for writers preparing to or submitting their work to MFA programs, professional publications, or compiling a short story collection. The aim of the short story assessment is to help you identify what’s working, what isn’t yet landing, and clear action steps for revision.

Along with in draft comments, you’ll receive a detailed editorial letter (3–10 pages) assessing:

• Narrative structure and pacing
• Character depth and development
• Thematic cohesion
• Emotional impact
• Opening and closing strength
• Publication readiness

Word Count Limits:
3,300-10,000 words (short fiction and short novelettes)*

*stories under 3,300 words are accepted on a per project basis at a minimum of $100.

Turnaround:
1–2 weeks

Book Assessment

For authors who have already put their novels through rounds of edits and are query or publishing ready but want a detailed critique of the work to get an editor’s insight.

This service is designed for writers with books they don’t need full edits on, but want to get a professional assessment of the book’s narrative, characters, and writing. The aim of the book assessment is to help you identify what’s working, what isn’t yet landing, and clear action steps for revision.

Along with in draft comments, you’ll receive a detailed editorial letter (7–15 pages) assessing:

• Plot architecture
• Character arcs
• Stakes and escalation
• Pacing
• Structural cohesion
• Theme
• Market positioning (traditional, indie, or hybrid)
• Emotional and narrative consistency

Word Count Limits:
17,000-140,000 words (novelettes, novellas, and novels)

Turnaround:
3–6 weeks

Short Story Dev Edit

If you’ve ever wanted to work directly with an editor at a major publication, this is for you.

This service is designed for writers with stories they want professional editorial feedback on. The aim of the short story developmental edit is to identify specific areas of your draft that need improvement and providing detailed edits and feedback on the draft.

I move through your story line-by-line and scene-by-scene, identifying and diagnosing:

• Where tension drops
• Where character motivation blurs
• Where language sharpens or softens impact
• Where structure can be elevated
• Where emotional beats need strengthening

You’ll receive:

• In-line comments throughout the manuscript
• A 5–8 page editorial letter
• Detailed craft analysis
• Clear reasoning behind every major suggestion

Word Count Limits:
2,500-7,000 words (minimum rate of $100 fee for stories under 2,500)

Turnaround:
2–3 weeks

Book Dev Edit

For authors who have finished their books and want to eventually query or self-publish their book.

This service is designed for writers with novels they want professional editorial feedback on. The aim of the book developmental edit is to identify specific areas of your draft that need improvement and providing detailed edits and feedback on the draft.

I move through your book line-by-line and scene-by-scene, identifying and diagnosing:

• Plot progression and architecture
• Character development and transformation
• Stakes and escalation
• Scene mechanics
• Structural pacing
• Thematic resonance
• Reader engagement
• Publication readiness

You’ll receive:

• In-line comments throughout
• A 15–20 page editorial letter
• Structural diagrams (if helpful)
• A clear revision strategy

Because of the depth of this work, I accept a limited number of manuscripts per year.

Word Count Limits:
17,000-100,000 words (novelettes, novellas, and novels)

Turnaround:
1-2 month turnaround

Craft Mentorship

For writers who want an individualized experience and ongoing support, accountability, and focused craft development on taking a story from idea to finished polished draft.

We meet weekly via video. First we’ll break your idea down as far as you need to begin writing. Then we’ll meet each week to discuss your writing progress and author career. You’ll have specific word count deadlines each week to meet, followed by editorial feedback until you reach the end of your story. At the end, I’ll give you a full developmental edit of the work you did on your story and guidance on what to do next.

Together we focus on:

• Finishing stories
• Discipline
• Targeted craft weaknesses
• Structural clarity
• Character voice development
• Narrative styles and genres
• Revision strategies
• Submission and publishing guidance

Time Period:
Available for 1, 2, or 3 month periods.

Craft Intensive

For writers who want a personalized college or graduate level study of craft.

We meet biweekly via video and discuss the assignments given, your work, and craft elements based on what you would like to work on during our time together. Between sessions, you will have to submit work of up to 7,000 words for discussion and critique.

You will:

• Read foundational craft texts
• Analyze stories in your genre
• Complete focused writing exercises
• Write a new story every two weeks
• Develop discipline and editorial precision

Spots are extremely limited.

Time Period:
Available for 2, 3, 4, or 5 month periods.

Have Questions?

Book a free 15 minute call with me to talk about your project and what you are looking for. I’ll give you a cost estimate, time range, and breakdown of how the process would work to help you see if we would work well together.

My Background & Experience

M.F.A.	Fiction, Bennington Writing Seminars, 2026
B.A.	English & Creative Writing, The Evergreen State College, 2015

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2025 Hugo Award Finalist – Best Semi-Pro Zine (editing)
• 2024 Ignyte Award Finalist – Best Critic (writing)
• 2023 Ignyte Award Finalist – Best Novelette (writing)
• 2023 Ignyte Award Finalist – Best Critic (writing)
• 2023 Hugo Award Winner – Best Semi-Pro Zine (editing)
• 2022 Hugo Award Finalist – Best Semi-Pro Zine (editing)
• 2021 Hugo Award Finalist – Best Semi-Pro Zine (editing)
• 2019 Otherwise Fellowship Honorable Mention (writing)

PUBLICATIONS

FICTION

• Whatever Takes Us.  Nightmare Magazine
• Building Blocks. Interzone Magazine
• How I Creak for You. Monstrous Futures: A Sci-Fi Horror Anthology (editor Alex Woodroe). Dark Matter Press
• You Who Does Not Exist. Baffling Magazine
• To Carve Home in Your Bones. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. 2023 Ignyte Award Finalist for Best Novelette.
• The Black and White. Fantasy Magazine
• It Came Gently. Lightspeed Magazine
• A Crisis. Vice Magazine
• Pew Pew. The Ghostlight Theater
• Dead Children Stop Playing for Ungrateful Audiences. Nightlight: A Black Horror Podcast
• Unwanteds. Nightlight: A Black Horror Podcast
• Lucky Number 8. Beyond Ballyhoo: Carnival Themed Speculative Fiction (editor Jim Tripp)

Poetry

• Christine. The Five-2
• Phantom. Arsenika
• Demon at My Window. FIYAH
• Come to Me. Anathema Magazine

Select Nonfiction

• The Perfect Escape: What Goes into Designing Cozy Life Sim Games. The Washington Post
• Review of Premee Mohamed’s Annual Migration of Clouds. Lightspeed Magazine
• Cozy Management Games Remind Us How to Care. WIRED
• Using Dialogue to Show Character Growth. Writer’s Digest
• Cracking the Code. The Writer
• Your Guide to Africanfuturist Science Fiction. Reactor Magazine
• A Complete Self-Editing Guide for the Successful Writer. Better Humans
• What Communities Can Do. SFWA Blog 

EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE

Apparition Literary Magazine

• Guest Editor, 2022

Nightlight: A Black Horror Podcast

• Associate Editor, 2019-2022