To call Hannah Beresford an incredible editor would be an understatement. She is also a locksmith. I sent her the first draft of my manuscript and not only did she give me the perfect combination of generous but incisive notes, she gave me a key. The advice she gifted (once I finally committed to following it) has unlocked some of the best, most thrilling, and most rewarding writing of my life. I am forever grateful to have had such a tender, inquisitive, and wildly smart reader of my first foray into prose and memoir. Hannah’s intelligence is just the perfect amount of a few notches smarter than you, whoever you are. She gives just the right amount of herself to foster a sense of intimidation, but never isolation. She sets the bar and shows you how to raise yourself up to it. She is a north motherfucking star.

— Megan Falley (author of Drive Here and Devastate Me, Write Bloody Publishing, 2018, co-author of How Poetry Can Change Your Heart, Chronicle Books, 2019, and A Woman of the World and National Poetry Slam Finalist)

Working with Hannah was the best decision I made for my novel. I was completely blown away by the amount of edits she provided me with, even though I only selected the developmental edit. Each suggestion came with an example from my manuscript, and advice about how to action the edit. She gave me feedback I never would have considered on my own, and provided me with affirmation on the elements of my novel that were successful. My experience working with Hannah gave me the confidence I needed to push through a final round of edits before querying. I’d recommend her to any writer!

– Kim Narby (author of Saturn Returning, Bindery Books, 2026)

Hannah’s edits and comments transformed my memoir. They brought my characters and scenes alive. Plus, Hannah explained the logic for her comments. I learned so much from them. Hannah was also prompt, getting me her comments and edits ahead of schedule. In conclusion, Hannah is a master editor. If they are available, I would jump at the opportunity.

– Craig Montell, Ph.D.  (Science, Nature)

I've worked with Hannah regularly, since 2020, on several portfolios and a poetry manuscript—and I keep coming back. Hannah's feedback is to the point and constructive; her editing always makes my poems tighter, more effective versions of themselves. One of Hannah's great strengths as an editor is seeing and connecting threads that might otherwise feel disparate or hard to see: she has illuminated and helped me foreground themes in my own writing that I struggled to connect to each other, simply by reordering a portfolio. Hannah is a deeply talented editor who always brings warmth and excitement to her projects. She is a joy to work with and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

– sterling-elizabeth arcadia (author of Heaven, Ekphrasis, Kith Books, 2023)

Impeccable communication. Fully transparent process. Insightful high-level notes. Detailed inline comments. Extensive back-and-forth as needed to dig into plot development, character motivation, thematic choices, style and tone, and more. As I continue to work through my manuscript, I’m guided by Hannah’s comprehensive review. I’m also pleased to report that three chapters of my work-in-progress have found homes in literary publications. Bottom line: thank you, Hannah; your editorial excellence took my manuscript to places I couldn’t go on my own.  

– Greg Roensch (author of Lunch with the Alien, 2021, Breakfast with the Alien, 2017, Rickey Henderson (Baseball Superstars), Chelsea House Publishers, 2008, and more)

Hannah helped me understand just how important an editor is in a writer’s process. Her thoughtful questions quickly earned my trust - and that trust opened up an entire world of possibilities for my writing. I felt like I found someone who cared about the project as a whole, while also being so great and sharp with the details of writing: consistency in the pace, grammar, punctuation etc. I can't recommend her enough and I definitely look forward to working with her again. 

– Stella Honorel

Working with Hannah was an absolute pleasure. From our very first conversation, she approached my manuscript with care, bringing clarity and helping me shape the novel’s tone and voice in a way that felt true to my vision. Her editorial process is thoughtfully organized, which gave me confidence at every step. Beyond her edits, Hannah was a generous creative partner—always ready to explore possibilities, spark ideas, and share in my excitement for the work. Her insight, encouragement, and steady guidance made my writing—and me as a writer—stronger.

– Lorne Chambers (owner, editor, and publisher of West Of Free Press and The Folly Current)

Working with Hannah was like shining a light on what had previously felt tangled and dark. She saw in my work the larger meaning I couldn't quite grasp, and helped me pare away and shift material to make that meaning sing. From our first revision to our last, I was blown away by the time, attention and respect she gave my writing. Often, I have felt pushed to sacrifice the poetry of my work for clarity, but Hannah found a way to cohere my essay in a way that drew its lyricism out, rather than erasing it. Quite simply, working with Hannah Beresford was, hands down, the most moving and instructive editorial experience I have ever had.

— Allie Rowbottom (author of Lovers XXX, Soho Press, 2026, Aesthetica, Soho Press, 2023 and Jell-O Girls, Little, Brown, 2018)

Hannah is an editorial maven. She will prioritize your project as a whole, ensuring that it's cohesive and dynamic and structurally fit, and also urge your sentences to do as much as they can. I asked her to read my collection of essays, ones that cover a range of subjects, in a range of ways. I wanted to knit them together more organically, but couldn't figure out how. Hannah helped me find the project's true locus and make thoughtful tweaks. With her encouragement, I even generated some of the material of which I feel most proud. I've joked to Hannah that the manuscript I delivered to her was a basketful of fruit, and that she helped bake it into pie. Which is to say: she turned it into a book.

— Courtney Zoffness (author of Spilt Milk, McSweeney’s, 2021)

I appreciate Hannah for shining their brilliantly insightful and very fine attention on my writing. Hannah helped me further in rendering a gender-non-conforming character with more than just pronouns. Hannah helped me ground scenes and ideas to be more fully realized on the page. Hannah offered these edits with kindness and respect.

– Shelley Marlow (author of Two Augusts In a Row In a Row, Publication Studio, 2015)