COACHING & Editing

For writers ready to craft books with impact. 

Shape  your story.

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In a culture that prizes rare genius over raw persistence, writers are led to believe they either have talent or they don’t.

But what if you could :

Use proven methods to outline your book?

Edit a manuscript with expertise?

Publish professional work you're proud to share?

What if you didn’t have to undertake this alone?

Better yet :

learn more

I’m Carol Test, a professional editor based in Phoenix, Arizona, who turns ideas into art with craft. My speciality is getting memoir and novel manuscripts publication-ready.

When it comes to editing, you're not just trading time for money: value comes from expertise and artistry as much as hours put into any project. 

I bring my background as an award-winning writer with a decade's experience teaching college creative writing to your book. Crucially, I've edited titles for big houses and indie authors, and I understand what readers want. 

That’s where I come in: 

Hi, I'm Carol!

Carol knows how to help writers find and shape the essential in their work. She understands what makes a good story. Her talent for narrative structure shows in her consulting and her own work, which she approaches with intelligence and humor.

— Corey Campbell,  Award-winning short story writer

Carol is a consummate professional and pleasure to work with. Her guidance was extremely insightful in pinpointing areas to develop in my first book. The hallmark of Carol’s approach is character development. Her use of the elements of writing is spot on. Her advice is worth its weight in gold!”

— Isabella Maldonado, Award-winning author of the Vera Cruz series & THE CIPHER, a soon-to-be Netflix feature starring JLo. 

Since we were together at graduate school, I have admired Carol’s craft, her commitment to the life of the mind, and the intelligence of her conversation.

In workshops and afterwards, as she has continued to read my work in draft, I have found her perceptions and comments regarding my work to be razor sharp, delivered with great good will, and cutting to the heart of the matter. Both as a reader and a writer, Carol is exceptional.”

— Daniyal Mueenuddin, National Book Award & Pulitzer Prize Finalist: Other Rooms, Other Wonders






“I came to Carol to critique and edit my novel because she is imaginative, thoughtful, and humane. You can trust your prose to her; she’ll make it better in ways you will understand and enjoy.” 

Sheila Grinell, Author, The Contract & Appetite

Carol is an astute professional editor, current on standard industry formats and knows what agents and publishers are looking for.
I’ve had the pleasure to attend a few of her presentations: she truly motivates writers who have found themselves stuck in the revision process or lost during their quest to publication.”

— Deborah J Ledford, Award-winning Suspense Novelist, including
2014’s Best Audio Book, CRESCENDO, narrated by Christina Cox.

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Hi, I'm Carol,

an Arizona-based editor who turns ideas into art. Need to get your book publication-ready?

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