Testimonials:

“Working with Mark has been an extraordinary experience. I hired him to write an essay for my book of paintings. First, he conducted a wide-ranging interview, exploring the ideas, experiences, and philosophy that inform my art. Mark is both a good listener and a skilled interviewer, with the ability to guide a conversation in novel and unexpected directions. When he presented me with the first draft of his essay, I was astonished at how he managed to pull certain themes and narratives out of me and my work. (Had he not become a writer, I am certain he would have made a great psychoanalyst!) Mark is also very prompt. I cannot recommend him enough.”

“Mark Dery is more than a brilliant author and editor; he’s a master writing guru who excels at identifying structural problems, passive writing, plot holes, redundancies, clichés, and banalities. His superb analysis and insightful suggestions inspired many improvements to our debut novel, Chasing Shadows, which received a rave review from Kirkus Reviews. We look forward to collaborating with Mark on future projects.”

“Your darlings don’t stand a chance! Mark is a rare writing coach. He knows theory inside and out and punches your writing up to the next level. He advised me on pitching an editor, suggested publications that would fit my work, and provided detailed line edits that turned my academic words into vibrant prose. His encouragement allowed me to build the confidence I needed to continue submitting to mainstream publications. When I landed a piece in Time, Mark celebrated with me. He’s a generous and tough reader, but you know you’ve nailed it when he tells you it’s time to press send.”

“I knew I was in for something special when I hired Mark Dery to write an essay about my work for a catalogue. Mark’s research was so thorough that by the time he penned my piece he could have written a monograph on my career. But ultimately it was his insight that made the essay unique: penetrating deep into my work and my thinking, he was able to make connections that had been hidden to me and to articulate them in luminous prose. On top of all that, Mark was an absolute delight to work with. I’d recommend him to anyone looking for whip-smart writing that goes above and beyond the usual fare.”

“Every writer needs a truth-teller, someone whose assessment of what works (and doesn’t) comes from a deep knowledge of our shared craft. Mark Dery has been that presence in my writing life, and his thoughtful commentary has been of immense value.”

“I’ve been writing for 20 years with myself as my best/worst critic and that’s too small an office pool to expand my writing skills by leaps and bounds. The ideas that have been bumbling through my head needed a shake-up and it was an absolute pleasure to work with Mark. His detailed inline comments and big-picture insights stimulated new pathways in my writer’s mind, and championed the imaginative associations, flights of fancy, and humor that are important to me.”

“Engaging Mark Dery was the best decision I ever made. His expertise will take your writing to a level you never imagined it could go.”

“Mark Dery’s incisive and insightful edits were not only helpful to the project at hand but also to my writing in general. I finally got the feedback that I desperately needed to move forward.”

“If someone tells you to ‘kill your darlings,’ you might be inclined to run. But if it’s Mark Dery, you should grab the ax and cut the drivel from your book. Through Mark’s insightful edits, I developed a sharper focus. A publisher wrote, ‘I am pleased to say that we find [your manuscript] to be of considerable merit and believe it would appeal to the reading public.’ Mark Dery, I couldn’t have done it without you!”

“Mark Dery went through my film/animation screenplay with a fine-toothed critical comb for details, an aesthetic eye for literary tone and grammar, and on a macro level offered suggestions for streamlining, structural changes, and big picture concept. It was a pleasure and an inspiration working with him.”