Overview
“The world of publishing is growing more complicated, but also more interesting for those willing to think outside the box. I know I am, and having Phil Athans out there as a resource takes the scare out of it.”
—R.A. Salvatore, author of The Legend of Drizzt
It's not just my job to find what's wrong with a book, but to preserve and encourage what's right about it.
No two manuscripts, and no two authors, are exactly the same. No two edits will be either. So what do I look for when I start an edit?
Everything.
And I mean literally everything from big-picture issues like story structure and worldbuilding to grammar and usage, always with your unique goals and your unique voice in mind.
I’ve worked with a wide range of publisher, author, and other clients including Pixar Animation Studios, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Amazon/57 North, Pyr, Appalachian Mountain Club Books, Wizards of the Coast, Permuted Press, and almost too many indie authors--at all experience levels across a range of genres and categories--to count.
I’ve worked extensively in fiction (primarily fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but other genres as well), non-fiction (from books on the software industry to camping and kayaking guides), gaming (digital and tabletop), and more.
I've been working in publishing since 1986.
IF IT’S GOT WORDS, I CAN HELP MAKE IT BETTER.
I'm proud to work with LGBTQI+, POC, indigenous, and all other human authors. I will not work with "AI"/LLM/ChatBot-generated text.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Wizards of the Coast
Self-employed
Portfolio
Philip has 8 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
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Milos D.
Apr, 2025
Adam C.
Mar, 2025
Jardane H.
Mar, 2025
Solstice S.
Jan, 2025
Galapagos P.
Jan, 2025
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