Need help with your manuscript? Contact Christine@WriteforSuccessEditing.com.
Developmental editor and author mentor
Experienced professional editor
Literary editor and owner of Write for Success Editing Services.
For more information on editing services including picture book critiques,
please visit https://writeforsuccessediting.com/.
My education includes a master’s degree in English literature with a specialization in children's literature.
Speaking Engagements, Workshops, and Critique Sessions
A sampling of events
Christine is available for select speaking engagements or workshops. If you prefer one-on-one professional editing assistance, please visit Write for Success Editing Services for more information.
OCTOBER 2022
"Write a Novel in Thirty Days: All About NaNoWriMo" workshop, the Carnegie Center
"Self-Editing Your Manuscript" workshop, the Carnegie Center for Literary and Learning
MAY 2022
Bay Area Book Festival in-person presentation, Berkeley, California
“Laugh and Learn with the author of A Brief History of Underpants”
MARCH 2022
San Diego Professional Editors Network (SD/PEN)
"Editing Children's Books"
NOVEMBER 2021
SCBWI Pasadena, California
"Live Query Letter Editing"
JULY 2021
SCBWI Austin, Texas
"From Draft to Published—Without an Agent!"
nErDCAMP PA
“Comic Relief: Why Humor Is Important in Books for Kids (SEL)”
"Connecting Educators with Authors and Illustrators"
JUNE 2021
SCBWI Pasadena Mingle
"Unagented and Traditionally Published Christine Van Zandt and Moni Ritchie Hadley Share Their Personal Journeys to Publication: Their Tell-All Will Get You Thinking about What to Expect Before, During, and After Publication"
May 2021
SCBWI LA Critique Day
Facilitator for rhyming picture book critique group
OCTOBER 2020
SCBWI Pasadena Mingle
“Story Arc and Story Structure”
DECEMBER 2019
SCBWI Pasadena LitMingle
"Live Editing of Query Letters"
NOVEMBER 2018
SCBWI Pasadena LitMingle
- “Query Letters and Cover Letters”
OCTOBER 2018
Writer's Digest's Novel Writers Conference in Pasadena, how freelance editors can help writers
OCTOBER 2018
West Coast Writers CREATIVE WRITING CONFERENCE for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Screenplay
- "Great Beginnings for Novels - Your First Lines, First Pages." If the first paragraph of a novel isn’t strong enough, agents and publishers won't read beyond the first page.
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.
JANUARY 2017
SCBWI Pasadena LitMingle
- “How to Self-Edit”
JANUARY 2017
West Coast Writers SPECULATIVE FICTION CONFERENCE
- “Query Letter Workshop”
MAY 2016
SCBWI San Gabriel Valley LitMingle
- “Cover Letters and Query Letters,” a 90-minute live-editing presentation
OCTOBER 2015
MEMOIR WRITER’S CONFERENCE
- “Your First 500 Words - Sale or Fail?” (60-minute solo presentation)
- “How to Turn Your Story into an Engaging Plot” (60-minute solo presentation)
- “Working with a Ghostwriter” (moderator for a 60-minute panel of professional editors)
- “The Best Way to Deal with Timelines and Flashbacks” (60-minute solo presentation)
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.
JUNE 2015
THE ANNUAL GREATER LOS ANGELES WRITERS CONFERENCE
- “Techniques for Editing Your Work and When to Hire a Pro”
- “The Fine Art of Planning and Writing a Book Series”
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.
APRIL 2015
LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. Christine was at the festival both days to speak with authors about their books and to answer any questions about book editing and the publication process.
FEBRUARY 2015
THE BIG STORY CONFERENCE
- “Writing Short Stories for Fun and Profit.” During this session, Christine shared her experience as a traditionally publisher author of short stories in both fiction and nonfiction. She moderated this 60-minute panel where she was joined by other editors and writers of short story.
- “Do Readers Want the Truth or Sensationalism?” During this 60-minute educational session, the focus was on the current trends in the market place and how they affect your writing.
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.
NOVEMBER 2014
For the WEST COAST WRITERS organization on November 15th, Christine moderated a three-hour panel featuring prominent editors and writers:
- “Beyond the First Draft: How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript and When to Hire a Professional Editor”
NOVEMBER 2014
Every Thursday in November (except for Thanksgiving), Christine hosted write-in sessions in Los Angeles for National Novel Writing Month.
OCTOBER 2014
DIGITAL AUTHORS CONFERENCE.
- “Why a Professional Editor is Essential for an Indie / Self-Published Book”
- “Designing a Book Cover That Sells Your Story”
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.
JUNE 2014
THE GREATER LOS ANGELES WRITERS CONFERENCE
Her 60-minute solo presentations included:
- “Obstacles and Opportunities for LGBT Authors”
- “Trends in the Historical Romance Market”
- “Developing a Fresh Mystery in a Jaded Genre”
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.
APRIL 2014
West Coast Writers SPECIAL EVENT
- “Editors - Their Purpose, Their Cost,” a 90-minute presentation
MARCH 2014
UCLA CAMPUS
Individual sessions for one-on-one editing consultation were held at the UCLA campus.
LOS ANGELES WRITER'S DAYS
Christine met with authors to review their children’s book content, grammar, and style.
FEBRUARY 2014
West Coast Writers GENRE-LA CONFERENCE
- “Tackling the First Revision,” a 60-minute educational seminar
- ProCritique™ Advance Submissions with Literary Fiction and Nonfiction Editors. Conference attendees submit manuscript pages in advance for review and subsequent one-on-one constructive, professional in-person feedback.