copyediting

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developmental editing

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line editing

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query letter and synopsis editing

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screenplay editing

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portfolio consultations

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copyediting ~ developmental editing ~ line editing ~ query letter and synopsis editing ~ screenplay editing ~ portfolio consultations ~ 

serving writers and publishers since 2018

David Meltzer

David Meltzer is the founder of DJM Editorial, where he provides editorial guidance to authors, agents, scouts, and publishers. With a sharp eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of the publishing industry, David offers tailored services, including consultations, manuscript development, line editing, proposal refining, and market positioning—helping clients elevate their work with precision and care.

David has worked closely with literary agents (including Maria Massie, Rob McQuilkin, Elias Altman, Sandra Pareja, and Julie Stevenson), editors (including Barbara Epler and Anne Schwartz), scouts such as Mary Anne Thompson and Brianna Zimmerman), and authors (including David Sedaris, Kevin Nguyen, Julia Malye, Ruvanee Pietersz Vilhauer, Megha Majumdar, Rita Bullwinkel, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Yiyun Li, and Janice P. Nimura).

Most recently, he’s worked on the novel MỸ DOCUMENTS by Kevin Nguyen (One World, 2025), the medical memoir A SENSE OF VOICES by Ruvanee Pietersz Vilhauer, Ph.D. (Harvard University Press), and the nonfiction anthology DRIVEN TO WRITE (Routledge, 2025) whose contributors include Ha Jin, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Robert Jay Lifton, and Natasha Trethewey.

Notable publishing experiences

  • Editing & Archiving: Organized and edited 20+ years of diaries for David Sedaris (now archived at Yale University), while managing his creative project development

  • Agenting & Scouting: Evaluated manuscripts, identified global market potential, pitched proposals, secured book deals, and delivered reader reports for Marly Rusoff & Associates, Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents and Mary Anne Thompson Associates

  • Awards & Grants: Administered the international expansion of the Whiting Foundation’s Creative Nonfiction Grant, tripling submissions, and managed the selection process for the Whiting Awards

  • DJM Editorial: Delivered sensitive, insightful feedback on manuscripts, proposals, and synopses for debut and accomplished writers

Education & Approach

  • MA in Creative Writing from City St. George, University of London, where he studied with Inua Ellams and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

  • BA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College where he studied with Ayad Akhtar.

    His background in visual and literary storytelling informs his flexible, unique, and holistic approach.

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