Eric Bell
Developmental Editor
Eric Bell (he/him) is the author of ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins) and ALAN COLE DOESN’T DANCE (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins), two middle grade novels about a gay seventh grade boy dealing with bullies, crushes, the power of art, and coming out. The first book was nominated to the Rainbow Book List for LGBTQ Books for Children and Teens. The books have also been translated into multiple languages. Eric is also featured in the queer middle grade short story anthology THIS IS OUR RAINBOW: 16 STORIES OF HER, HIM, THEM, AND US (Knopf). Eric has taught courses on writing middle grade and young adult novels. He is a packet exchange instructor at Drexel University’s Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing program and has been on the faculty of numerous Highlights Foundation workshops, including the Whole Novel Workshop. Eric has also run numerous workshops and writing groups on his own, virtual and in-person, for grownups and for young people. His experience as a Pitch Wars mentor for four years led him to edit and mentor books that would go on to land agent contracts and book deals, including Meg Eden Kuyatt’s GOOD DIFFERENT, a 2024 Schneider Family Book Award honoree. Eric’s editing philosophy is about meeting the writer where they are in the process and helping to bring out their natural storytelling voice.
AREAS OF SPECIALTY
Middle grade and young adult novels
General fiction for adults
Picture books
Chapter books & early readers
LGBTQ characters
AVAILABLE FOR
Manuscript critiques and evaluations
Developmental editing
Content editing/substantive line editing
Copyediting
Publishing consultations
Query letter & synopsis editing
Private writing coaching
“Eric is such a thoughtful and thorough reader, and provides feedback for you to help clarify the ideas you care about and gain confidence in your story. From the beginning, he proved that he “got” my book and gave it such incredible attention, care and passion. He really helped strengthen my manuscript in areas I particularly struggle, such as tightening focus, heightening stakes and tying my plot lines together. He also reminded me how important it is to put the main message of the story front and center, and helped me reinforce the message of my novel in revisions. All of Eric’s edits made sense, and were very clear and concrete, so I found the editing process to not be as difficult as I feared. He’s also an incredible cheerleader; his encouragement helped me believe in my writing again. I can’t recommend working with Eric enough!”
- Meg Eden Kuyatt, author of Good Different (winner of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor)
“Eric helped me SOOOO much with my revision process! I finished my manuscript in 2021 and kept making small edits on my own, but I never felt ready to query agents until Eric read it! He read my entire (80,000 word) Middle Grade epic fantasy and gave me the best insights I've ever received. I finally have a path forward! I know what edits I am going to make and after those edits are complete, I feel confident enough to query agents. Eric made all the difference. He told me where my novel really took off, what the strengths of the manuscript were (and thus what scenes I should really lean into and what I should cut). He shared 2 VERY BIG ideas that will reshape the novel into the book that I want it to be! He is witty, creative, and great at generating plot ideas and brainstorming new ways forward. He also gave me many smaller edits-- teaching me how to rewrite internal dialogue, translations, cut redundancies, make more 3 dimensional villains, and so much more! In the revision process with Eric, I always felt uplifted, supported, and encouraged. In all of my years of receiving writing feedback, this was the best experience by far. His comments felt like gold treasures. He explained his suggestions in a way that helped me to open up and let in new possibilities. His current knowledge of the children's book market and the publishing industry, and his expertise in writing a book pitch were also a great asset! I can't thank you enough, Eric! I'd highly recommend having your whole novel (or chapters) read over by Eric!”
- Anne McGinness
“I’m so thankful I had the chance to work with Eric! He provided thoughtful, detailed feedback on my middle grade manuscript and helped me brainstorm ideas. Thanks to him, I went from “stuck” to ready to revise … and now, that manuscript is submission-ready! Eric takes the time to analyze what’s working with your writing and offers suggestions for improving big-picture issues as well as smaller details. He is supportive and encouraging, too. I gained confidence and craft skills that I’ll be able to apply to all my future projects. I highly recommend working with Eric – it’s been a game-changer for me!”
- Kelsey Gross
“Eric provided such lovingly detailed, meticulous, and well-rounded feedback that gave me the tools to re-craft and fine tune my manuscript. He invested far more time and care into helping my book become a better story than I ever could have imagined. In the most challenging of times, Eric’s knack for understanding the ins and outs of storytelling kept me inspired and gave me the confidence to make major changes in my writing. Ultimately, working with Eric gave me a clearer vision for my book and sharpened my skills as a writer in ways I’m still uncovering. His patience, knowledge of the industry, and passion for writing made him an invaluable part of my writing education.”
- Jesse James Keitel
“Eric helped me sharpen my characters, strengthen my climax and improve my Middle Grade manuscript in more ways than I can count. Beyond his keen insight, I appreciated his encouragement, his humour, and his willingness to be a sounding board in the stressful moments. Eric was a mentor in the very best sense of the word—he didn’t just help me write a better book, he helped prepare me for everything that came next. He was a pleasure to work with.”