What Writers Are Saying
"Adrienne Westenfeld is the best editor I've worked with—excellent on the details, but also the big picture. Creative, imaginative, and incredibly professional. She believes in the written word and in writers and always tries to hold the writer's vision in mind when offering edits. Just a wonderful experience."
— Jeff VanderMeer
“Adrienne Westenfeld is a brilliant editor, a deep and insightful reader, and a fantastic writer. From start to finish, collaborating with Adrienne is a delight. She’s helped me to discover what really matters in a piece, to clear away the scaffolding, to make the structural changes and line edits that help things click from vagueness into focus. I absolutely loved working with Adrienne, and her editorial advice is a tremendous gift.”
— Karen Russell
“Adrienne Westenfeld is far and away my favorite editor I've ever worked with. Her dedication, passion, and insightful editorial eye improved greatly each piece we collaborated on—and I say collaborated on, because Adrienne seemed to understand my writing both immediately and deeply, so that at times her contribution to the structure, the argument, or the narrative were as fundamental as a co-writer's, but what she was really doing was locating a better use of my interests, a more challenging and ultimately rewarding project than the one I initially imagined. She finds better writing within my own. Good editors make the pieces better; great editors like Adrienne make their writers better.”
— Jonathan Russell Clark
“Adrienne Westenfeld is, bar none, one of the very best editors I've ever worked with. She'd already had a sterling reputation among writers before I ever pitched her a story, and her run at Esquire, particularly, was one for the ages, broadening the scope and breadth of how books and culture should be covered. But at the big-picture and line level, Adrienne knew exactly what a piece needed and how to bring out the best in my writing, with every edit a significant improvement on what was there before, while keeping a sense of joyous inquiry and fun. Any writer would benefit enormously from working with her.”
— Sarah Weinman
“I worked with Adrienne while at Esquire on several complex nonfiction essays. Adrienne is one of those rare editors who simply get writers and how we work on a cellular level. With a touch both light and profound, she pushed me to think more deeply about what I wanted to say, helped me notice where I was leaning too much or not enough on other voices, while also making my own voice more succinct and stylish. Simply put, she transformed my work and will transform yours.”
— Emma Copley Eisenberg
“Adrienne is one of the best editors I've ever worked with. Thoughtful, clever, encouraging, her edits are always on point and every single thing she says makes my work better. If you have the chance to work with her, grab it!”
— Naomi Alderman
“Adrienne isn't just a fantastic editor; she's a brilliant creative partner. Working with her has made me a better writer, from initial concepts to execution and revision. She is kind, insightful, and supportive while always pushing you to do your best possible work.”
— Adam Morgan
“Adrienne’s work makes every piece of writing she touches sharper, deeper, and more alive. She has an extraordinary eye for shaping the vision of a piece while strengthening it on a sentence level. Her thoroughness in examining angles pushes you to think more expansively about the context of your reporting and writing, and the story at the heart of it. Beyond how beautifully her craft plays out on the page, Adrienne is a true collaborator—a champion of stories, and a partner throughout the writing and editing process. Because Adrienne approaches collaboration with so much care and clarity of purpose, she brings out the best in every writer. It often feels as though she draws out the most precise, imaginative version of your voice. The opportunity to have Adrienne as a collaborator on all things writing is a gift.”
— Rainesford Stauffer
“Working with Adrienne is a highlight of my life as a creative writer. It was the most thoughtful and thorough editing experience I've ever had. Adrienne's eyes and ears are as keen as they come. She artfully pushed me to improve my work far more than I thought I could. She helped me improve my kinda funny lines into more actually funny lines. She challenged me to be more profoundly truthful with myself and the reader. And throughout the process, she was always kind, thoughtful, and genuine. It became obvious to me that she believed in the work and in me. Adrienne edits from the heart. I can't recommend her highly enough; our collaboration expanded my understanding of what an editor can do.”
— Daniel Nieh
“One of the most popular pieces I ever wrote was both commissioned and edited by Adrienne Westenfeld. From start to finish, she guided me—not just giving insightful line edits, but also jumping on the phone to talk big picture while giving thoughtful direction, often saving me from myself and reigning me in when necessary. Her ability to encourage writers to execute at the top of their game is second to none. She also possesses an incredibly warm bedside manner—even when she's saying, ‘That's maybe not the best idea.’ I can't recommend Adrienne Westenfeld highly enough; she's an absolute pleasure to work with.”
— Isaac Fitzgerald
"Discerning, collaborative, and unfailingly gracious, Adrienne has a keen instinct for narrative and a deep respect for writers. She edited and published one of the toughest essays I've ever written, and her faith and feedback were invaluable—she inspires trust throughout the revision process and improves every draft she touches. I loved working with her, and you will too."