"Freelance editor Wyn Cooper is astute in matters large and small. I have consulted with him on two manuscripts so far and have found his advice to be both honest and supportive. I’d recommend him to any poet, at any level."
--Dana Roeser, winner of the 2014 Juniper Prize for The Theme of Tonight's Party Has Changed (University of Massachusetts Press)
"I respect Wyn Cooper’s intuitive editorial eye and vision, especially for the sequencing of poems in a book-length manuscript. He offered a suggestion in terms of reshuffling poems that I might never have considered; this suggestion ultimately gave me the courage to acknowledge and honor the narrative that I had been hiding from, and the book soon after fell into place."
--Alessandra Lynch, author of Daylily Called it a Dangerous Moment, a New York Times Best Poetry of 2017 selection (Alice James Books)
"Wyn Cooper edited my forthcoming poetry collection The End of Spectacle last year when it was still in manuscript form, and his editorial vision was what made this manuscript publishable after years of near-misses with first book contests. He was an absolute pleasure to work with over the course of several weeks, as he provided invaluable insights into how to strengthen individual poems as well as organize the manuscript into a more coherent, thematic arc. Mere months after working with Wyn, the manuscript was picked up by Carnegie Mellon University Press. I then asked Wyn for editorial help with my short story collection, Anatomical Gift (forthcoming this September from Noctuary Press), and he seamlessly transitioned between genres, again providing timely and astute feedback at the sentence level, as well as with the overall flow and shape of the book as a whole. Wyn's editorial skills encompass grammatical minutiae, poetic and narrative technique, and an intuitive sense for the work as an aesthetic whole. I would recommend his editorial work to anyone looking to refine and realize their manuscripts with an attentive, generous, and brilliant reader such as Wyn in mind."
--Virginia Konchan, author of The End of Spectacle (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2018), and Anatomical Gift (Noctuary Press, 2017)
"Accurate, insightful, and to the point, Wyn’s no-nonsense editorial work led me to improve and polish my manuscript. His questions helped me discover the strengths of the poems and also reaffirmed my commitment to the work at a time when my belief was flagging. Thank you, Wyn!"
--Irena Praitis, winner of the 2015 Red Mountain Prize for Poetry from Red Mountain Press.
"What a subtle and beautiful combination of heart and intelligence Wyn Cooper brings to his work as an editor. His perspective on my manuscript helped me to see its elements in a new way, and helped me to imagine new possibilities for the book as a whole. He is a careful reader and the comments he offers on individual poems are detailed and wise. Wyn has helped me to refine and polish my manuscript, and he has also given me valuable ideas and questions to carry forward into my writing life."
--Karin Gottshall, winner of the Ohio State University Press/The Journal Wheeler Prize for The River Won't Hold You (Ohio State University Press, 2014)
"When my first collection of poetry was informally accepted for book publication, I asked Wyn for help both editing the poems and sequencing them into a manuscript. My work needed some subtle sharpening, and the 40-odd poems required a thematic structure in order to get the publisher's official commitment—and contract. First, Wyn demonstrated a level of perceptiveness about my work that clinched my decision to partner with him. Second, he made editorial suggestions that were consistent with my voice, style, and vision. He was able to step out of his own poet's self and into mine, which is the surest sign of editorial wisdom."
--Gregory LeStage, author of Small Gods of Summer (Antrim House Press)
"Wyn embodies just about every quality you would want from an editor. He was enthusiastic about my story and offered feedback that was based on a deep and thoughtful reading of my work. He is an excellent line editor who caught the minor errors that I had glossed over. More importantly, he showed a great sensitivity for the characters and encouraged me to make sure that each one spoke in his own individual voice. During our telephone consultation, Wyn was an excellent listener who was both receptive and responsive to my questions and concerns. Our conversation left me confident about the possibilities of my work."
--Craig Fishbane, author of On the Proper Role of Desire, a collection of short fiction (Big Table Publishing)
"Not only did Wyn have an insightful eye for tightening my manuscript, but he also gave me a much-needed pep talk, encouraging me to send it out many, many times. In total, I submitted it 68 times before it was accepted. I don't think I would have had the stamina to keep believing in it, if he hadn't voiced confidence in the manuscript."
—Sara Burnett, author of Seed Celestial, Autumn House Press, 2022