Michael Metivier
Developmental & Line Editor
Michael Metivier is a poet, essayist, songwriter, and nonfiction book editor. His poems have appeared in journals including Poetry, North American Review, and African American Review, among others, while his essays have appeared in LAAB and Medicine for a Nightmare. He specializes in nonfiction and memoirs that explore the rich intersections of culture and landscape, including literary nature and science writing, food and agriculture, and social and environmental justice. He has experience with everything from lyric essays to how-to manuals, cookbooks to nature writing, and has acquired and edited James Beard award finalists and PEN award winners. A New England native currently based in Vermont, he loves challenging genre conventions and reader assumptions, music of all kinds, good food and drink, and building trusting and empathetic connections with like-minded authors. He has a BA in acting and poetry from Bennington College and an MS in environmental studies from Antioch University New England.
AREAS OF SPECIALTY
Memoirs and general nonfiction books covering a range of subjects, including but not limited to: nature and science; food and agriculture; social and environmental justice
Lyric essays
Cookbooks
How-to-manuals
AVAILABLE FOR
Nonfiction: manuscript Critiques; developmental editing types A & B; content editing/substantive line editing; book proposal review & line editing
Poetry: developmental editing for poetry chapbooks
Writing coaching
“Michael handled the drudgery and protocol of the writing process so that I could focus on my ancestor’s errand, which was to midwife a book honoring Black agrarianism. He had my back the entire time, making sure that no one would dilute my message and that the finished product would be beautiful, enduring, and impactful. Working with Michael on Farming While Black was one of the highlights of my career.”
—Leah Penniman, author of Farming While Black and cofounder of Soul Fire Farm
“Working with Michael gave me tremendous lift in my writing project. In a very time-efficient way he helped me with specific questions I had about the structure and tone of my non-fiction manuscript and made excellent suggestions about my book proposal. His help definitely propelled my project forward!”
—Dr. Elizabeth Sawin, Co-Director, Climate Interactive
“Working with Michael is a delight. His first priority is preserving the voice and vision of the author, but that doesn't mean you can't count on him to nudge you toward a clear, compelling, and smartly structured book you'll be proud of.”
—Sara Bir, author of The Fruit Forager’s Companion
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Michael on my first book. On the many occasions when I felt lost or unsure, he provided crucial reflection, reassurance, and a critical perspective when necessary, while also affording me enough space to find a footing in my own process, resulting in a book worth being proud of, and which works in ways that surprise even its author.”