Who I Am
About In Writing
In 2002, In Writing was founded by my mother, Mary Neretlis, mainly as a writing and editing service for small business clients with marketing and promotional needs. Mary created ways to weave her clients’ needs into a community newsletter, where local business stories and local personal stories intermingled. This opened up a new passion and direction for her.
In Writing has since been re-established and has branched out to service authors of fiction and non-fiction books. I joined Mary in 2019 as we both enjoy working with independent authors on a shared goal: to raise the writing up to a higher level, while being faithful to the writer’s story and voice.
Mary’s greatest joy comes from the relationships she builds with her clients while focusing on their needs. She is also a writer of creative non-fiction and fiction based on true stories. She is currently working on children’s books that reflect the lives and adventures of family members, past and present. While now retired from In Writing, she is still eagerly awaiting her most ambitious project to date: editing her daughter’s 300,000 page literary historical fiction novel.
D. A. Neretlis
As my mother takes on editing my first project, I continue to carry hers by carrying the same editorial values as she always has.
I am a creative writer and fiction editor. Working passionately on my novel for 15 years, I am currently self-editing my own work – the first book in a young adult trilogy set in 1941. I am passionate about the craft of storytelling, and know first-hand the hard work and dedication involved in mastering compelling characters and propelling them into the circumstances and outcomes that shape them.
As an editor, I love weaving through a fiction novel, delving into the author’s creation, and ensuring the storyline flows and is consistent throughout. I offer advice on clarifying the plot and characterizations and provide rewording suggestions, all to ensure the story will be intriguing and entertaining for the future reader. I have a keen eye for detail, and will catch any inconsistencies within the story and the time period and circumstances the characters are living in.
I also edit non-fiction writing and have a keen knowledge in areas related to history, travel, music, nature, and the environment. Send me a message about your non-fiction work and I look forward to hearing what you are passionate about so I can assist you further!
I have currently taken on a copywriting and content editing role, crafting informative product descriptions for a retail website to help draw customers into the store. I also polish their existing listings to maintain a consistent brand voice across the entire site.
I am currently working towards my Editorial Certificate, which has further provided me with solid experience in substantive, stylistic, and copy editing, as well as with proofreading a wide array of written work.
