Bio

Ash P is a Muslim editor and the owner of Ash P Reads Editing Services. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Education, and Mass Communication, and a previous career in early childhood education, she brings a unique blend of academic and creative expertise to her work.

Ash's passion for reading and discovering new words led her to a career in editing. When she began her journey as a freelance editor over two decades ago, freelancing was still a relatively unknown concept in Pakistan. Over the years, Ash has diligently honed her editing skills across a diverse range of genres, collaborating with several bestselling authors and an award-winning publisher. She specializes in safe-for-work nonfiction and fiction for all ages and formats.

Ash is expanding her expertise into new and exciting territories and is currently enrolled in Joel Rodriguez's Concept to Comics Academy. She is also under the mentorship of a renowned comic book editor. Ash is particularly passionate about working with books for young readers and is eager to take on more projects in children's fiction, graphic novels, and comics.

Pronouns: She/Her

MSWL

I say YES to manuscripts for all ages that are safe-for-work, family-friendly, no/low-spice, closed-door romance stories—see how much I have stressed this. I personally like my genres to overlap a bit, but manuscripts I will accept may be genre-focused or combine multiple genres from the following:

• Halal Romance
• Romance
• Comedy
• Paranormal
• Cozy Fiction (all genres)
• Science Fiction
• Mystery
• Thriller
• Family
• Slice of Life
• Women's Fiction
• Horror (only for Children's Fiction)

I enjoy stories where world-building and character development are well constructed and carefully thought out. It shows that the writer has made the effort to create a world in which the reader can immerse themselves.

As an ND, POC editor, I love stories that have ND and/or culturally diverse characters. Wholesome stories with tropes like friendship-to-romance, strangers-to-friends, #OwnVoices, journeys of self-discovery, and overcoming hardships or estrangements give me characters I can root for. Write something new and unique, and you've got my attention 100 percent.

I don't like lazy writing, and I do not work with manuscripts that have racism or religious prejudice, or that depict toxic relationships as healthy. I will automatically say NO to:

• Historical Fiction (I can’t afford to go down any rabbit holes during #RevPit)
• Open-Door Romance
• Explicit Sex Scenes and Language
• BDSM and Erotica
• Violent Horror and Gore

Ideally, I prefer to work with manuscripts that range between 20k–80k words; kidlit manuscripts usually fall in the lower ranges. I am open to working with manuscripts of higher word counts IF they're so good that I just HAVE TO READ THEM!

Q&A

How can a manuscript’s first five pages make you sit up and take notice?

A manuscript must be able to engage my interest within the first page or two. A great hook, connection with the character(s), robust character development and world building with the promise of an epic adventure is sure to grab my attention.

What can writers expect from working with you during #RevPit, including communication?

Writers can expect honest feedback and I always like to be accessible to authors I work with. I will be available on Bluesky and email. You can expect quick responses, unless I'm stuck in an emergency of some sort or then asleep due to the time difference.

What do you expect from writers during the #RevPit revision process, including communication?

I hope that the writers are open to constructive criticism and honest feedback. I work with a lot of new authors so I understand the need to be gentle with your book babies. I also like for my authors to feel safe enough to ask any questions and express any fears or thoughts that they have about their work. I'm not going to babysit you though, so I will require regular updates and a reasonably quick response to any queries I have.

What hobbies do you have outside of writing and editing?

Recently I've been reading more fiction and nonfiction graphic novels. I like learning new words and languages, and about new cultures. I watch a lot of sci-fi, medical, crime/detective TV shows and sci-fi/fantasy anime. I collect stationery and knick knacks that inspire my creative spirit. I love spending time with animals and babies, preferably together. That's my most favorite thing in the world. And I love traveling, even though I don't do a lot of it anymore.