My name is Ryan.

I'm an editorial professional working at the intersection of print, digital, and design.

Jessie Burton

New York Times Bestselling Author of The Miniaturist

"From start to finish on my novel, The Miniaturist, it was a pleasure working with Ryan. Not only does she have excellent taste, considered judgement and a forensic attention to detail, she has a sunny energy bound to lift the bluest mood a writer may endure. Inspired, ethical and kind, any author would be lucky to have Ryan editing their work. I know I was." 

Graham Holliday

Author of Eating Việt Nam: Dispatches From a Blue Plastic Table an Anthony Bourdain Book

"I worked with Ryan on Eating Việt Nam: Dispatches From a Blue Plastic Table. She has a great eye for seeing where the gaps, both big and small, are in a manuscript. She has a great ability to spot what needs polish, what needs tightening and what should never, ever see the light of day. Also, she's fun to work with." 

 

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Josh Malerman

Author of cult-horror novel Bird Box

"Someone recently asked me how much influence an editor has on the finished book. After describing for her the difference between the rough draft and the final copy, the woman wondered aloud, 'Well, who actually wrote this book!' I paused, smiling, thinking of the journey Bird Box went on (the journey all books must), and responded: 'Think of the editor as the producer of an album. Without Butch Vig, Nirvana still wrote an unbelievable batch of songs. But with him? Well, with him we all know those unbelievable songs!' Ryan Willard did that for me and did that for Bird Box. She didn't change the story, hide it, doll it up, cover it up, shove it aside, lock it away, mangle it or apply makeup. She simply made it shine. Bird Box is forever indebted to her. And so am I."

 

Dean Bakopoulos

Author of the novel Summerlong

"I was mightily impressed by the work Ryan did on my manuscript. Her keen eye for details, coupled with a wonderfully intelligent sense of organization and structure, helped me make sense of the chaos. And she presented her ideas in a clear-eyed and focused manner, so she was always a pleasure to work with, even when a project turned unexpectedly complicated."

Fidelity Investments

Content Strategist

As a contract employee with Fidelity Investment's User Experience Design team, I helped bridge the communication gaps between marketing, user experience teams, and business partners by implementing customer-centric language into interactive designs such as 'engager' copy, CTAs, notifications, and summaries.

iPullRank

Content Strategist

As a freelancer at iPullRank, I managed third-party writers and developers during the creative design and development of digital properties and partner sites, while developing content marketing strategies for businesses spanning a wide range of verticals including health and nutrition, trademark law, and retail home furnishings.

ipullrank

Payment Week

Editor & Content Strategist

As an editor at PaymentWeek, I wrangled internal stakeholders and agency partners while developing user experience and information architecture, I managed content creation, developed brand voice, and provided oversight of hiring publication staff, and maintained deadlines and project budgets. 

Over the past six years, I've been fortunate to work with writers and publishers for most of my career. I've edited fiction and nonfiction books for publishers in New York City and San Francisco. 

Let's Talk Books

Fashion. Film. Art. Cartoons. Academia. Interior Design. Music.

I've written about them all. 

For a moment, I was a graphic designer of 180 magazine where I booked models, photographers, and was a location stylist and scout for photoshoots

For a moment, I was a graphic designer of 180 magazine where I booked models, photographers, and was a location stylist and scout for photoshoots

I was a freelance fashion and research assistant to the fashion illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer as she wrote her most recent book Adam & Yves

I was a freelance fashion and research assistant to the fashion illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer as she wrote her most recent book Adam & Yves

At 180 magazine, I also served as the editor, writer, and copyeditor of articles and submissions, dabbling in film, styling photoshoots, and getting things ready for New York Fashion Week

At 180 magazine, I also served as the editor, writer, and copyeditor of articles and submissions, dabbling in film, styling photoshoots, and getting things ready for New York Fashion Week

Check out more of Gladys' art and antics here

Check out more of Gladys' art and antics here

I wrote about Julia Wertz, my favorite cartoonist here

I wrote about Julia Wertz, my favorite cartoonist here

And I had a great conversation with the wildly original French musician and performance artist Yelle here

And I had a great conversation with the wildly original French musician and performance artist Yelle here

Last but not least,  I wrote my master's thesis on J.D. Salinger.But that's a much longer conversation. As Salinger would say:"One day, a long time from now you'll cease to care anymore whom you please or what anybody has to say about you.…

Last but not least,  I wrote my master's thesis on J.D. Salinger.

But that's a much longer conversation. As Salinger would say:

"One day, a long time from now you'll cease to care anymore whom you please or what anybody has to say about you. That's when you'll finally produce the work you're capable of."--J.D. Salinger