What kind of editing do you need?
I have more than five years of experience editing the work of nonfiction and academic authors.
I provide four main editorial services, depending on the needs of the author or publisher.
Substantive editing
Editing at the developmental level to strengthen organization, structure, internal cohesion, and overall voice. This is best done in the conceptual stage of a project or with a rough draft.
Stylistic editing
Editing at the paragraph or sentence level to tighten and strengthen readability, voice, and style. This is best done with a polished draft manuscript but before copy editing.
Academic editing
Editing and formatting a manuscript in preparation for the particular needs of academic publishing.
Schedule a free consultationIndexing
While not editing strictly speaking, I read your manuscript closely and develop a thorough index or glossary that conforms to style guidelines set by your publisher.
Of all forms of editing, stylistic editing is my passion.
When writers hear the word “editor,” they often picture a lone bookworm obsessed with the minute elements of language–stray commas, rogue dashes, mispelled words.
But there are other bigger-picture editors who focus not on words and punctuation, but sentences and paragraphs. Their task is often called stylistic editing, or editing for readability, and it’s the form of editing I most excel at.
I love helping my clients connect more closely and meaningfully with their readers. At the end of the day, we don’t write to put words on paper–we write to be understood and make a difference. That can only happen when ideas are communicated with clarity, authenticity, and concision–the very things stylistic editing strengthens.
Whether you are a novice or veteran writer, whether you’re working on a monograph or a memoir, stylistic editing takes your writing to the next level.
Who needs a stylistic editor?
Almost all writers benefit from stylistic editing at some point in their career. It strengthens the overall quality and readability of their prose and helps them find a stronger balance between conveying authority and authenticity.
However, you may find it particularly helpful if you are concerned about any of the following:
Audience
Does your writing communicate as effectively as possible to your intended audience?
Words
Is your writing free of common readability problems, such as wordiness, jargon, and unfocused sentences?
Voice
Is your writing held together by an authentic, effective, and consistent authorial voice?
