How I Can Help

As a writing consultant, I rely on a versatile toolkit to refine and strengthen any project with a significant written component.

If you’re not exactly sure, you’re not alone—there isn’t one standard definition, given the dynamic nature of the job. I use the title “writing consultant” because I think it best encapsulates the multi-faceted support and resources I offer clients. My approach is project-specific. I work across a wide variety of project types and genres: academic, professional, media, nonfiction, and more. Each client’s writing style, phase of their draft, and level of revision and/or direction needed can vary considerably, so I provide guidance customized to each client’s individual goals.

What exactly does a “writing consultant” do?

Most people associate editors primarily with the publishing industry and think of editing as something that happens when you’ve finished writing a manuscript. But, you don’t need to write a book in order to benefit from editorial feedback—hiring someone with editing expertise can be extremely valuable for many other types of written projects. This is one of the reasons why I refer to myself as a writing consultant, as it better reflects the wide-ranging, inclusive nature of my work.

Editing is often divided into categories like proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing, and substantive editing, but there’s some overlap among them. If you’re interested, you can scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on each of the four tabs, and learn more about how these categories are typically defined. However, I’ve discovered that most clients benefit from a more fluid approach to revision. As such, I draw from multiple editing disciplines in order to provide holistic feedback, and I always tailor my input to your specific goals and your voice.

Why “writing consultant” instead of “editor?”

How is a “consultant” different from a “coach?”

Another profession related to writing consulting is writing coaching, and these jobs do share some similarities. My services differ in a few key ways. Writing coaches are generally focused on the writing process itself, i.e. assisting writers with establishing a routine, overcoming roadblocks, and developing effective writing habits. My services are designed for clients who have written some sort of draft, partial sections, or thorough outline. I’m certainly able to help clients with brainstorming, but it’s usually within the context of a specific project that’s already underway. It’s important to note that my approach is still very collaborative. I don’t merely “correct” your text; rather, I ask questions, suggest multiple options for revision, and pay close attention to your style of writing in order to bring out the strongest version of your text.

In order to work with me, you don’t have to know what kind of editing or feedback your project will benefit from. All you need is someone with the ability to figure out what is and isn’t working in your text, and someone equipped to help you through the revision process with compassionate, clear guidance.

Contact me and we’ll identify your needs together!

What kinds of projects can I help with?

Journal Articles, Research Papers, Argumentative Papers, Research Proposals, B.A. and M.A. Theses

Academic

Professional

Business Proposals, White Papers, Presentations, Cover Letters, Announcements, On-Boarding Materials, Memos, Emails 

Blog Posts, Websites, Articles, Newsletters, Email Campaigns, Social Media Content, Audio/Video Transcripts

Online & Media

Memoir, Self-Help, Biography, History, Religion, Travel, Personal Essays, Creative Nonfiction, etc. 

Nonfiction Chapters

And more! If the type of project you need assistance with isn’t listed here or doesn’t fall neatly into one of these categories, please still reach out. I can help!

Students, please review my Academic Integrity Disclaimer.

Types of Editing

  • Also known as mechanical editing, proofreading primarily entails checking for typos, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, formatting discrepancies, proper use of verb tense, or citation errors. These things are “quick fixes” in the revision process. Proofreading is far less in-depth than other types of editing—if all a text needs is proofreading, this means it already went through thorough editing. 

  • Copyediting normally happens before proofreading in the revision process. A copyeditor takes a more comprehensive, detailed look at the text. Whereas proofreading addresses more surface-level issues, copyediting involves improving overall flow, structure, organization, and clarity. This might involve re-writing sentences, suggesting alternative words, or outlining ways to strengthen the effectiveness of statements. A copyeditor still ensures the spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax of the text is correct, but they go further than a proofreader—a copyeditor guarantees the text is polished and understandable.

  • Developmental editors, as the name implies, are responsible for a text’s development or progression. Meaning, they help produce a complete, fully-fleshed out text. A developmental edit takes place during the very “rough” stages of a draft. Developmental editing addresses the “big-picture” or macro-level issues: Are there sections that should be added or removed? Do the main arguments or themes need to be refined or clarified? Does the structure of the text flow well? Is the message persuasive? 

  • If developmental editing is a macro-level edit, substantive editing is a micro-level edit. Substantive editors get “into the weeds” of the text, improving it sentence-by-sentence. Substantive editing is usually done after developmental editing—substantive editors aren’t as focused on the “what” of a text; rather, they look at the precision, clarity, and style of the writing itself.