About

I work to carry on the legacy of all the wonderful people who have helped me be a better writer and a better person. Today’s writers have some incredible stories, and I want nothing more than to help them be the best writers they can be.

What I Do

• I promise to use the mechanical and technical aspects of language to clarify a story without eliminating the voice of the writer.
• I promise not to be a strict prescriptivistOne who adheres to very strict rules of language. Sometimes, breaking the rules can work. But to break the rules, you first have to know them. Let me be your guide through the jungle of language!
• I promise to be kind and caring, but also honest and fair. I’m certainly not going to callously insult the hard work of any writer! But, if the time-traveling character in your science fiction novel makes leaps in logic that are just too confusing, it’s my duty to let you know. Better to hear it from me than from a snarky Amazon reviewer.
• I promise to respect your time and your deadlines. I do my very best to give accurate estimates of how long it takes to edit a manuscript. However, we all know how life loves to interfere with our hard work. When this happens to me, I WILL let you know ASAP! I will not ignore you or ghost you.
• I promise not to stomp and spit like a spoiled brat if you don’t accept every last one of my edits. I present my editorial experience in the same manner General Foods presents that lovely photo of Jello Instant Pudding on the box: it’s a serving suggestion.

What I Cannot Do

• Perfection. I’m human. I can (and may) miss a few errors. Yet, I will always do my best to catch ’em all.
• Obtain copyright permissions. Professionally speaking, that is the responsibility of the author.
• Guarantee factual accuracy. That is also the responsibility of the author. I don’t possess the knowledge of all subject matters in existence (but that would be a cool superpower). If I happen to see something that may seem a little off, I will point it out so that the author can choose to do a deeper dive into the research.
• Numbering pages, indexes, and the Contents Page. That will be the job of either the ProofreaderLate-stage editing done after a book or other printed material has been laid out by a Production Designer. This kind of editing requires a knowledge of typesetting to determine correct leading, kerning, tracking, and word breaks as well as elimination of orphans and widows. Proofreaders also check and correct page numbering in both the Contents Page and the index. They may often catch mechanical errors that were previously missed. or the Book Designer, who do their magic at the tail end of book publication.
• Developmental, Substantive, or Collaborative EditingAn editor hired by the publisher who significantly structures or restructures a writer’s manuscript chapter by chapter in order to make the book marketable as per the publisher’s instructions. This kind of editing is subjective in its assessment of the understanding and functionality of the writing.. That is a lot of work that I just don’t have the time or ability to do. However, lots of other Editors are utterly talented in this field! If you’d like, I can suggest some sites where they can be found.
• GhostwritingA writer who creates original content to be published under another person’s name. The content is then assumed to be written by the other person. You know your story, thus you should be the one to write it.
• Market and Publish your work. Again, I’m just one person. These big jobs involve interconnected teams of sharp, motivated professionals. I can steer you to them, if you like.

My Editorial Toolbox

These are the references I use to help me do my job. I urge you to use them, too!

The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition

The Modern Language Association’s Handbook, 8th edition

The Copyeditor’s Handbook, third edition

The Elements of Style, fourth edition

The Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, sixth edition

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

My Specialties

American English. I am a native speaker & writer.

Non-Fiction: Biographies, Autobiographies, Self-Help, Psychology research, and Table-Top Role Playing Games

Fiction: Fantasy, Crime Noir, and Comedy

However, I’m not limited to these categories; I adore learning new things! Challenge me! I dare you!