Each project is unique, and each has different needs. But here’s why I do what I do. I can help you:
Align with your audience so they fully understand and find the heart in your message.
When you’ve spent hours researching and writing, sharing your knowledge and vulnerable heart to help your reader, the last thing you want is to be misunderstood by the very people you want to reach.
The first thing I do is step into the shoes of your reader. Reading for the first time, I mentally wear their interests, knowledge, values, needs, and lifestyle.
Expand empathy and human connection to relate best with your reader.
I also “feel” your content as your reader would. A reader who feels talked down to, or conversely, overwhelmed by scholarly language or technical detail, is likely to put down your content and walk away. A reader who feels related to and “heard” will keep reading.
I strive for an empathetic connection that expresses your confidence and knowledge. I can help you describe technical or academic detail in a way your reader will both respect and quickly grasp. I aim for a tone that feels new, hopeful, and makes me want to know more.
Sharpen your ideas so they shine.
The quality of your book starts with your ideas, and I can help you sharpen them through language, structure, and style. Good editing can help to clarify difficult concepts or research, aiming for clarity in purpose and usefulness.
Avoid potential sore spots that might turn your reader away.
Being so passionate and close to their subject, bright and well-meaning authors can say things that might have an “off” feeling to their audience, even when they don’t mean to.
If you care about such things, I can be an objective set of eyes. If I think something you’ve written might come across in a way you don’t intend, I’ll simply flag it. You’ll get a chance to evaluate it for yourself, rewrite, delete, or keep it as it is. You have the final say.
Here are some of the things I can check for:
• political implications
• unintended condescending language
• social privilege
• false information (devil in the details)
• false impression of credibility (this can go either way to over-imply or under-imply)
Polish your sentence flow to smooth your reader’s experience.
It might be less obvious, but I’ve found that sentence flow can set the tone for your message. Good flow brings a conversational rhythm to your writing that helps move readers along in a natural way. Minor adjustments in grammar, punctuation, and spacing can emphasize your important points and smooth your reader’s experience. Subtle variations can express your own style, and like music, can add energy.
Make a final pass on those last nit-picky details to deliver the book you dreamed of.
When your ideas are clear, connection with your reader is good, your organization and flow are smooth, and any potential sore spots worked out, there’s one last step: get it ready for publication.
I’ll check appearance and visuals to be sure everything fits and looks good. I’ll proofread for spelling and grammar.
This stage is not to be perfectionistic or interfere with your personal style. Yet I believe that too many nit-picky errors can be distracting, confusing, and interfere with your well-earned credibility. You’ve worked too hard to let this happen. I want to get this part right for you.
Depending on your project and needs, here is an example of what I can do for you in this final step:
• one more read-through to be sure ideas flow all the way through.
• proofread entire manuscript for minor spelling and grammar errors.
• format any citations or references to fit your chosen style.
• proof publisher’s copy before final printing.
• assess visual elements such as photos, drawings, and graphs, to be sure they fit and enhance meaning, and don’t distract.
• scan content to be sure it’s formatted in a way that looks good and is easily readable.
And your book will now be ready to publish!