Editing Services

Areas of Focus

Academic Editing

I have experience working on all kinds of academic texts, including monographs, journal articles, dissertations, and textbooks. My own academic background is interdisciplinary (with degrees in history and gender studies), and I work with academics throughout the humanities and qualitative social sciences. I have a talent for cutting through the noise of a complex text, providing incisive, concrete feedback that helps bring your voice and argument to the fore.

Some of my recent academic editing projects include line edits for an archaeology dissertation, developmental edits for a Middle Eastern history monograph, and citation revisions for a gender studies journal article. I’ve worked with scholars at institutions including Iowa State, George Washington University, The University of Connecticut, Portland State, UC San Diego, NYU-Abu Dhabi, and Ball State. I can tailor my edits to any style guide, whether it be Chicago, MLA, APA, or your preferred journal’s very specific requirements. 

Non-Fiction Editing

In addition to working on academic monographs, dissertations, and articles, I can provide editorial support on other non-fiction work, and have particular experience working with memoirists. I love helping writers craft memoirs that authentically capture their lived experience while also weaving a compelling narrative for readers. 

Levels of Editing

“Editing” is a broad term encompassing a wide range of services and every stage of writing and book production.

Below is a breakdown of the editorial services that I provide, with a brief description of what each service entails. These levels are listed in order of scale (from largest to smallest) and the stage at which they tend to come in the writing process (from earliest to latest).

I tailor my editing packages to the needs of each client and, if necessary, can combine elements of different levels. For example, if your timeline is condensed, line edits and more minimal developmental editing suggestions can be combined into one editing package.

At this time I do not offer indexing or proofreading services.

  • Developmental editing is focused on big-picture questions of overall argument, structure, evidence, analysis, and writing style. Developmental edits happen at the scale of the paragraph, chapter, and whole text.

    After reviewing your manuscript, I will prepare an editorial report identifying potential issues and suggesting ways of strengthening the argument and organization.

    Developmental editing can be transformative, but it may require significant work in response from the writer. Because of this, it often happens earlier in the writing process than other kinds of editing.

  • Line editing is concerned with style, and can help ensure that your ideas are expressed in the most cogent and effective way possible.

    I focus on tightening the argument and prose on the sentence- and paragraph-level, as well as cleaning up grammar and usage. This is done primarily via in-text edits and comments, and tends to come later in the writing process than developmental editing.

  • Copy editing is a broad category of edits that come relatively late in the editing process (note that copy editing is not the same as proofreading, which is a separate, final step focused on catching errors introduced in typesetting).

    When I’m copy editing a manuscript, I check for adherence to the relevant style guide (including spelling, hyphenation, numbers, quotations, etc.), enforce any required formatting, and revise or query errors of grammar, usage, and diction. I can also prepare a style sheet to help ensure consistency throughout a large project.

  • For many writers citation preparation is both a brain-numbing and stressful stage in the writing process. I can take that angst off your plate, and will work to clean up citations in almost any state, whether they are rough notes with missing publication info, or complete citations in the wrong style.

    Citation revision can be included in a round of copy editing or can be completed as a stand-alone service.

Kind Words from Clients

“Kate’s insights into my work… [were] far beyond anything I could have expected…[her] changes transformed the work into something that thoroughly tells my story. Kate’s work was on time, communicated professionally and detailed throughout. Everything promised was delivered in an organized and understandable fashion. I highly recommend this brilliant professional.”
— Brianne, memoirist
“… She was exceptionally pleasant to work with and fully addressed my complex needs. My anthropological dissertation was greatly improved through her insights, feedback, and edits. Additionally, Kate demonstrated considerable care and thoughtfulness at crafting a plan that would work for us together.”
— Annika, anthropologist

Pricing

Fees vary by project and I will usually need to see a sample before I can offer an accurate estimate (just like a mechanic can’t give you a price before they’ve looked under the hood). Reach out and I’ll put together a free quote.

I can tailor my services to a wide range of budgets, and I do offer discounts for graduate students and low-income clients. Learn more about the cost of editing services in the FAQ.

Want to chat?

Still have questions? Check out the Editing FAQ.

If you’re ready to move forward with your project, or you’re interested in learning more about editing services, get in touch to set up a free consultation.