Give me your essays, journal articles, research papers, conference pieces, financial reports, business plans, grant proposals, manuals, web content, correspondence. Whether you’re a great writer with tired eyes, or a passable one with a need for cohesion and appropriate punctuation, I can help. I speak several languages, some to a greater degree than others: academic, corporate, financial, legal, and medical.

Document Preparation
If you’ve already completed your piece, consider having it reviewed by a critical eye. Identifying even a few changes can make all the difference. If you need text, for a web page or a book jacket or an admissions essay, we’ll arrange a call to ask the critical questions, and volley it until we’re both satisfied.

Even a well-written document, one you’re prepared to send out into the world, benefits from a professional once-over. Have you said what you had to say and said it well, and clearly? Will it impact the reader? Is it professional and geared toward your audience?

Level A - Light Editing
Your document is essentially well written and presented, but will benefit from minor punctuation, grammar, and spelling changes. Perhaps the word selection and sentence construction are sound, but some minor tweaks could enhance the flow and impact of your ideas. The formatting of your document will generally only require checking for consistency. The document will be returned to you in a Word format, within which you can accept or reject the changes.

Level B - Medium Editing
Your document requires substantial changes due to problems with grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Word selection is often imprecise or inappropriate - consequently, your ideas are not presented clearly. You tend toward the verbose, meaning you use too many words, and repeat frequently. Your sentence construction is weak and affects the impact of your writing. Formatting and presentation may require attention.

Level C - Full Stop Editing:
Your document requires extensive changes to correct serious problems with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and general word use. Sentences and paragraphs are awkward, imprecise, fragmented, or easily misunderstood. Your themes and ideas are not clear or well-expressed. The reconstruction and reorganization of the text is necessary. Formatting and presentation may require attention. 
In this scenario, obviously, I keep your voice, your research, and your ideas, but do a near-complete rewrite. Don’t come unglued: contact me.

Academic Endeavors
Rather than revise your paper over and over again, address the pre-submission aspects. Be sure it’s written in an appropriate tone, illustrates insight, uses proper grammar and accurate spelling (spell check is infamously inadequate), and is free of typographical errors.

Application packages/personal statements:
Grades and admissions tests might be stellar, but a weak personal statement can put you on the wrong side of the cut. Let me help you enhance the impact of your presentation and achieve success in securing a position at the university of your choice.

Reports and Essays:
Key points, formatting issues, grammatical errors, spelling mistakes: even your great idea and your exhaustive research can’t save you from the proverbial red ink and a disappointing grade. I’ll improve the flow, presentation, and impact of what you’re prepared to present in to the powers-that-be.

Thesis and Dissertation Editing:
Your writing will receive a careful, thorough proofreading, and an overall review for clarity and consistency. I use the classic Chicago Manual of Style, but if the department requires compliance with a particular style guide, I can incorporate it.

Business Endeavors
From business plans to web sites, annual reports to press releases, manuals to employee-education materials, anything you publish for business purposes must present a professional face to the public. You can have all the expertise in the world on your subject, but the critical component of success is the words used to explain or describe it. If your concept isn’t clearly communicated, you’ve wasted time and money. Place your hard-won product in my hands: I’ll take excellent care of it, I’ll make it healthy, and I’ll give it impact. Together we’ll make your work perform.

Retainers
If you publish a small print publication, and can’t afford to hire a full-time staff for editing purposes, let’s talk. We can make arrangements other than those outlined on the “Rates” page.

Special considerations
If you operate a 501(c)(3) organization, special rates may apply. If you’re in marine conservation, I may even comp you.

Miscellaneous
Speeches (I can make you sound fabulous at the event)
Personal (see rocks-paper-scissors)

The Bottom Line
I love clarity and creativity and saying things in the best possible way; my idea of a good time is crafting the perfect sentence (I didn’t say my only idea of a good time). I’ve run a business and I respect deadlines: let me give you a hand with yours.