The goal of all our work is to help clients contribute to the professional conversations in their fields. To this end, we offer comprehensive scholarly editing and coaching services.
Editing
We are experienced in editing all types of academic writing, including articles, books, reports, proposals, dissertations, and work-related documents (e.g., job applications, annual reviews, tenure and promotion materials), at any stage of the writing and publication process. Whatever the format, audience, or progress of your project, we can help you improve its effectiveness by providing one or more of the following levels of editing:
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING: Careful reading of working draft of manuscript to provide written analysis of its strengths and weaknesses and a recommended plan for further work by editor and/or author. Does not include detailed revisions or editing until plan is reviewed and approved by author.
SUBSTANTIVE EDITING: Improving clarity and effectiveness of argumentation and evidence; suggesting possible reorganization, revision, expansion, condensing, or cutting; eliminating unnecessary wordiness and repetition; revising infelicities of style and awkward, unparallel, or confusing constructions; eliminating overuse of passive voice, abstract language, jargon, or complex sentence structure; querying confusing passages or seeming errors of fact.
COPYEDITING: Correcting faulty spelling, word usage, idioms, grammar, and punctuation; ensuring consistency in spelling, capitalization, hyphenation, abbreviations, and other matters of form (citations, headings, etc.); querying gender-specific language and possible factual errors; checking cross-references between text and table of contents, notes, bibliography, figures, and tables; suggesting minor style changes to improve transitions, clarity, and fluency; noting possible libel or permissions problems.
Coaching
Because most academics have little specific training in writing and publishing, we also mentor clients in the skills and knowledge they need to become more prolific, polished, and published writers, now and in the future. Our manuscript editing thus includes helpful commentary on the principles behind suggested changes, the rhetorical functions and conventions of scholarly writing, and the expectations of readers and publishers.
Based on our insider understanding of academic life and publishing, we also coach clients on other issues related to their scholarly work and careers, such as the following:
Identifying potential topics, audiences, and publishers
Integrating scholarship into one's teaching or professional life
Setting and maintaining successful research agendas and schedules
Adopting effective work-management and career-building strategies
Understanding the writing, reviewing, and publication processes
Communicating and negotiating with acquisition and journal editors or dissertation advisors and readers
Decoding and responding to reviewers' feedback and revise-and-resubmit or rejection letters
Becoming effective reviewers and mentors of writing by peers and students
Such coaching typically takes place in the context of ongoing work or in response to specific queries from clients, increasing its effectiveness and decreasing its cost.