Why Hire Editing for Your Purpose?

Correcting your errors well is where good editing begins and we’ve got your back. My very first editing client would’ve used “secrete” when she meant “secret”—an embarrassing gaffe MS Word missed as both are correctly spelled words. My goal is to educate you along the way; you can count on explanations along with my edits. In addition to an eagle eye for editing, I recently upped my editing skills by taking Linda Stirling of the The Publishing Circle’s 6-week Professional Editing Course. Linda shared her best tips gained over 40 years in the publishing industry—a game-changer for me.

Most editors don’t ask questions about who your intended audience is because they didn’t spend decades as a professional communicators in corporate America. I did, for top Fortune companies like Hewlett-Packard and Intel. Sometimes I was wooing Wall Street Journal financial wonks. Other times I trying to sell to soccer moms—or—toughest of all—a cynical sales force. Different folks relate and respond to different approaches. My job is clarifying that with my clients up front and making sure through the editing process the tone and manner makes sense for their chosen audience.

I began my career at a direct-response advertising agency, where we worked with every client to decide who they wanted to reach, what would prompt their prospect to respond, and how to determine which respondents were the most qualified. I use those same skills with my editing clients, asking in the beginning what the ideal end result is, and where that fits into what they or their business wants to accomplish overall. As the old adage goes “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably wind up someplace else.” I make sure your writing hits its mark.

My job as an editor is to make sure you look and sound your best, in your voice, reflecting your personality. You are the writer, and I understand and respect how hard that job can be. As your editor, I will let you know when your communication is unclear or grammatically incorrect, but I never forget my clients are the boss and have the final say.

Smooth transitions keep readers engaged, from start to finish. As an editor, I bring fresh eyes to how your story unfolds. It’s my job to spot when your ideas get lost or misplaced somewhere along the way, or there’s anything missing, muddied, or irrelevant.

Before we start, we discuss what you need, when you need it and what it will cost. I will ask for a sample of your writing up front to verify it can be edited within three passes by your desired timeline. I never miss a deadline.

I believe the best work comes as a result of good relationships. My clients are friends who hire me because they know I will exceed their expectations. My new clients become my friends because nothing delights me more than happy, successful clients. I’m in it for the long haul. I still have my first client from 2010, and I’m pleased to count her among my friends.