Editor's Statement

A capable editor can improve both readability and credibility within a piece of text. What an author intends is not always the same as what the reader takes away. As a writer myself, I am familiar with this phenomenon and the power a fresh, unbiased set of eyes can have in the editing process. We often become blind to errors in our own text or attached to a turn of phrase that isn’t helpful to the reader. Editing exists at many levels. A holistic, substantive review, can identify whether or not material is achieving the author’s aims. A document nearing the end of the writing process may only need copyediting and/or proofreading.
 

My goal as an editor is to collaborate with the author to ensure anything written meets the needs of the author, potential readers, and any associated organization. Through querying, I aim to suggest improvements without compromising meaning. I want to ensure any core messages of the written content are comprehensible to the reader without sacrificing the wishes of the author or losing the style of an organization sponsoring it. Depending on the level of the edit, this may involve reviewing content for organization, language usage, grammar, and/or punctuation. It may also include verifying adherence to the appropriate style guide. A polished final product will lend significant credibility to the content it contains.
 

I have experience in scientific writing targeting both technical and lay audiences. In my past work as a forensic scientist, I focused on taking complex, scientific topics and breaking them down in ways that are better understood by a lay audience. Therefore, I can assist technical writers in addressing an audience unfamiliar with their area of expertise. I also worked on developing and editing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for my co-workers.
 

Discussing the level of edit is part of the role of the editor and one I intend to address at the beginning of a project. Communication throughout is key to successful editing. When editing, I try to use a mix of comments and suggestions to guide an author to a comprehensible product that flows well. It is also helpful to set a timeline in advance in projects with specific deadlines attached. Substantive or developmental editing will take significantly more time than a simple proofread. The level of edit may be dictated by the work itself, the timeline of the work, or the budget of the work.