Meet the Editor
Why I Edit
I so often turn to a story for a comforting escape into a cozy, familiar setting full of characters who feel like friends, or for the thrill of vicarious drama and danger to interrupt my routine with fiction-focused tension and catharsis.
If I'm being analytical, I'll say the reason I'm a huge nerd for stories—reading them, writing them, and studying how we create them—is that storytelling is how we process our own experiences, try to understand others', and expand our notions of what's possible.
But more simply, creative expression is exciting to me, whether I'm telling my own story, helping you tell yours, or curling up with a novel I had nothing to do with creating.
I've laughed, cried, and learned from the experiences of fictional characters. I've grown and healed because I read or watched the right piece of media when I needed it. I've deepened relationships over the shared pleasure of a favorite book. I believe that sharing stories is an essential part of being human and connecting with other humans.
I'm also endlessly fascinated by grammar, punctuation, word usage, and all of those other linguistic minutiae that may or may not be part of your own drive to write. Maybe you're a natural wordsmith who just needs another set of eyes to check for slip-ups, or maybe you're a passionate storyteller who struggles with the mechanical details. Either way, every writer needs an editor, because it would be a shame if the first-draft mistakes that we're all bound to make got in the way of your creative voice being heard.
If you're passionate about writing and sharing those wonderful, essential, human things that we get out of stories, I'd like to help you tell yours in a way that resonates with readers.
If that sounds like what you need, contact me to discuss a project or ask a question (I'd be delighted to hear from you!), or see the list of services I provide for more information. You can also read on to learn more about how I edit as well as my education and training.
How I Edit
Editing means being one of the first sets of eyes on your work and identifying issues that might confuse or distract readers. Like your future readers, I wasn't in your head while you wrote, so I'll notice things you don't. Here are a few common types of editorial problems from a reader's perspective:
-
Grammatical errors obscure your meaning, so I can't understand what's happening.
-
Names or other details aren't consistent, so I can't keep them straight.
-
You forgot to tell me something that's obvious to you, so I'm missing important context.
-
The story's world is not internally consistent or logical, so I can't suspend disbelief.
-
I can't tell which character's perspective I'm following in a new scene, so I'm getting lost.
-
The characters all sound the same and the dialogue isn't tagged clearly, so I don't know who's speaking.
-
The language doesn't suit the story's tone or setting or the character's voice, so I'm not immersed.
-
You got your facts wrong on a topic I'm knowledgeable about, so I'm not sure you're credible.
Your readers often won't know exactly why a story isn't working for them, but they will stop reading if they get too confused, bored, or frustrated. As a professional, I'll bridge the gap; I have the training and intuition to see what you're going for (or ask you the right questions to find out) and show you ways to express it more clearly and effectively so you can keep readers interested.
When I catch a straightforward error, I'll correct it with visible markup for your approval. When I'm not sure what you meant, when I can offer multiple distinct approaches, or when an issue requires significant rewriting, I'll request your input in a margin comment or email, and we can collaborate on the problem.
I edit with enthusiasm and empathy, because I know you put yourself into your writing; even if it's fictional and fantastical, it's personal. I want to be your co-conspirator, applying my editorial instincts and knowledge to enhancing your writing and amplifying your creative voice.
I have worked with prose fiction, narrative nonfiction, visual novels, tabletop game content, and more! I also have experience in editing fiction translated from non-English languages; I'm happy to help smooth out English translations and make sure they sound natural to fluent English speakers.
My goal is to help take your story from a rough draft—full of both errors and potential—to a strong, polished final draft that you're happy to have written. Contact me to discuss your project, or check out my list of Services to consider which types of editing you're interested in. You can also read on to learn more about my education and training.
Education and Training
-
Certificate in Editing, University of Washington
I studied the craft of editing and the Chicago Manual of Style under experienced editors who taught me publishing-industry best practices—including how to guide authors through the sometimes daunting editorial process with professionalism, transparency, flexibility, and compassion.
-
Bachelor of Arts in English, creative writing emphasis, Western Washington University
I wrote fiction and nonfiction stories, contributed to workshop discussions of classmates' writing, analyzed published literature, and began learning about the publishing industry.
-
Northwest Editors Guild
I talk shop and share resources with a network of professional editors around the Pacific Northwest and beyond, learning from my fellow editors' experiences and ideas.
-
Independent reading
I devour books on the craft and business of writing and editing, because there's always more to learn. Naturally, the stories I read for pleasure have always been and will always be my greatest resource for learning the art of storytelling and the craft of writing.
If you'd like to harness my knowledge and training to help refine and polish your writing, contact me to discuss your project or request more information. You can also read an overview of my services to get an idea of what you might need and what to expect.
Get in Touch!
To ask a question or discuss a project with me, please fill out a brief contact form or email Mallory@BookwyrmEditorial.com. See Services for more information on what I can do for your manuscript.