Ariel So – Editor

Hello there!

My passion lies in book publishing as a lifelong career. Currently, I freelance as a copy editor and proofreader at various places including the big-five publishing houses: Macmillan (Farrar, Straus and Giroux imprint), Simon & Schuster (Children’s Publishing), Elite Editing (Adult’s Division), and Reedsy.

I’m also a managing editorial assistant at the independent publisher Starry Forest Books, where I’ve contributed to a range of board books, picture books, chapter books, and more.

Through more than five years of experience in publishing, I’ve guided a total of thirty titles and counting. My most recent project was for US National Book Award–Winner writer Alice McDermott’s WHAT ABOUT THE BABY?: SOME THOUGHTS ON THE ART OF FICTION.

Previously, I worked at the largest literary nonprofit publisher in Southern California, Red Hen Press, where I proofread and copyedited nine manuscripts in literary fiction and poetry. I've contributed to Lara Ehrlich's short story collection, ANIMAL WIFE (Winner of the Red Hen Fiction Award, selected by New York Times bestselling author Ann Hood), as well as Cécile Barlier’s A GYPSY’S BOOK OF REVELATION (Winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction).

Through my familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, I am confident in my book editing skills, with a close attention to detail when preparing books for production. From my roles of examining proofs for error-free manuscripts, I am committed to tapping into the potential of authors and delivering bestselling, critically acclaimed books.

I graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing Emphasis from Scripps College. As a literature enthusiast, particularly through an expertise in literary books, I am dedicated to working with emerging and well-established authors to meet their individual needs. With my enthusiasm as a grammar perfectionist, I hope to offer my passion for the written word. I am adept at handing over edited manuscripts within a monthly project schedule or as needed.

Looking forward to working with you!