Barry Hudock - Editor

** Currently booking about 2 months in advance **

I've worked full-time as a freelance editor, ghostwriter, and translator since 2018 (under my business name IdeaHouse). During that time, I've worked for many traditional publishing houses and independent authors. Prior to going full-time freelance, I worked for 7 years in traditional book publishing, working in acquisitions, developmental editing, and marketing.

In my editorial work, I have two distinct areas of interest.

1. In nonfiction: theology and spirituality, both popular and academic. Among traditional publishers, my client list includes Liturgical Press, Paulist Press, Orbis Books, Ave Maria Press, Twenty-third Publications, Novalis Books, and more. I have worked with theologians, pastors, professionals in pastoral ministry, educators, catechists, poets, and memoirists.

2. In fiction: horror, thriller, and science fiction. (No romance, western, or YA please.) I am interesting in working on both novels and short stories. I love the fiction of Blake Crouch, Thomas Harris, Joe Hill, Greg Iles, Stephen King, Nancy Kress, Cherie Priest, Scott Smith, Zoje Stage, and Paul Tremblay.

I have a BA in Communications from Gannon University, an STB in Theology from the Gregorian University, and an STL in Sacramental Theology from The Catholic University of America. I have also studied in the MA program in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University.

I offer:

Developmental editing: This is big picture stuff, a review of the overall work, paying attention to content, themes, structure, and more, with an eye toward revision of any of these elements or considering new directions.

Copyediting: This is about improving accuracy, clarity, consistency, word choice, and elegance of expression; correcting grammar or spelling errors and similar flaws; all while maintaining the author's distinctive voice and style.

With both developmental editing and copyediting, you get
-- the fully edited manuscript with my editing and comments noted in Track Changes (much more substantial with copyediting);
-- an editorial memo with more general observations and questions (much more substantial with developmental editing);
-- a style sheet;
-- and my availability to respond to any follow-up questions and concerns about my editing work after I return my work to you.

I go over your manuscript thoroughly at least two times.

I am happy to help educate my clients by answering questions about manuscript preparation, Scripture permissions issues, the publishing process, the role of agents, copyright issues, and more.

In addition to these, I also do freelance work as a translator (to date, 14 published books from Italian, Spanish, and French to English) and indexer.

I live with my wife and kids in rural central Minnesota -- though to my shock, four of our seven kids are now grown and out of the house. I love spaghetti carbonara, crepes with Nutella, and Bruce Springsteen. (I could talk with you for hours about the music of Bruce Springsteen.) I'm inspired by Dorothy Day and Oscar Romero.

What are you working on? I'd love to help you make your project shine!