Barry Hudock – Editor

*Currently scheduling work about 2 months in advance*

My area of expertise is 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, Catholic University of America Press, SUNY (State University of New York) Press, and more. I have worked with theologians, pastors, professionals in pastoral ministry, educators, catechists, poets, and memoirists. I also enjoy working in other humanities-related subjects, such as history, literature, etc.

I worked in the publishing industry for nearly a decade at a traditional publishing house (in acquisitions, developmental editing, and marketing) before moving to full-time freelance work as book editor, ghostwriter, and translator (under my business name IdeaHouse).

I have a BA in English from Gannon University, an STB in Theology from the Gregorian University, and an STL in Sacramental Theology from The Catholic University of America.

As a freelance editor, I use my 12+ years of editorial experience to help writers improve and sharpen their writing, and prepare their manuscripts for submission or publication. I offer developmental editing (big picture stuff, paying attention to content, themes, structure, and more, with an eye toward revision of any of these elements or considering new directions) and copyediting (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), as well as ghostwriting and indexing. 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).

With both developmental editing and copyediting, you typically 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 live with my wife and kids in rural central Minnesota -- though to my shock, five of our seven kids are now grown and out of the house. I love spaghetti carbonara, crepes with Nutella, and Bruce Springsteen. (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!

(Note: I live and work in the US, where standard references are The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. If you're writing according to British spelling and style conventions, I'm probably not your best choice.)