Beth Bazar

Beth Bazar – Editor

A copy editor with 30 years' experience working for Men's Health, Hearst, and more. As one editor said of me, "The stupid stuff stops HERE."

Overview

Chances are, your writing is perfectly clear to you. I'm here to ensure that it makes sense to everybody else. In 30 years' professional experience in writing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading (yes, I started at age . . . three?), I've learned to ferret out those missteps that break readers' train of thought and force them to reread a passage. While working for such publishers as Hearst and the former Rodale and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, as well as two major US art museums, I've copyedited the popular magazines Men's Health, Prevention, and Runner's World, in addition to more than 100 books. Among the latter were three titles in the best-selling Intellectual Devotional series. Because logic and the English language are my stock in trade, I can handle a broad range of subject matter, but I've had the most experience with topics of health and fitness, nutrition, self-help, art, and travel, as well as biographies, memoirs, and Christian fiction and nonfiction.


Working for you, I'll keep watch over sensible grammar and style and fine-tune the clarity of your prose while protecting your unique voice. I'm always happy to explain my reasoning or bend a rule when it makes sense to do so. Having been dubbed "Eagle Eye" more than once by colleagues, I'll be your bulwark against typos, misspellings, malapropisms, and really regrettable punctuation. I guess finding weaknesses in written work is my only superpower. Let me suit up and help perfect your latest creation.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Christian Non-Fiction Health & Wellbeing History Psychology Self-Help & Self-Improvement Travel
Fiction
Christian Fiction
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2007 — Present

* Currently copyedit and proofread a wide assortment of books by self-publishing authors through Reedsy.
* Currently copyedit and proofread promotional materials and other ephemera for Moravian University.
* Currently proofread books for Moody Publishers.
* Worked on a contract basis to proofread and assist in copyediting Prevention magazine for nearly 10 years, until a few months after parent company Rodale Inc.'s purchase by Hearst.
* Copyedited or proofread more than 60 books published by Rodale, including memoirs, self-help and diet books, and works on health, fitness, travel, and environmental concerns.
* Copyedited other projects for clients including Men's Health and Runner's World magazines and the Rodale Institute.

Men's Health magazine

Oct, 1999 — Apr, 2007 (over 7 years)

* Copyedited and proofread 10 issues of Men's Health magazine annually, working under tight deadlines to help produce clean, clear, accurate, and entertaining copy.
* Assisted in supervising numerous freelance copy editors and proofreaders.

Self-employed

Nov, 1996 — Oct, 1999 (almost 3 years)

* Line edited, copyedited, or proofread for such clients as Men's Health and Runner's World magazines, Rodale Inc.'s book division, and the Jewish Publication Society.

Runner's World magazine

Aug, 1993 — Nov, 1996 (over 3 years)

* Served as sole copy editor of 12 issues of Runner's World and two issues of High School Runner each year.
* Wrote the blurbs for Runner's World's table of contents and penned one or two brief articles.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Nov, 1992 — Jul, 1993 (8 months)

* Edited, copyedited, and proofread brochures, invitations, and other art museum ephemera.
* Proofread book galleys and gallery labels.

Denver Art Museum

Sep, 1990 — Oct, 1991 (about 1 year)

* Planned editorial content, either wrote or assigned stories, and edited all material for the bimonthly members' magazine.
* Interviewed and worked with curators and other staff from various museum departments to research articles and arrange photography.
* Performed press checks, ensuring proper printing of the members' magazine.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

Mar, 1986 — Sep, 1990 (over 4 years)

* Planned, budgeted, and hosted seminars up to eight days in length for two groups of staff from the 50 (U.S.) state legislatures.
* Compiled and edited an annual directory of legislative staff and two 50-state survey publications.
* Edited and proofread other department publications.
* Served as liaison between NCSL and two state legislatures.

Portfolio

With The South Beach Diet, Dr. Arthur Agatston ended the low carb versus low fat debate and educated the country about healthy carbs and fats. In The South Beach Diet Gluten Solution, he cleared up the confusion surrounding gluten and helped people find their ... read more
Earl "The Pearl" Monroe is a basketball legend whose impact on the game transcends statistics, a player known as much for his unorthodox, "playground" style of play as his championship pedigree. Observers said that watching him play was like listening to jazz,... read more
In the tradition of the instant bestsellers The Intellectual Devotional and The Intellectual Devotional: American History comes the third installment in this indispensable series. In The Intellectual Devotional: Modern Culture, authors David S. Kidder and Noah... read more
BASED ON THE HIT SHOW AND NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING BOOKS Each season on The Biggest Loser, America watches the contestants transform their bodies at the Ranch. But what you can't see on television is the even more incredible physical transformation that tak... read more
Millions of viewers have watched the contestants on The Biggest Loser, NBC's hit show, radically transform their bodies and their lives. In turn, many of those inspired fans have shed countless pounds on their own by following The Biggest Loser weight-loss pro... read more
As grocery costs continue to rise, many family cooks are finding themselves in a tough predicament: How can they feed their families healthy, satisfying meals without breaking the bank? In The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, New York Times best-selling author D... read more
Diet and nutrition
In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling Intellectual Devotional series, authors Noah Oppenheim and David Kidder have partnered with Bruce K. Young, MD, to offer a year's worth of medical knowledge and wellness wisdom. Each daily dose in t... read more
Men's Health has found the secret to weight-loss. It's not some new exercise contraption or magic pill or trendy fad diet. The secret to quick and permanent weight loss comes from real people just like you, who have lost 25, 50, 100, and even 150 pounds! Now, ... read more
As interest in living a sustainable life has exploded, so has the green marketplace. It has become difficult to distinguish companies that provide truly eco-friendly products and services from those that "greenwash." Now, from the company that founded Organic ... read more
The road to a healthier lifestyle starts with small decisions and better choices. Now, with The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, you can get healthy by simply swapping your old food, habit, and lifestyle choices for healthier versions every day. With 100 simple swa... read more
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions: More than 18 million American children are considered obese and are at risk for health problems. In fact, today's generation of kids may be the first to experience shorter life spans than their parents. Leadi... read more
The latest research shows that controlling calories is consistently the most successful weight loss method. Of course, counting calories is nothing new. But only 15 percent of us know how many calories we should eat to maintain a healthy weight. Most of us don... read more
In He's Just Not Your Type (and that's a good thing), a relationship expert and dating columnist shares her counterintuitive approach to lasting love: encouraging women to date their "non-types." After years of dating, many women fall into a relationship rut. ... read more
Harvard-trained lawyer and family and divorce mediator Laurie Puhn shows busy couples how to stop fighting and start communicating.It happens every day—a simple exchange or harmless response turns into a heated debate or worse, an all-out battle. Hard-pressed ... read more
Todd Durkin is the most sought-after personal trainer in sports, and if you don't know his name, you've definitely seen his work. He is the man who helped world-class athletes such as quarterback Drew Brees win a Super Bowl MVP, pitcher Cole Hamels win a World... read more
When was the last time you indulged in a sumptuous eggs benedict, an herbaceous and aromatic pasta with pesto, or a soul-satisfying cup of creamy tomato soup with a grilled cheese on the side—without a moment of guilt? The too-good-to-be-true recipes in Pretty... read more
In her first book, My Last Supper, Melanie Dunea transformed a pastime that has animated restaurants after hours for decades into a sumptuous photographic journey that provided a glimpse into the rarified world of top chefs. The book garnered national media an... read more
Change your life without changing your lifestyle with this revolutionary workout that provides the benefits of cardio and strength training in one anytime, anyplace 20-minute program We all want to be fit and healthy, but few of us have the time or inclination... read more
This cookbook companion to the New York Times bestseller Wheat Belly serves up 150 great tasting wheat-free recipes to help readers lose weight and beat disease.Wheat Belly shook the foundations of the diet world when author and renowned cardiologist William D... read more
Approximately 1.9 million women are physically assaulted annually in the United States alone. In Survive the Unthinkable, Tim Larkin empowers women to understand that surviving a potential attack isn't about being physically bigger, faster, or stronger; it's a... read more
Over the past 25 years, Tony Horton has helped millions of people--from stay-at-home moms to military personnel to A-list celebrities--transform their bodies and their lives with innovative workouts and cutting-edge advice. Now, in his first enhanced e-book, H... read more
Depression is the leading cause of disability in America. The incidence of depression in the United States today is 10 times greater than it was in 1960—and that rate doubles every decade. Changes in the way we live, work, eat, sleep, and interact have made us... read more
What can we do to allay global warming, contend with world hunger, be healthier, and live longer? In The Compassionate Diet, Nature’s Path founder and CEO Arran Stephens, who has been at the leading edge of the organic food movement for decades and a vegetaria... read more
One in ten Americans has some degree of thyroid imbalance, and even mild imbalances can cause mental and emotional symptoms. Thyroid Mind Powerpinpoints the connection between thyroid imbalance and conditions such as depression, anxiety, irritability, and more... read more
Now in his 11th season in the NFL, Dhani Jones has had an unusually long career for a football player. Just a few years ago, however, Dhani thought his playing days were over. Cut by the Eagles and the Saints, he was at a professional crossroads. When the Beng... read more
The country’s best-known sleep expert presents the latest knowledge and research on how getting more shuteye can help women lose weight—and gain health, productivity, and happiness “Just like food, sleep is essential to your body and brain—if you don’t get eno... read more
Most people know Ted Danson as the affable bartender Sam Malone in the long-running television series Cheers. But fewer realize that over the course of the past two and a half decades, Danson has tirelessly devoted himself to the cause of heading off a looming... read more
While gray hair and wrinkles may be unwelcome if inevitable signs of the passing years, the memoryloss, intellectual impairment, and mood swings that come with an aging brain can be truly devastating.According to bestselling author and anti-aging expert Dr. Er... read more
Dr. Cuomo, a prestigious diagnostic radiologist, and sister of the governor of NY, marshals 30 years of medical evidence to argue that the reason Americans are still dying of cancer - and why incidents of new cancers are actually on the rise - is because of a ... read more
In 1957, nine African American teenagers faced angry mobs and the resistance of a segregationist governor to claim their right to educational equality. The bravery of the Little Rock Nine, as they became known, captured the country's imagination and made histo... read more
The fifth installment of the bestselling Intellectual Devotional series features 365 captivating entries about the most celebrated personalities in history.Like its compulsively readable predecessors, The Intellectual Devotional Biographies is organized into s... read more
Easy Vietnamese comfort food recipes from the winner of MasterChef Season 3.In her kitchen, Christine Ha possesses a rare ingredient that most professionally-trained chefs never learn to use: the ability to cook by sense. After tragically losing her sight in h... read more

Beth has 43 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Rob G.

Rob G.

Aug, 2024

Pinned
I can't say enough how happy I am with Beth and the services she provided. I only wish she was here to copy-edit and proofread this review! Beth went above and beyond all expected. I've already recommended her to others and will never work with another copy-editor or proofreader. She really took my work to heart, offered logical recommendations beyond what was asked, and helped me make my work ...
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Chastity W.

Chastity W.

May, 2024

Pinned
I am new to Reedsy and I read some really great profiles, but Beth Bazar stood out because she showed me what she could do instead of telling me. She did a sample edit of my submission. which no one else did. I was totally impressed and knew that I wanted to work with her. Beth has great time management, great editing skills, and is very professional. She is first class! I see why she has such ...
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Steve C.

Steve C.

Apr, 2024

Pinned
As a first-time author I really scored a home run by hiring Beth Bazar. I sent samples to about five editors. Beth’s style and personality clicked with me from the jump. She was firm and decisive about the quality of the work, while allowing me the space to retain my own voice in my writing. That’s a balance that must be difficult, but she did it well. I shouldn’t say so many nice things becaus...
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lowell M.

lowell M.

Oct, 2024

Beth is a gem. A true publishing professional. She proofread and copyedited my book impeccably, I could not have asked for more. Her work was not only timely but faster than expected. I've done many books with major publishers. This was my first as an independent; I was so happy and relieved to see that I could work with a "major league" person on the manuscript at a very affordable rate. Highe...
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Andrew T.

Andrew T.

Sep, 2024

Beth is highly professional and knowledgeable about her craft. She worked quickly, was accommodating, finished the work prior to the agreed deadline. Her work was thorough, respectful of style and tone, and she had great suggestions to improve the writing accuracy and flow. I look forward to collaborating with Beth in the future,

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