Christina Houen

Christina Houen – Editor

General and academic books in humanities, self-help, social sciences. Clients have published with Ashgate, Routledge, and Springer.

Overview


I have been a professional freelance editor since 2010. I have edited and coordinated the publication of several anthologies and monographs in self help, biography, design, and the built environment. I review and edit memoirs. I have a Master of Creative Arts degree and a PhD in life writing. I have 3 memoirs published, the third one in June 2023, and an audiobook of the third in January 2024.


My studies in literature, post-structuralist philosophy, trauma and women's issues and my past career in mental health nursing and passion for personal development have shaped my own writing and helped me to be a constructive and empathic editor for people who have faced trauma and loss and want to write their stories. Thus, memoirs and self-help books are close to my heart, and I enjoy helping authors to polish these for their target audiences. I love books that offer guides to recovery and building connected, creative lives.


I have edited many academic theses in subjects such as engineering, business, IT, health sciences, women's issues, education, the built environment, art, literature, and philosophy. I am experienced in editing for non-native speakers of English.


My editing ethic is to help you, the writer, make your work the best it can be, whatever the subject, while respecting the authenticity and uniqueness of your voice. I have a fine eye for detail and word order, as well as the mechanics of grammar and punctuation.


I have many testimonials from happy clients: here are some recent ones:


"Christina’s education and experience saw me through my first memoir. She was patient, professional, and available to me whenever I was stressed over the process. This memoir was a challenge to me. I believe that I couldn’t have accomplished it without her. I hope to have her as my editor if I ever write another book."


"We worked with Cristina as copy editor for our authored peer-reviewed book, Building Mixity! Christina was always supportive in trying to accommodate difficult schedules and deadlines. We are very pleased to recommend Christina, as a great and extremely knowledgeable person to work with."


"Christina took on what was a very niche area in PhD theses when editing my work, meticulously analysed and corrected structure, grammar, and demonstrated the benchmark for clarity in communication through her years of experience as a writer. I’m glad I found the best editor for my particular project and would recommend her services to anyone, especially in academia and government."

Services
Non-Fiction
Architecture Biographies & Memoirs Education & Reference Life Sciences Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (AUS) English (NZ) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Small publishing grant, Centre for Research for Women, Western Australia, 2005
  • Mary Walters Bursary, Australian Federation of University Women (WA), Inc., 2005
  • Pro-Vice Chancellor Humanities Award for Excellence, with A/Prof Marina Lommerse, Architecture Interior Architecture, Curtin University
  • Varuna Longlines non-residential Mentorship for development of memoir, 2007–08
  • Hal Porter Award for short story (memoir), 2003
  • Curtin Humanities Research Award for book chapter, 2009
Certifications
  • Mental Health Nursing Certificate, NSW, 1976
  • Bachelor of Arts (Hons I)
  • Grad. Dip in Information & Library Studies, 1989
  • Master of Creative Arts, 2002
  • PhD (Social Sciences), 2009

Work experience

Self-employed

Feb, 2010 — Present

My freelance editing work over the past 12 years is 60% academic and 40% commercial non-fiction and fiction.

I was Associate Editor and Reflections Editor (2011–2014) for the Routledge journal, Life Writing. Here I was responsible for having submissions peer reviewed and liaising with authors and reviewers.

After graduating as Doctor of Life Writing, I worked as project officer in the Department of Architecture at a major Australian university. Here, I learned how to frame and present creative practice research writing. Many of the staff I worked with there are still my clients.

I then launched my freelance career as an editor, writer, and reviewer of fiction and non-fiction.

I am registered as an editor with many Australian universities. I edit for overseas clients, including many Chinese professors at Chinese universities, who send their research articles and those of their postgraduate students to me for editing.

Portfolio

A Gradual Grace

Houen, Christina, Marigold

She City

Nicole Kalms

Rooted in feminist political thought, She City illuminates how gender shapes our urban spaces and city design. Through three sections: 'Resisting Sexist Cities', 'Designing Feminist Cities', and 'Prioritizing Safer Cities', Kalms examines barriers to women's p... read more
Bringing together an international range of contributors from the fields of practice, theory and history, this book takes a fresh look occupation. It argues that occupation is a prospect that begins with ruin--a residue from the past, an implied or even a reso... read more
How can we engage communities? What is empowerment? To what extent should the project process be participatory? How is an outsider-insider relationship handled? How do researchers negotiate with the hegemony of western cultural interpretations? How are organiz... read more
In times of inflationary investment and explosive urban growth, Building Mixity! challenges the status quo of expansive and unequal development in Melbourne, Australia. The long forgotten and unique post-industrial suburb of Cremorne serves as a blueprint for ... read more
What is a better community? How can we reconfigure places and transport networks to create environmentally friendly, economically sound, and socially just communities? How can we meet the challenges of growing pollution, depleting fossil fuels, rising gasoline... read more
This Place You Know

Houen, Christina

Can your difficulties become stepping stones to a successful future? Can a young boy overcome a serious reading difficulty and achieve beyond all expectations?For a few gruelling years in a Catholic boys' school, where the Brothers carry a lash under their gow... read more
This book argues that interior architects have a responsibility to practice their profession in collaborative ways that address the needs of communities and of to be the agents of social justice and cultural heritage. The book is divided into three sections, b... read more

Christina has 11 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Selina T.

Selina T.

Feb, 2024

Christina was great to work with. She understood the brief perfectly and adjusted her fees accordingly when there was less work to do. It was refreshing to work with someone who was knowledgeable in the genre and also to have honest opinions given to me in a development edit. Would highly recommend! Thank you Christina! 😊
Christina H.
It was such a pleasure to work with you, Selina. I find your story engaging and honest and your compassion for self and others shines through. I wish you and your story well and believe that many r...
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barbara M.

barbara M.

Nov, 2023

Christina is a fast and thorough editor; she grasped my direction and gave me both helpful criticism and encouragement. I look forward to further work with her.
Christina H.
It was a delightful experience working with Barbara. Her memoir is engaging, witty and very interesting and gave me a fascinating picture of a woman's life in America in the second half of the twen...
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Lucy M.

Lucy M.

Apr, 2023

Project: First book – Initial assessment. Subject: Self-help. I had searched for an editor for months and turned down several offers before I found Christina. From the start, the worry and doubt I had about being too picky melted away and I felt at ease explaining my project. Christina’s assessment of my work was forthright, fair, and generously spattered with hints and tips on how my rookie w...
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Christina H.
Lucy, your review is generous and accepted with gratitude. It was an honour to assess your work, which has integrity and a clear, accessible message about the pathway of healing and sel-help. I am...
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Abigail M.

Abigail M.

Sep, 2022

Christina is professional and quick. She is elegant and thoughtful and very detailed in her work. Her work was exactly what I was looking for. I am so glad I picked her to edit my manuscript before self publishing my first book.
Christina H.
Thank you, Abigail! It was a pleasure to work with you to polish Shattered to Shine. I found the text well written and the structure is detailed and comprehensive, and flows well. I wish you every ...
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Florence K.

Florence K.

May, 2022

I really enjoyed working with Christina. The clear communication, professionalism, and the quality of the editing were wonderful. I have had very bad experiences with editors in the past and whenever my usual editor is not available within the required timeframe, I dread what will happen. I was delighted to have these fears put to rest by Christina. And the next time my usual editor is not ava...
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Christina H.
I was delighted to work with Florence on this important book, a comprehensive and compassionate guide to the adoption of children who have been institutionalised. Florence was professional, respect...
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