Elise Vaz

Elise Vaz – Editor

Collaborative editor with 20+ years' experience and deep respect for the author's voice. Focus on first-timers, self-publishers, memoirs.

Overview

Editing is not just a profession for me—it’s my passion, one that I have worked at for more than 20 years. In that time, I have edited hundreds of books--everything from romance novels to PhD dissertations, cookbooks to religious texts, and the list goes on. These days, I specialize in works by self-publishing and first-time authors, and my genre specialty is memoirs. However, I enthusiastically welcome all authors and genres.

As an editor, I am meticulous yet flexible, with a deep respect for the author's own voice. I want to help make your project what you want it to be, not what I think it should be. When working with me, you can expect honest, constructive feedback and a spirit of collaboration--we are working together, after all, to make your writing the best it can be.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Health & Wellbeing Humanities & Social Sciences LGBTQ Non-Fiction
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Callisto Media

Apr, 2018 — Sep, 2022 (over 4 years)
• Copyedited and proofread nonfiction books including self-help, mental health, New Age, diets, educational, cookbooks, workbooks, and much more. • Evaluated manuscripts for style issues, consistency, grammatical and punctuation errors, as well as pagination; widows/orphans; stacked wording; and layouts of charts, graphs, photos, and illustrations.

Amnet

Feb, 2014 — Present
• Copyediting and developmental editing of fiction and nonfiction books. • Currently focused on developmental academic editing for multiple university presses.

CreateSpace

Sep, 2011 — Feb, 2015 (over 3 years)
• Line and developmental editing for self-published authors. • Evaluated manuscripts based on Chicago Manual of Style for plot, style, consistency, and overall publication readiness. • Prepared written manuscript evaluations for clients highlighting their writing's strengths and areas for improvement.

Arbor Books

Oct, 2005 — Jan, 2015 (over 9 years)
• Edited fiction and nonfiction books including copyediting, developmental editing, and proofreading. • Ghostwrote ~50 books, from romance and Western novels to business books, self-help titles, and memoirs. • Wrote, edited, and proofread press kits, ads, cover copy, and websites.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Of Water and Grief: A memoir on life and death, child loss and grief, and healing

Allender, Mandy

Grief and Gratitude Books

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Time Stamped: A Memoir Across Five Decades

Smith Jr, Davis T

Independently published

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
TEND: Exploring Mindful-Driven Advocacy

Camp, Matthew

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
All You Care to Eat: A Novice Buys a Restaurant

Church-Downer, Susan

I.G. Fels Publisher

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Goodest Boy: Heartwarming Dog Stories

Williams, I.L.

Copy Editing
Copy Editing Proofreading
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Proofreading
Cesar Romero: The Joker Is Wild (Screen Classics)

Garza Bernstein, Samuel

University Press of Kentucky

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Do Your D.U.T.Y.

Bowie, BeBe

Independently published

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Releasing My Pain For Others Gain

Jones, Yvonne Christine

Independently published

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
My Favorite Nightmare: a novel

Koul, Josh

Press Kouldown Publishing

Developmental Editing
Proofreading
Queer Slashers (Icons of Horror)

Marra, Peter

Indiana University Press

Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Succulent Obsession

Shelf, Ken

Rockridge Press

Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
The Price of Leadership

Lerner, Ellyn

School Realty, LP

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Paths Made by Walking: The Work of Howzevi Women in Iran

Tawasil, Amina

Indiana University Press

Copy Editing

Elise has 44 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Frank I.

Frank I.

Sep, 2026

Elise did a fantastic job! She was very professional, knowledgeable and attentive. She listened carefully to what I wanted in my memoir and stayed focused on the areas we had discussed. She introduced the recommendation that I use more of "show don't tell' and referenced a great article on how t...
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Jason W.

Jason W.

Sep, 2026

Elise was very responsive and clearly communicated expectations to ensure I received an updated manuscript after their copy edit review. Their feedback helped get my draft to the next step I was looking for in the editing process!
Dana B.

Dana B.

Sep, 2026

Elise has proofread nearly every book I've published, and I keep coming back for a reason. I write grief books — workbooks for people grieving a person, and a book for people grieving an animal. That's not easy material to proofread. A proofreader has to read closely enough to catch every error ...
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Julie S.

Julie S.

Sep, 2026

Working with Elise was a great experience. She is insightful and offered helpful comments and suggestions on how to improve the manuscript. I consider our collaboration to be time and money well spent.
RASE L.

RASE L.

Sep, 2026

Excellent and maintains writer's voice.

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Most recent contributions

What tips do you have for editing narrative nonfiction, like memoirs?

Always keep the author's voice in mind. They are telling their own story, so it should sound like them--don't over-edit to make it conform to how you think it should read. Edit with as light a touch as possible. Be sensitive with your constructive criticism--you're talking about someone's lived e...
Read more

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