Elyse Lyon

Elyse Lyon – Editor

Style is my passion; grammar is my superpower. Available for line edits, copyedits, and proofreads. US English, global experience.

Overview

My background is in literary fiction, though as an editor, I've primarily worked on genre fiction. I've edited manuscripts by numerous New York Times bestsellers, a few National Book Award winners, and a Booker Prize winner, among many others. I've worked on various other types of memoir and trade nonfiction, particularly business and self-help, and I have experience guiding authors through the self-publishing process.


I love character-driven novels and thoughtful writers driven by craft, ideas, or both. Particular interests include literary fiction, crime/mystery novels, historical fiction, and anything involving classical music. I strive to meet the needs of each project individually, listening to the client and working together to find the approach best suited to the manuscript at hand. I'm also happy to work on most types of subject matter: I'm always interested in hearing what authors have to say, and I'm not easily offended.


My superpower is The Chicago Manual of Style (I received my copyediting certificate from the University of Chicago Graham School). I'm an American living in Edinburgh, Scotland, so I have experience with both US and UK English. I've also lived extensively abroad, including in Germany, Vietnam, and eastern Europe, which can be useful when editing books set in far-flung locations.


I'm a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders, and I'm also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. I'm a senior editor for my primary client, meaning that I work in a collaborative environment where editors learn from one another and constantly hone our skills. I also engage in regular professional development: currently, I'm pursuing a certificate in developmental editing for fiction, and I'm a judge in this year's IPNE Book Awards.


Please reach out; I'd love to hear from you!

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Romance LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Psychological Thriller Romantic Comedy Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Editing certificate, University of Chicago Graham School
  • Professional Member, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 2010 — Present

I've worked with academic publishers, self-published authors, memoir writers, and many other types of client in my capacity as a freelance editor.

Portfolio

In the Likely Event

Yarros, Rebecca

Blood Mountain (Jodi Luna Book 2)

Valdés, Alisa Lynn

Thomas & Mercer

Made with Reedsy
The Paper Boys (The Brent Boys)

Clarence, DP

This Impossible Brightness: A Novel

Klagmann, Jessica Bryant

Hurt for Me

Levy, Heather

Almost Surely Dead

Akhtar, Amina

Please Tell Me

Omer, Mike

Role Playing

Yardley, Cathy

Just Stay Away

Wirt, Tony

Shadow Sister: A Novel

Marcott, Lindsay

Runaway Groomsman

Quinn, Meghan

The Fires: A Novel

Björnsdóttir, Sigríður Hagalín

Chick Magnet

Barry, Emma

When the Rain Ends

Taylor, Mary Ellen

Elyse has 8 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Cathee S.

Cathee S.

Apr, 2024

Elyse Lyon is an extraordinary copyeditor! I enjoyed every minute of our collaboration. Her thoroughness, clarity, and attention to detail astounded me. She dug into the nuances of my manuscript and unearthed historical details that added color and credence to the story. Her style sheet reflected a deep understanding of the type of novel I was writing, and she described each character’s idiosy...
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Elyse L.
You were a dream to work with, Cathee! I’m still thinking of your book, and I’d be thrilled to have the pleasure of working with you again. Sending my best wishes always!
Lena F.

Lena F.

Apr, 2024

Working with Elyse was a great experience. Her copyedit was extremely thorough. She is incredibly knowledgeable, easy to communicate with, and genuinely kind. She even moved my project to the front of her queue so I could meet another deadline.
Elyse L.
It was a pleasure to work with you, Lena! You’ve done wonderful work, and I’m wishing you the best for publication.
Grace S.

Grace S.

Mar, 2024

I’m over the moon with my collaboration with Elyse. Her positive, friendly, and professional approach has made the experience just delightful. She has been fantastic every step of the way. Her skill in copyediting and knowledge of the English language is echoed in her strong communication skills, making every process easy, straightforward and an absolute pleasure. I have every confidence th...
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Elyse L.
It was such a pleasure to work with you, too, Grace! Thanks for making my day with your lovely feedback, and I’d be delighted to work with you again in the future. Best wishes for you and your work!
Daniel M.

Daniel M.

Feb, 2024

I worked with Elyse for both copywriting and proofreading and she was a true professional at every step of the way. She worked with me on a challenging deadline, but still delivered a sterling product. She edits your book with your objectives in mind and shows a keen understanding of the reader.
Elyse L.
Always a pleasure to work with you, Dan! I'm so glad I was able to accommodate your deadline. Wishing you the best of luck on your release, and I'm excited to see you have a sequel slated for next ...
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Daniel M.

Daniel M.

Jan, 2024

It was a real pleasure working with Elyse. She has an incredible eye for editing and substantially improved my manuscript. She does an excellent job of understanding what you're trying to achieve with your novel and helping you achieve it. Not only that, but she's transparent about timelines and sticks to them, which is critical with book deadlines. I highly recommend.
Elyse L.
It was a joy to work with you, Daniel! I’m wishing you all the best with the publication of this book and am so excited to see what you do next.

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