Hilary Doda

Hilary Doda – Editor

Editor with 20+ years experience in RPGs, fiction, and academic writing. Specialties in history, romance, LGBTQ fiction.

Overview

Professional editor with more than 20 years in-house and freelance experience. Available for fiction, non-fiction, and games. LGBTQ works of all kinds are particularly welcome.


CURRENTLY BOOKING FOR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023.


I am available for developmental / structural edits, copy editing, and proofreading, with or without the Oxford comma. My editing portfolio is heavy on the romance at the moment, but I also welcome historical and modern fiction and women's fiction, LitRPG, mystery, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy of all word counts.


On the non-fiction side, I welcome humanities and social sciences monographs and chapters, whether they're being reworked for submission or polished for a major university press. My Ph.D is Interdisciplinary (humanities), and I have specific expertise in Atlantic history, material culture studies, dress studies, and archaeology.


I have been called "intimidatingly thorough," and I choose to take that as a compliment. I can edit with a lighter touch when that's requested, however, and I always keep a sense of humour. My job is to make you and your text the best it can possibly be.


Please note that, as a Canadian small business, I am required to collect GST and/or HST from Canadian clients.

Services
Fiction
Gaming & LitRPG Historical Fiction Historical Romance LGBTQ Fiction Psychological Thriller Romantic Suspense Space Opera
Non-Fiction
History
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • 2002 Origins Award for Best Game Aid or Accessory - "Gamemastering Secrets"
Certifications
  • Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary: History, Archaeology, Dress Studies)

Work experience

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Jun, 2014 — Present

Performing first-round developmental and line edits for new fiction. Depending on project, focus was either developmental (structure, pacing) or a combination of developmental and copy-edit (structural and grammatical corrections, fact-checking, ensuring consistency of content and authorial voice).

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) Program, Dalhousie University

Oct, 2012 — Sep, 2013 (11 months)

Assisted CEBS course developers with general and specialized tasks connected to curriculum development, exam development, program research and materials preparation. Duties included content research, course materials review, proofreading and fact-checking course and exam materials.

Self-employed

Jan, 2002 — Present

Dream Pod 9

Oct, 1998 — Mar, 2002 (over 3 years)

Responsible for determining the direction, content and authorship for books published for the Tribe 8 and Jovian Chronicles roleplaying game lines. Supervised single and multiple-author teams through publishing process from proposal to final draft; collaborated with layout team and artists to determine book appearance; performed copy editing and final proofing on books for Tribe 8, Jovian Chronicles, Gear Krieg and Heavy Gear game lines. Wrote ad copy for hard and soft-copy catalogues, designed and implemented contests, web promotions and public demonstrations of product lines.

Portfolio

Copy Editing Proofreading
I Kissed a Girl

Jennet Alexander

Can an up-and-coming horror actressand the makeup artist for her newest "creature feature"turn on-set chemistry into the romance of a lifetime?Lilah Silver's a young actress who dreams of clim... read more
Developmental Editing
Final Hour

Rushdan, Juno

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Men of Legend

Broday, Linda

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Delicate Condition

Valentine, Danielle

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Ella Kerr, a master pianist and gifted composer in her thirties has a renowned and enviable career but her personal life is at a standstill. Two years after the passing of her husband, she is ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Heavy Gear Technical Manual

Marc-Alexandre Vezina

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Spare Heirs

Michels, Elizabeth

Developmental Editing Copy Editing

Hilary has 33 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Joshua T.

Joshua T.

Oct, 2023

Hilary literally worked through a hurricane to make sure our deadline was met. Beyond that, she makes my work shine, while always leaving encouraging notes along the way. Her feedback is invaluable and her attention to detail is fantastic. Thanks Hilary!
Dan S.

Dan S.

Oct, 2023

Hilary was an absolute pleasure to work with on my book, "Crafter". She has a sharp eye for detail, effortlessly spotting inconsistencies and suggesting impactful changes. But more than her technical skills, it was her genuine enthusiasm and understanding of the narrative that truly made the collaboration memorable. It's rare to find someone who's as invested in your work as you are, and Hilary...
Read more
Sam S.

Sam S.

Oct, 2023

Working with Hilary was a great experience. She provided copy editing and proofreading services, both of which were immensely helpful to improve my story and refine my writing style. I'm working with her for additional stories in the future.
Dan S.

Dan S.

Sep, 2023

Hilary worked on the translation of my children's book, and I must say, I'm truly impressed with her editing skills. She displayed a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the content, ensuring the essence of the story remained intact in the translation. I'm very satisfied with her work and would highly recommend her expertise to others.
Madison H.

Madison H.

Aug, 2023

This was my second time working with Hilary. She is an amazing editor. Tough but fair, encouraging but critical. She challenges me to be a better writer and makes sure my book is as good as possible. I 100% recommend her editing services.

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