Jacqueline Parkison – Editor

*** Ask me about my special rates for projects under 10,000 words! ***

For 15+ years, I’ve helped all types of writing projects reach their full potential, from copyediting nonfiction books to polishing technical dissertations to providing editorial assessments and line editing to fiction writers. My educational background is in creative writing. I hold a master of fine arts in fiction writing and have published short stories and creative nonfiction in various literary journals. I’m familiar with the other side of the slush pile as well, having read submissions for journals including Ninth Letter, Arts & Letters, Sycamore Review, and Storm Cellar and various competitions and anthologies.

My largest freelance client has been Prometheus Books. Copyediting manuscripts for them helped me develop a specialty in popular nonfiction, particularly in social sciences, self-help, and history. However, I love editing other genres as well. Working with fiction writers to develop their story, help their characters become people, and bring out their distinctive style is especially rewarding (and fun).

Before working together, we’ll first hash out where your book is and what your goals are for it. Then, whatever service you need -- editorial assessment to get a reader’s gut feelings on the work, developmental editing to refine your structure and wrestle with your ideas, copyediting to streamline and polish your words, proofreading to aim for mechanical perfection -- I’ll provide it meticulously and kindly. Concision is a specialty of mine; if your manuscript is running long or feels flabby, I'll streamline it without sanding away your voice.

It’s not improbable that I will also at some point provide a song parody or limerick about your project. I realize this could be either an enticement or a warning.

Regardless of the level of edit, I’m passionate about helping authors bring out the aspects of their books that are interesting, moving, and, above all, specifically theirs. I hope you’ll trust me with your work. I'd love to help you explore your style to its fullest potential.