Jo Morton – Editor

I started my editorial services business in 2018, with more than 25 years’ in-house publishing experience behind me. In going solo, I aimed to provide smooth and supportive collaborations, working both directly with authors and also with publishers.

My early career was spent preparing university course materials (for Otago University, NZ), then editing legal publications for Jordan Publishing (now part of LexisNexis) before progressing to academic and more general trade nonfiction for award-winning independent publisher Policy Press (now Bristol University Press). Since establishing my business, however, I've been able to steer the work I do towards the kinds of books I most enjoy reading for leisure, particularly biographies, social and family history, psychogeography (and other elusive narratives that defy easy categorisation).

My portfolio also reflects a leaning towards themes of fairness, social justice and human rights and responsibilities; and an interest in the ways in which learning from other cultures and eras may be applied to benefit the future. I hold a BA in French (Language and Culture), which helps me to resolve more specific issues facing francophone authors writing in English, and I enjoy working with writers from under-represented backgrounds.

It's been wonderfully affirming to hear from authors I've worked with that they've found our collaborations a positive all-round experience, with comments such as:

❖ 'You've been amazing. I have never been involved in such a stress-free book.' (Historian and senior academic at The Open University) ❖

❖ '... a joy to work with - very efficient and very responsive and a great colleague.' (Emeritus professor in social work) ❖

When copy editing, I try to tread gently, guiding, shaping and suggesting alternative approaches rather than imposing hard-and-fast rules (except where strictly prescribed by a publisher), and recognise the importance of staying attuned to an author's unique voice.*

❖ 'I was really impressed by the rigour and thoroughness of your work.' (Digital policy expert, EU Commission) ❖

❖ '... my heartfelt thanks to the copy editor for doing such a thorough but sensitive job - it felt great to go through the comments and know someone has taken such detailed care with the text.' (Emeritus professor at the University of Portsmouth and writing coach) ❖

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* Importantly, I can't detect that unique voice from words that an AI has seized from others' output and randomly reassembled; any draft I work on has to be written in the author's own words.