Lisa Kaitz - Editor
I'm an astute copyeditor focusing on literature, thrillers, crime and mysteries while balancing pragmatism with compassion and diplomacy.
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Overview
I've been a copyeditor for more than a decade, with over sixty books in my portfolio, including international bestsellers Simon Gervais and Manel Loureiro, New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby, and former Random House and Hearst powerhouse Howard Kaminsky.
On my business card, I’ve included a saying from Arthur Plotnik that thrilled me when I read it because it perfectly encapsulates my philosophy: “You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”
Rest assured, I’m not a failed writer looking to make my mark on your hard work. I’m an enthusiastic professional who has found an outlet for language skills beyond pointing to typos in ads or on storefront windows. I love what I do, and I’m constantly improving by attending classes, reading not only within my field but for pleasure, and participating in social media editing groups.
For me, there's only one thing more satisfying than digging into a good story: being part of a team that makes it even better. There are algorithms that can spot misspelled words or a rogue comma, but only humans can read for context—distinguishing between homophones or noticing any flawed logic, for example. That’s where I come in, identifying and quietly disarming any land mines in a manuscript.
And now for the nitty-gritty. Here’s a breakdown of the sentence-level particulars I concentrate on:
• Correcting punctuation, spelling, grammar, syntax, capitalization, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of the original text
• Eliminating repetition, redundancy, wordiness, and incompleteness
• Substituting weak words or phrases with stronger alternatives
• Fixing or indicating any flawed logic (a character suddenly has red hair or walked through a locked door)
• Reading for overall clarity and sense with regard to the prospective audience (this includes watching out for jargon or dialect that readers may not be familiar with—for example, any British or Canadian terms)
• Imposing a consistent style and creating a style sheet to maintain your preferences
• Performing light fact-checking to verify content as needed—for example, looking up the spelling of Kathmandu but not checking on how a character would get from there to San Francisco; the author is wholly responsible for the facts
• Rearranging the order of sentences within paragraphs to better convey a point
• Deleting or querying nonessential elements for better flow
• Cross-checking references for consistency with their mentions in the text
• Flagging for possible biased or outdated language
• Applying knowledge from standard industry references, such as Merriam-Webster.com and The Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition
(My services are a combination of what Reedsy calls copyediting and proofreading. When adding me as a candidate, please ask for COPYEDITING. Thank you!)
---> Two things to note <---
1. I don't provide substantive/developmental editing, meaning "big picture" stuff: identifying and solving problems in the text (regarding plot, story arc, time lines, characters, etc.); reorganizing or rewriting whole paragraphs, sections, or chapters; suggesting further topics…yada-yada-yada. All this should be addressed during an early editing stage, before it gets to me.
2. I don't work on horror or material that contains very graphic descriptions of violence; however, mentioning in the manuscript that such things have occurred is fine.
Let’s talk about your project and figure out how we can achieve your vision. (It's helpful to include an excerpt from the middle of your manuscript in a Word doc.) I look forward to meeting you!
On my business card, I’ve included a saying from Arthur Plotnik that thrilled me when I read it because it perfectly encapsulates my philosophy: “You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”
Rest assured, I’m not a failed writer looking to make my mark on your hard work. I’m an enthusiastic professional who has found an outlet for language skills beyond pointing to typos in ads or on storefront windows. I love what I do, and I’m constantly improving by attending classes, reading not only within my field but for pleasure, and participating in social media editing groups.
For me, there's only one thing more satisfying than digging into a good story: being part of a team that makes it even better. There are algorithms that can spot misspelled words or a rogue comma, but only humans can read for context—distinguishing between homophones or noticing any flawed logic, for example. That’s where I come in, identifying and quietly disarming any land mines in a manuscript.
And now for the nitty-gritty. Here’s a breakdown of the sentence-level particulars I concentrate on:
• Correcting punctuation, spelling, grammar, syntax, capitalization, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of the original text
• Eliminating repetition, redundancy, wordiness, and incompleteness
• Substituting weak words or phrases with stronger alternatives
• Fixing or indicating any flawed logic (a character suddenly has red hair or walked through a locked door)
• Reading for overall clarity and sense with regard to the prospective audience (this includes watching out for jargon or dialect that readers may not be familiar with—for example, any British or Canadian terms)
• Imposing a consistent style and creating a style sheet to maintain your preferences
• Performing light fact-checking to verify content as needed—for example, looking up the spelling of Kathmandu but not checking on how a character would get from there to San Francisco; the author is wholly responsible for the facts
• Rearranging the order of sentences within paragraphs to better convey a point
• Deleting or querying nonessential elements for better flow
• Cross-checking references for consistency with their mentions in the text
• Flagging for possible biased or outdated language
• Applying knowledge from standard industry references, such as Merriam-Webster.com and The Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition
(My services are a combination of what Reedsy calls copyediting and proofreading. When adding me as a candidate, please ask for COPYEDITING. Thank you!)
---> Two things to note <---
1. I don't provide substantive/developmental editing, meaning "big picture" stuff: identifying and solving problems in the text (regarding plot, story arc, time lines, characters, etc.); reorganizing or rewriting whole paragraphs, sections, or chapters; suggesting further topics…yada-yada-yada. All this should be addressed during an early editing stage, before it gets to me.
2. I don't work on horror or material that contains very graphic descriptions of violence; however, mentioning in the manuscript that such things have occurred is fine.
Let’s talk about your project and figure out how we can achieve your vision. (It's helpful to include an excerpt from the middle of your manuscript in a Word doc.) I look forward to meeting you!
Services
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Literary Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Romance
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Young Adult
Certifications
- Certificate in Copy Editing
Work experience
Staff Copyeditor
Core K12
October, 2010
–
September, 2012
(almost 2 years)
Copyedited student assessment tests for grades K–12 in all subjects, on hard copy
and in MS Word, using The Chicago Manual of Style and multiple style sheets customized for various school districts throughout the United States. Wrote original text or found and edited appropriate public domain material, replacing words and altering sentence length for complexity according to specific Lexile measures using Core’s CMS. Worked closely with content editors and art/production department to ensure precise requirements were achieved and delivered on schedule.
Core K12 acquired the K-12 division of The Princeton Review in early 2009.
Copyeditor
Self-employed
January, 2010
–
Present
(about 10 years)
Portfolio (11 selected works)
The Thin Black Line: A Mike Walton Thriller
Simon Gervais
Mike Walton had experienced terrorism from every angle. As a covert field operations officer, he thought he'd seen it all. But that was before terrorism struck him directly at home. Suffering devastating physical injury and unthinkable personal loss, Mike had one of two choices: give up or fight back. And giving up wasn't in his constitution.Mike and his wife Lisa – a medical doctor and fellow... read more
Pressed Pennies: Life's Journey, Volume 4: A Road to Second Chances
Steven Manchester
“Steven Manchester writes about people, life, love and second chances in a warm and realistic way that goes beyond fabulous writing and straight into sigh-worthy, romance that is both relatable and magical. He breathes life into his characters and fills them with real emotion, real fears, insecurities and love. This is the kind of story that makes the reader want to curl up and lose themself i... read more
The Cutting Room (C.J. Townsend Thriller)
Jilliane Hoffman
Detective Manny Alvarez knows the body of a murdered Florida student is only the beginning—his investigation soon reveals a terrifying trend in nightclub abductions.Hotshot Assistant State Attorney Daria DeBianchi works the case too, hoping it will be the one that makes her career. It will—but for all the wrong reasons.Their only lead, notorious serial killer William Bantling, claims they are ... read more
Angel Wings
Howard Kaminsky
As a veteran member of the Providence police department's elite homicide squad, Detective Danny Martell has seen his fair share of dead bodies. But he’s never seen anything quite like this. Women around the city are being brutally murdered, their dead faces elaborately made up and fabric angel wings attached to their lifeless bodies. The attacks are immediately dubbed "the Angel Murders"—yet i... read more
Dark Days (Apocalypse Z)
Manel Loureiro
The electrifying sequel to international best seller Apocalypse Z The Russian-spawned virus that kills swiftly then ghoulishly resurrects its victims as ravenous cannibals has breached international borders. The infernal progression… From outbreak to epidemic and pandemic to sheer panic, the virus has shredded global civilization. Promised safe havens become deathtraps, lawlessness crumbles an... read more
An explosion outside his speakeasy draws Jimmy into a life-or-death chase Young Jimmy Quinn is delivering a bribe for the infamous racketeer Arnold Rothstein when a bomb goes off on Wall Street, killing thirty people and scaring every banker in the city right down to his spats. Twelve years later, Rothstein is dead, and Jimmy is doing his best to stay out of trouble, running a quiet little Man... read more
Perfectly Broken
Robert Burke Warren
A novel of sex, dads, and rock & roll. His rock star days may be behind him, but stay-at-home dad Grant Kelly's life is getting more interesting by the day. It's the beginning of the post 9/11 era, and he and his wife and four-year-old son have traded a New York City apartment for a Catskills farmhouse, where ghosts from the past, worries for the future, and temptations in the present converge... read more
Gooseberry Island: Life's Journey, Volume 3: A Road to Love
Steven Manchester
“Stunning.”– Crystal Book Reviews“It is amazing that Steven Manchester can take the same alphabet most of us use, create the same words most of us use, and arrange them so skillfully that they reach in and stir profound emotions in a reader. His ability to connect the reader with the characters’ deepest feelings, fears, hopes, dreams, and love is incredible.”– Long and Short Reviews“Once again... read more
Redemption Song
Tanya Anne Crosby
Raised as an only child, Caia Paine once believed she had everything she would ever need to live a rich and contented life. The last thing she ever expected was that she would wake up one morning, despairing, and so full of loathing that even the sky is darkened by the potency of her anger. After her only son, Jack, is taken from her in a tragic accident, Caia finds herself obsessed with the m... read more
Nicholas Colt…World-class guitarist with a crushed hand, private investigator with a revoked license. Currently settling into a nice quiet life of teaching music and spending time with his family. Or so he thinks.Diana Dawkins…Operative with the ultra-clandestine federal agency called The Circle. Smart, beautiful, deadly. She needs Colt’s help, and she’s willing to pay him well for it.The bad ... read more
Three installments of the New York Times–bestselling series set in a land of enchantment filled with magic, surprises, adventure, and—best of all—puns! The world of Xanth is a wacky one full of offbeat heroes and surprising journeys. In these three volumes of this hilarious series, characters bumble their way through many misadventures to find their happy ending on the other side, aided and hi... read more
Lisa has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Lisa did a sterling job with my MS, making it so much cleaner and better, and she got it done quicker than expected. Thanks!
AJ Stewart, January 2020
Reply from Lisa Kaitz
Lisa is a very talented editor. She went above and beyond what I asked for. As a first time author I was a little nervous about putting my book into the world, but having Lisa's thorough review has given me a whole new level of confidence in my work. I will definitely be using Lisa again!
Leah Cupps, December 2019
Read more
Reply from Lisa Kaitz
Working with Lisa was an excellent choice. She provided a thorough and in-depth edit of my manuscript that was exactly what I was looking for. She figured out my style quickly and was able to maintain it throughout the text. She found small errors I had made, as well as asking direct questions that led me to find places where I could improve the story. She provided that reader’s insight that is...
Read more
Sean McCutchen, November 2018
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