Maartje Scheltens - Editor
Experienced and friendly non-fiction editor with a passion for bringing your stories, research and ideas to a wide audience.
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Overview
I'm a freelance copy-editor with 12 years of experience as an editor in literature and history for a leading university press and 5 years as a freelancer. I understand what your publisher is looking for, and can work with you to develop an effective, marketable proposal and a professional, well-prepared manuscript.
It goes without saying that I will take care of tidying up your grammar, references and bibliography and making the index, if needed. But I’m also a keen reader and writer of creative non-fiction, and will have your readers at the forefront of my mind as I help you bring your ideas to life and polish your prose.
My academic background is in literature and history (I have an English degree from Cambridge and a PhD in seventeenth-century literary history). I have also copy-edited in classics, philosophy, environmental studies, education and linguistics and have a good knowledge of a number of European languages.
I love working with authors to present their material in the best possible way; I am flexible in how we achieve this, and can offer different levels of editing depending on your needs.
Feel free to contact me for a chat about how we might be able to work together.
Languages
English (UK)
Non-Fiction
Art
Biographies & Memoirs
History
Nature
Writing & Publishing
Certifications
- Professional Member of the Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading
Work experience
Freelance editor and copywriter
Freelance
March, 2017
–
Present
(over 5 years)
EDITING
I copy-edit books and articles in the humanities and social sciences, working with a number of publishers and authors.
WRITING
I write jacket copy for books, features and interviews for development publications in the university sector and promotional copy for events.
Editor, Humanities
Cambridge University Press
November, 2003
–
March, 2016
(over 12 years)
Managing Editor, Digital Humanities and Social Sciences (2013–2016)
Commissioning Editor, History (2012–2013)
Editor/Assistant Editor, Literature (2003–2012)
Portfolio (5 selected works)
Corbynism in Perspective: The Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn (Building Progressive Alternatives)
Roe-Crines Andrew, Crines, Andrew Scott
The Routledge Companion to Women and Monarchy in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Carney, Elizabeth D., Müller, Sabine
Magical Realism and Literature (Cambridge Critical Concepts)
Warnes, Christopher, Sasser, Kim Anderson
Place, Pedagogy and Play: Participation, Design and Research with Children
Khan, Matluba, Bell, Simon, Wood, Jenny
Animals and Society in Brazil, from the Sixteenth to Nineteenth Centuries
Camphora, Ana Lucia, Adelman, Miriam
Maartje has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Of the half dozen editors I requested bids from on Reedsy, Maartje was the only editor willing to take on my project. I found her fees to be very fair, but with her living in the UK, I found the dollar/pound conversion a nuisance. I have worked with other editors who over-edited my work, which tended to change my voice. Maartje was more sensitive not to over-edit. She did Developmental, Copy,...
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Bruce Hornak, April 2022
I have worked with other editors but Maartje did the best job of not over-editing my work while preserving my voice as much as possible. Response time to my emails is always within an hour. Even though the pound/dollar conversion adds 23%, her overall fees are still competitive with US competitors.
Bruce Hornak, March 2022
Reply from Maartje Scheltens
thorough professional, a wonderful editor to work with!
Ali Usman Qasmi, March 2022
Reply from Maartje Scheltens
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