Overview
I love collaborating with authors to help them make their work the best it can be. Beyond editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other (very important!) minutiae, I also like to take a holistic approach. I'm not afraid to try reworking the text to ensure the best outcome. As I read, I'll ask questions like: Is the author's voice consistent? Would these paragraphs flow better in a different order? Does this reveal too much of the plot?
Tracking details throughout a book is like a game to me, and I keep exhaustive style guides for every project. If a character's eye color suddenly and unintentionally changes, I'll let you know. If I think a word or phrase is becoming repetitive or overused, I'll suggest ways to vary the language. My goal is to keep the reader fully absorbed in the book, and my passion is polishing and elevating the author's words to ensure their voice comes through and tells a great story.
I was an editor (3.5 years) at a nonfiction publishing house that also had sci-fi/fantasy and mystery/thriller imprints, and my job entailed ushering pieces through the entire editing process, from raw manuscript to printed book. I have experience as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader (5 years) working on educational children's books covering topics including history, biology, engineering, physics, and psychology. I also worked as an editor/proofreader at an advertising agency (6.5 years), where I looked over all outgoing documents, from proposals and reports to advertisements and social media posts. I have worked extensively using Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, and I am familiar with AP style.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Crowley Webb and Associates
I edited and proofread all outgoing work from the advertising agency and adhered to Chicago Manual of Style or AP style, as dictated by the client. I worked with clients in numerous industries and sectors, including pharmaceuticals, banking, welding and cutting, health insurance, nonprofit/fundraising, industrial hand tools, healthcare, culturals, and higher education. I worked with writers, graphic designers, video editors, and web developers to create user-friendly pieces including printed brochures, billboards, websites, blog posts, packaging, annual reports, and television commercials.
Self-employed
As a freelance writer/editor/proofreader, I have worked with a number of clients and companies to develop books, websites, and various collateral. This experience includes writing and/or editing more than 15 educational children's books. I also wrote and edited the website copy and edited all collateral for a local restaurant, and this project won a Gold ADDY for brand campaign at the 2019 AAF Buffalo American Advertising Awards.
Prometheus Books
In this position, I edited or proofread over 50 nonfiction titles and over 15 fiction titles. I communicated directly with authors to work through all stages of the editing and publishing process, from raw manuscript to printed book. I became very familiar with Chicago Manual of Style, and I created a unique style guide for every project.
Portfolio
Mariel has 2 reviews
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Mollie T.
Dec, 2022
Kristie P.
Oct, 2022
