Melinda Crouchley - Editor

Name: Melinda Crouchley
Address: Portland, OR, USA
Telephone: +1 407-233-3331

I'm a development editor who is passionate about collaborating with writers. Specializing in Young Adult, Dystopia & Scifi.

Overview

I'm a developmental and line editor who is passionate about working with authors/writers to improve their craft on a structural and line level. My goal is to foster a collaborative, shame-free editorial process with the ultimate outcome of serving up the best story possible.

As a current freelance editor and former Managing Editor at Ooligan Press, I've had the pleasure of editing and publishing manuscripts across a diverse array of genres including YA, literary fiction, speculative fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs.

More About Me:
I am also a writer/author so I deeply understand and am empathetic to the vulnerability and sensitivity of having your work edited. I strive to make the process as pain-free and compassionate as possible.

My first three novels were published independently and are now included in the Multnomah County Library digital collection.

Before I transitioned to editorial work, I spent a decade as a multimedia marketing and communications specialist. In my spare time, I manage a Little Free Library/food pantry in my neighborhood. As you can see, books are basically my life.

Services

Developmental Editing

Editorial Assessment

Languages

English (US)

Non-Fiction

Biographies & Memoirs

Fiction

Dystopian

Literary Fiction

Young Adult

Certifications

Book Publishing
English Literature
Technical Writing
Digital Media Design

Work experience

Project and Acquisitions Manager

Overcup Press

June, 2021 – Present (4 months)

- Manage book publication timelines for editorial and production schedules
- Coordinate communications with authors, publishers, freelancers, and printers
- Provide guidance and project support to press interns
- Write and edit content for books and marketing materials
- Review manuscript submissions and provide acquisitions suggestions to publishers

Associate Editor

The Community Company

October, 2020 – June, 2021 (8 months)

- Editing several dozen articles per week, per various partners’ style guides, often on very tight deadlines. Providing detailed feedback and assisting with several rounds of revisions.
- Regularly meeting with Managing Editor to discuss challenges and successes and report on departmental metrics.
- Delivering content to media partners via content management systems on or before the deadline.
- Overseeing article publication links and providing metrics reports (articles edited, published, etc.).
- Pushing member content live on various properties daily.
- Updating editorial queue and calendar.

Managing Editor

Ooligan Press

April, 2019 – June, 2020 (about 1 year)

- Lead the content edit, copy edit, typecode, and proofread of print and electronic books
- Manage project based editing teams, compile edits, and write notes
- Construct and supervise editorial production schedule and coordinate with other departments
- Correspond with authors, individual book editors, and project team managers

Melinda Crouchley Editorial

Self-employed

September, 2018 – Present (about 3 years)

- Provide professional freelance writing, developmental editing, line editing, and book coaching services
- Member of the Northwest Editors Guild, ACES, Willamette Writers, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators