Melissa Haskin – Editor

As an experienced recipe editor, cookbook editor, and food writer, I'm an expert at fixing confusing or incomplete recipe instructions, correcting erroneous cook times, and noticing when ingredient amounts are fishy.

If your margarita recipe is actually a tequila sunrise recipe, I'll catch it. If there's mint in your picture, but not your ingredients list, I'll add it. And, if your recipe is missing essential details, I'll work with you to fill the gaps so that any person making your recipe will be able to do so easily and without question.

When I work on recipes, I rely on my professional training and experience, which includes work on staff at a cooking magazine and 15 years of experience in the writing and editing field. I have extensive knowledge of effective recipe construction, cuisines, dishes, ingredients, and cooking techniques.

I have edited and proofread recipes for brands with millions of readers (Cooking Light, for example). As a freelancer, I have worked on cookbooks for a Big Five publisher (DK Publishing/Penguin Random House), both as a copyeditor and developmental editor. I've proofread, copyedited, and developmentally edited cookbooks for top publishers. I've even served as a cookbook project editor. As a freelance food writer, my byline has appeared in Meredith, Condé Nast, and Hearst publications, among others. I hold a master's degree in magazine journalism that included two food writing courses (one with Jonathan Gold) and many courses in writing, editing, and style guides (I work in AP, APA, and Chicago).

Whether I'm working with chefs, influencers, or recipe developers, I strive to make the editing process easy and straightforward. Most of my clients like to work in Word using Track Changes until the document is in its final state. When the manuscript is ready for proofreading (the final check), we switch to PDF. Usually, I mark up the PDF and then the designer inputs those changes into the design software.

A helpful note if you're currently working on a cookbook: The biggest mistake most first-time cookbook authors make is jumping ahead to the design phase. Once a cookbook is in design software, any changes have to be made by someone with access to that software and your (massive) design files. Most for-hire cookbook editors do not work in design software, which means any changes they suggest have to be input by you or your designer. If you want to save yourself a lot of work (and money!), keep your cookbook in a Word file until you have completed all initial editing (this includes manuscript assessments, developmental edits, and copyedits).

Ready to collaborate? Send me a message! I love to hear from potential clients.