Michael Jauchen

Michael Jauchen – Editor

PhD in English with over 15 years of editorial experience helping writers with both trade titles and academic monographs.

Overview

For the past fifteen years, I've worked as a literary coach and freelance editor, helping clients in a wide variety of academic disciplines and genres. I have a PhD in English, and before moving into freelance editing full-time, I taught college writing for eighteen years. I also served as a senior editor at a small independent publisher that specializes in trade nonfiction.

I work with authors who are at every step of the writing process. I’ve brainstormed book proposals and plot structures, offered developmental feedback on early drafts, line edited for clarity, and copy edited and proofread to make sure a manuscript totally shines. From the largest structural questions to the smallest grammatical details, I work with writers to discover what their manuscript is trying to do and how to help get it there.

I collaborate regularly with academic clients from disciplines as diverse as political science, English, film studies, history, cultural studies, the humanities, sociology, and even mechanical engineering. My book clients have published with Princeton University Press, Oxford University Press, Columbia University Press, Bloomsbury, Belt Publishing, and West Virginia University Press. I also edit journal articles, conference papers, abstracts, dissertations, and tenure materials. I’m deeply familiar with the forms and conventions of academic writing—I know how it works—and I can help translate your ideas into clear, accessible prose. I’m fluent in the major style guides (CMOS, MLA, and APA), and I also have experience working with non-native English speakers who are looking to polish their writing.

Whether you’re looking for broad feedback about a manuscript that’s just getting started or for a meticulously rigorous eye to put the final touches on a project to make it absolutely perfect, I can offer timely and personalized feedback to help you get there.

Services
Non-Fiction
Art Biographies & Memoirs History Sociology
Fiction
Literary Fiction
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 2004 — Present
I offer developmental editing to clients for both trade and academic nonfiction in fields such as film studies, history, English, Asian studies, sociology, and cultural studies. I line edit and copy edit journal articles, monographs, and multiauthor volumes for clients writing for both specialized academic audiences and general readers. I also copy edit and proofread dissertations and theses, and I edit fiction and creative nonfiction.

Belt Publishing

Jun, 2020 — May, 2024 (almost 4 years)
I served as primary editor and project manager for trade nonfiction titles, line edited and copy edited manuscripts with an eye toward popularizing writers’ styles for a general audience, and proofread trade nonfiction in coordination with chief editors and designer (using CMOS). Titles I’ve worked on have been reviewed or discussed in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and many other national publications.

Portfolio

The Minotaur at Calle Lanza

Madu, Zito

Belt Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Query Letter Review Book Coaching
Pontiac

Schutze, Jim

Deep Vellum Publishing

Developmental Editing
Cat and Bird: A Memoir

Mori, Kyoko

Belt Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Be Not Afraid of My Body: A Lyrical Memoir

Stewart, Darius

Belt Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Runaway: Notes on the Myths That Made Me

Keane, Erin

Belt Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Boys Come First

Foley, Aaron

Belt Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing

Michael has 9 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Benjamin R.

Benjamin R.

May, 2026

Incredibly thorough and insightful. This was my first time working with an editor who wasn’t hired by a conference committee and its was truly delightful. Will always do this moving forward.
Ray J.

Ray J.

Apr, 2026

I appreciate Michael's support. My manuscript needed a little line editing and proofreading. Michael did both with precision and was responsive to any questions I had.
Carol B.

Carol B.

Apr, 2026

Mike balanced encouragement with constructive direction. He met me where I was and helped me get to the next level. He was a good listener and always brought me back to my project.
Bahar M.

Bahar M.

Dec, 2025

Michael was an outstanding editor to work with. He helped me revise a peer-reviewed academic article, and his feedback was consistently sharp, thoughtful, and structurally insightful. I found myself agreeing with his recommendations every step of the way because they genuinely strengthened the ar...
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Raymond C.

Raymond C.

Aug, 2025

Michael provided a thoughtful, thorough editorial assessment that combined encouragement with sharp developmental insights. He took an experimental manuscript seriously and offered concrete ways to strengthen it. Professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with — I’ll be returning to him for...
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