Ray Sylvester

Ray Sylvester – Editor

Developmental editing and copy editing for the nonfiction world: health, nutrition, fitness, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Overview

I’m a writer and editor specializing in health, fitness, diet, nutrition, technology, and business/entrepreneurship. I'm driven to work with authors and clients who want to help people change their lives and see the bigger picture.

I have significant experience in the worlds of ecommerce, digital innovation, market research, and online marketing, including:

- writing and editing for Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income brand

- marketing and business development for third-party sellers at Amazon

- social media market research at Nielsen

- content marketing and strategy at an ecommerce design startup

- healthcare-technology market research and journalism at the Advisory Board Company

I’m also a Guild-Certified Practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method, a somatic approach to better movement through cultivating awareness.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Computers & Internet Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Health & Wellbeing Self-Help & Self-Improvement Sports & Outdoors Technology
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Smart Passive Income

Jan, 2019 — Jun, 2022 (over 3 years)
I managed the blog at Smart Passive Income, writing and editing SEO-rich content for a worldwide audience of digital entrepreneurs. I also produced the SPI Podcast with Pat Flynn and AskPat 2.0, and created and cohosted Flops, an original podcast about outrageous failure and how people overcome it.

Buy Box Experts

Jun, 2017 — Jan, 2020 (over 2 years)
I helped an agency with no content strategy, a sparse blog, and a basic understanding of its unique selling proposition (USP) find its voice and establish a regular publishing cadence of high-SEO value articles and in-depth industry analyses. I also wrote original copy for listings of several of Buy Box Experts' Amazon seller clients.

Winning Edits

Mar, 2017 — Jan, 2019 (almost 2 years)
I was a lead writer and editor (including ghostwriting) for a digital agency that created content for brands that crave a close-knit and prosperous relationship with their customers. We edited books, produced top-notch web content, and even published an in-house magazine called Hyperlink, to which I was a key contributor.

The Storied Future

Feb, 2017 — Present
I currently produce The Storied Future Podcast for this B2B marketing agency. The show features interviews with experts, innovators, and purpose driven leaders who have harnessed the power of narrative to create lasting change. I've also worked as a writer and editor, creating copy and web content for clients such as Microsoft, GoDaddy, and SAP Concur.

Rocket Code

Aug, 2015 — Mar, 2017 (over 1 year)
I helped develop the content strategy and build the blog and email marketing channels for a digital agency focused on website optimization and software solutions for ambitious ecommerce brands.

Self-employed

Sep, 2012 — Present
As an independent writer and editor, I help ambitious authors and agencies turn their ideas into top-notch content.

Amazon Services (Amazon.com)

Sep, 2012 — Jun, 2014 (over 1 year)
As a member of the third-party seller account management and marketing team at Amazon, I uncovered business development opportunities and created marketing materials aimed at helping third-party sellers grow their business on the platform. I created and edited content for email marketing materials, seller-facing videos, seller surveys, printed collateral, and other communications and initiatives.

Portfolio

The Art is Long: Big Health and the New Warrior Activist

Frank Forencich

Climate change, habitat destruction and species extinctions threaten our biosphere. Political chaos, inequality and extremism wreak havoc with our societies and culture. Obesity, diabetes, dep... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Become More Flexible and Less Stiff in Just 15 Minutes A Day

Hash, Josh

Independently published

Made with Reedsy
Living Inside the Health Matrix: Why We Can’t Stay Healthy Alone and What Truly Keeps Us Well

Tang, Tyler Yaqing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Eat Well Supplement Well Digest Well: A Nonconformist Approach To Optimal Health

Dan Corrigan

Independently Published

Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Badass Class: The Real Life Guide to Training for Endurance Sports

Howdyshell MS, Joe

Independently published

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Hidden Talent: How to Employ Refugees, the Formerly Incarcerated & People With Disabilities

DeLong, David

Longstone Press

Editorial Assessment
Made with Reedsy
I, Leader: Leadership Philosophy from the Army and Startups for the Age of AI

Lo, Tak

Free Expression Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
WEIGHTLESS: The Science of Effective Weight Loss

Lamont, Stewart

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Be Present: Why It’s Time to Control Your Digital Habits

Pitt, Gabriel

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
One Disease: Redox Imbalance: How stress becomes disease

Sherer, Michael

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Stroke Support and Survival Guide: The Self Help Plan & Personal Journey of a Holistic Physical Therapist Assistant and Her Father

Naumann, Kathi

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Untethered: Overcome Distraction, Build Healthy Digital Habits, and Use Tech to Create a Life You Love

Ninkovic, Sini

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Expansional Balance: A Holistic Exercise Approach To Better Health And Fitness

Dougan, Brian

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Indexing
Made with Reedsy
Passing Notes to Strangers: Craft Messages That Connect, in Business and in Life

Flynn, David

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Deploy Empathy: A practical guide to interviewing customers

Hansen, Michele

Proofreading
The Paleo Dieter's Missing Link: The Complete, Practical Guide To Living The Paleo Diet by Adam Farrah (2014-01-22)

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Leangains Method: The Art of Getting Ripped. Researched, Practiced, Perfected.

Berkhan, Martin

Copy Editing
The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation

Michael Matthews

Developmental Editing
New Old Way: Ancestral Health and Sapience for the Modern World

Forencich, Frank

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Innovation Wars: Driving Successful Corporate Innovation Programs

Bales, Scott

Copy Editing
Superfans: The Easy Way to Stand Out, Grow Your Tribe, and Build a Successful Business

Flynn, Pat

Copy Editing
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

Eyal, Nir

Copy Editing
Paleo Fitness: Maximize Your Performance

Leslie Klenke

Paleo Fitness is 280+ pages of workouts, tips, and delicious, performance-based recipes from thought leaders in both the Paleo and fitness communities! This e-book is a must-have for anyone in... read more
Copy Editing
Paleo Magazine's 3rd Annual Holiday Cookbook 2015

Kate Miller

The Paleo Magazine's 3rd Holiday Cookbook brings you 75 favorite holiday-inspired recipes from members of the Paleo community. Every delicious recipe is Paleo-friendly - no grains, gluten, leg... read more
Copy Editing
10x Marketing Formula: Your Blueprint for Creating 'Competition-Free Content' That Stands Out and Gets Results

Garrett Moon

The dream of content marketing is that it’s going to be a magical funnel that drips money into your bank account. Its lure is that it will create an inbound sales machine.But what should you d... read more
Copy Editing
Getting Back to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality, and Turn Your Trials into Triumphs

Marc Chernoff

Empowering advice for overcoming setbacks, from the authors of a wildly popular blog that's read by millions of engaged readers each monthThrough their popular blog Marc & Angel Hack Life, Mar... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Let Go: Expanded Edition: How to Transform Moments of Panic into a Life of Profits and Purpose

Pat Flynn

In this expanded edition of Let Go, best-selling author and successful online entrepreneur Pat Flynn explores what it means to let go of the things that keep us from the journeys we yearn to f... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Digestive Health with REAL Food: The Cookbook

Aglaee Jacob

The recipes in Digestive Health with REAL Food: The Cookbook expand on the information first introduced in Digestive Health with REAL Food by providing 75 more delicious recipes to help you bu... read more
Copy Editing
Paleo Magazine Readers' Favorites Holiday Recipes: All Paleo, Primal and Grain Free

Paleo Magazine Readers’ Favorites Holiday Recipes Cookbook brings together favorite recipes from our past issues as well as recipes from members of the amazing Paleo community, to give you ove... read more
Copy Editing
Paleo Magazine Readers' Favorites Cookbook: Favorites Paleo, Primal and Grain-Free Recipes

Paleo Magazine

Paleo Magazine Readers' Favorites Cookbook is a collection of over 50 of the most popular recipes from past issues of Paleo Magazine, along with great recipes submitted by actual readers. Each... read more
Copy Editing
Paleo Magazine

Paleo Magazine is dedicated to giving people the tools and information they need to make the best personal choices for living the Paleo lifestyle. Each issue is packed with information on diet... read more
Copy Editing
Dough Nation

Nadine Grzeskowiak

A compelling story from an emergency/trauma/critical care nurse's perspective of her own struggle to regain health after 40 years of being misdiagnosed as many different maladies instead of be... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Digestive Health with REAL Food

Aglaee Jacob MS RD

Health begins in the gut. In addition to digestive disorders, many other health problems can stem from damage to your intestines, including migraines, skin problems, autoimmune conditions, and... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing

Ray has 15 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Tyler T.

Tyler T.

Aug, 2025

Ray has been exceptional throughout the editing process. He took initiative in shaping my original drafts into clearer, more concise versions while preserving my voice and intent. His thoughtful questions helped me refine my ideas and improve the overall structure of the manuscript. Ray’s profess...
Read more
Joe H.

Joe H.

Oct, 2024

Ray was awesome! Big picture knowledge helped me select the right services, and then his specific editing chops were top notch. Highly recommend!
Lora C.

Lora C.

Oct, 2024

Ray is very professional and helped me with a good developmental edit. He made my manuscript very easy to understand and delivered on the promise of what was in my book description. Thank you!
Quincy B.

Quincy B.

Sep, 2024

It was great working with Ray. He was professional, courteous and responsive even though it was my first time working with an editor and writing a book. I highly recommend working with him.
David D.

David D.

Jul, 2024

Ray was a pleasure to work with. I asked him to do a sensitivity review of my long non-fiction book about employing refugees, the justice-involved and people with disabilities. He adapted easily to my changing schedule, his editorial comments were spot on -- insightful and frank but not overly fu...
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