Raya P. Morrison

Raya P. Morrison – Editor

A story and copy editor & proofreader of literary & upmarket fiction, YA, fantasy, non-fiction. Would love to edit crime, mystery or occult!

Overview

Hi, I’m Raya! As a professional editor, I bring over 14 years of experience to every project I touch. Since my days at a music magazine in Toronto, I've been honing my craft as an editor. Nowadays, I'm a freelancer working with publishing houses like Nimbus and self-published authors, focusing on literary fiction, YA, fantasy, non-fiction (occult, history, local interest), and poetry. I'm also excited to be in the first wave of editors to join the New York-based Storywise Studio (Lauren Kay Writes).


Because of my experience in music journalism, I'd love to also edit books on music history, culture, or criticisms and artist biographies. I run my own literary journal, Blood & Bourbon. I also am a proofreader and copywriter for corporate clients like TD.


If you are looking for a copy or line edit of your manuscript, poetry, articles or professional documents–you have come to the right place! I will take you and your writing on a journey to discover the best, most comprehensive version of your text. I will be there to safeguard your voice like a treasure chest, but also to battle through all the grammatical, punctuation, and stylistic mishaps. I will be a champion for your work from the time we set sail until we anchor at a beautiful place.


I'm happy to do a 15-minute consultation before you choose to work with me and we can discuss what your goal with your manuscript is and the types of services you need at this time! I take on clients for one service or for the whole journey.


I am currently working on a developmental editing certification from Fictionary and can't wait to share this knowledge with my authors!


Testimonials:


"Raya was always clear – and that means a lot when you're working with words. She understood my writing style, and kept it intact through the editing process. She was responsive to my feedback, and never tried to shape me into something I’m not. If I had my pick of editors, I'd choose her every time!" -- Steve Skafte, The Dead Die Twice


"I enjoyed working with Raya as an editor. Her suggestions seemed well thought-out and were backed with good reasoning. She really listened to any concerns I had with proposed changes, and we had lots of interactive dialogue to work through difficult portions of text. Overall, I really like her collaborative editing style; she supported my work and accentuated my voice. Given the opportunity, I would definitely work with her again.” -- Lina Marques, author

Services
Fiction
Epic Fantasy Literary Fiction Poetry Short Story
Non-Fiction
History
Languages
English (CAN) English (US)
Certifications
  • Editing Certificate, George Brown College, 2018
  • Digital Media Arts Program, Seneca College, 2008

Work experience

Self-employed

Mar, 2019 — Present
A professional editor and proofreader of fiction, non-fiction, movie scripts, and magazine articles. A proofreader for corporate clients, like TD, reviewing marketing materials, and the Nova Scotia Legislature. Currently helping one of my authors query the first book in their fantasy series and looking for new editing opportunities.

Blood & Bourbon

Mar, 2017 — Present
- Is the owner and editor-in-chief for a local bi-annual literary journal. 

 - Manages a growing team of editors, curating materials for upcoming issues and looking for possibilities for readership growth. 

 - Responsible for developing the publication’s editing standards and style guidelines. 

 - Oversees the publishing process from start to finish.

 - Does structural, stylistic, and copy editing for short stories of various subject matter, short non-fiction and personal essays, and poetry; proofreads the finalized pieces and develops print layout.

Faze Magazine

Oct, 2018 — Jan, 2019 (3 months)
- Worked closely with the Editor in Chief and the writers to produce articles that fit the publication's tone and vision.

 - Wrote and edited articles in line with the magazine's message of female teen empowerment.

The Scene Magazine

Jan, 2013 — Jun, 2015 (over 2 years)
- Increased readership of the assigned music genre from the least to the second most-read topic in the magazine. - Managed a team of 25 journalists and photographers. 

 - Copy edited and proofread incoming articles (concert reviews, album reviews, interviews), and selected photos for the articles. 

 - Wrote SM copy to promote the articles.

 - Wrote over 130 articles for the magazine, ranging from live concert reviews to album reviews, news and promotional pieces. 

 - Shot and edited photographs, conducted interviews with musicians and promoters to increase engagement.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Of Mòinteach + Mantras

Crewe, Amanda

Amanda Maier

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

Gerard Malone, Stephens

Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading Query Letter Review
Oak Island Odyssey: A Masonic Quest

Scott Clarke, Scott Clarke

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Indexing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Angel of the Thorns

Vaccaro, Marcelo

Copy Editing Proofreading

Raya has 5 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jasmine D.

Jasmine D.

Feb, 2025

Raya was an amazing professional who took the time not only to respond to any questions I had along the process, but also to truly evaluate my work and edit it appropriately to my style. She worked with me rather than for me, which I sincerely appreciated. Thank you, Raya!😊
Jaime R.

Jaime R.

Jan, 2025

Raya was on point with every detail. I love how thorough and precise she was with my work. She finished quickly and was both friendly and professional. I would definitely work with her again!
ATL D.

ATL D.

Sep, 2023

Working with Raya was everything I hoped it would be and more! Highly recommend for all your editing needs!
Raya P.
Thank you so much! You are such a joy to work with! I hope that this is only a start of a long author-editor relationship. :)
Paul W.

Paul W.

May, 2023

Raya was amazing, guiding me through the editing process. As a first time author, I didn't know what to expect. Raya thoroughly explained the process up front which gave me peace of mind moving forward. Her insights greatly improved my manuscript and helped me grow as a writer. I strongly reco...
Read more
Xuming X.

Xuming X.

Feb, 2023

Simply great. Very professional and worth every penny.

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