Rita Ray – Editor

Looking to bring your story to the next level but aren’t sure how? You need an editor.

If you have worked on solidifying your overall content and structure, but you need someone to look at your work—line by line, word by word—you need a copyeditor and, eventually, a proofreader.

Finding the “write” (right) person can be hard enough in a sea of professionals. Here’s why I am the right copyediting and proofreading professional for you.

🖋️ Professional Editor at Your Service

I have been helping fellow word nerds reach their audience as a freelancer since 2016, starting out as a part-time editor before launching my full-time career. My clients include independent authors, publishers (including a Big Five), businesses (like Fortune 500 businesses), and other editors, and I work on projects ranging from fiction to nonfiction, technical data sheets to memoirs. However, my passion lies in fiction, where I help writers bring their worlds in their voices to their audiences.

🖋️ Qualifications

It’s not enough for someone to hang a shingle out as an editor. Training is required. I loved obtaining my BA in English. Writing workshops and classes where we went on linguistic deep dives were my favorite courses—that’s where I likely got my first editorial taste. I found I had a knack for helping others with their words. A few years after graduating, I took a job at a magazine, which gave me my first opportunity at editing. However, it was there I realized my English degree alone wasn’t enough. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), where I took editing courses, even assisting one of the instructors with a slide deck for a different EFA course. Since then, I have been constantly training and learning—any good editor never stops. I have joined the American Copy Editors Society (ACES), the Publishing Professionals Network (PPN), and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), where I participate in webinars to hone my skills.

🖋️ Area of Expertise

While I have worked on a broad range of materials, fiction and creative nonfiction are my jam. I especially have experience with copyediting or proofreading middle grade, young adult, contemporary, historical, sci-fi, and fantasy, as demonstrated in my portfolio. I use my keen eye to help fix grammar, ensure clarity, and practice consistency while copyediting and further smooth lines and negotiate head-hopping while line editing. When it comes to proofreading, either in Word or in a proof, I help eliminate any egregious errors that can be left behind by going through Track Changes or minor rewrites.

🖋️ Let’s Collaborate

If you are seeking an editor to elevate your manuscript to its fullest potential, I’m here to help! Whether you’re an aspiring author embarking on your literary journey or a seasoned professional seeking a fresh perspective, I’m ready to lend my expertise and passion to your project. Let’s take this creative journey together and bring you closer to your audience, one edit at a time.