Sara Walker – Editor

For more than 25 years I have worked in publishing, helping writers hone their manuscripts and ready them for publication. I started my career with Condé Nast and Random House, and I am currently a freelance copy editor and proofreader for Sourcebooks, Apollo, and Clavis Publishing. I have worked on a variety of contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from novels and memoirs to mysteries and fantasy. I also edit children's board and picture books. When I'm not hanging out with my "six-pack" (four grown, very cool kids and dashing English-teacher husband), my most fulfilling moments are those spent on a couch with a cup of dark coffee and an editing pen (or mouse!) in hand helping writers perfect their work.

As my daughter would say, copyediting is “my jam.” It’s not only my profession but also my passion. I have a remarkably keen eye for typos and am a bloodhound when it comes to making sure the blue mitten on page 36 does not become a black one on page 272, that the young girl with a southern backwoods accent at the start of the novel doesn't begin to sound incongruously eloquent as the story progresses. I also have extensive experience revising awkward or unclear phrasing to make the language clear and accessible to readers from a variety of backgrounds. An equally important part of my role as a copy editor is fact-checking; I am assiduous in verifying terms and place-names with legitimate, vetted sources so that manuscripts are free of factual inaccuracies, whether it’s something as simple as the spelling of Dunkin’ Donuts or as obscure as the year the artichoke was first brought to the U.S. While some people get a brain thrill from playing the newest Fortnite or creating TikToks, I have fun looking up spellings in Merriam-Webster and Encyclopaedia Britannica and reading esoteric grammar points in The Chicago Manual of Style.

Part of my expertise comes from the fact that I have always been drawn to words and to books. A well-written book can challenge our beliefs or affirm them. A great novel or memoir or fantasy can take us outside of ourselves and offer new perspectives, send us on trips to new places, help us meet new people. (I walked around the house feeling as though my best friend had moved away when I finished Sena Jeter Naslund's superbly written novel Ahab's Wife [William Morrow, 2005]. What was Una up to?) And if, like me, you simply love to read, there's nothing quite as satisfying as a superbly crafted sentence. Ever considered Fitzgerald's description of "the sparkling odor of jonquils" in The Great Gatsby? Yowza. Or what about Fredrik Backman's apt description of our collective 21-century angst in his opening few paragraphs of Anxious People (Atria, 2020). Honest, if pretty darned sad—and also terrifically amusing. And if you haven't already, check out Lo Patrick's clever dialogue and vibrant metaphors from sassy-britches Kay in The Floating Girls (Sourcebooks, 2022). It's wickedly funny.

If you have found Reedsy, you are no doubt proud of the hard work YOU have done so far and want your book to find success once it leaves your hands. That's where I come in. If your manuscript is in need of a meticulous copy editor and proofreader, I will go through it with the proverbial fine-toothed comb, reading it thoroughly and thoughtfully to root out and correct basic spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. Readers should be able to enjoy your story seamlessly, without getting tripped up on a typo or mired in misspellings. Do you need more substantive comments about how to fix awkward phrasing or sticky syntax? l will offer suggestions for rewording, with detailed explanations about your narrative content, including plot and pacing as well as character development. Of course, every author has his/her/their own unique voice, and maintaining the author's creative intent—ensuring that the copy is free of errors and that it flows well from start to finish without being rigid or dogmatic about grammar and style—is central to any good copy editor's philosophy and success.

Regardless of the genre of writing or the target age group of your book, my job as your copy editor and proofreader is to help YOU offer a satisfying, successful, error-free reading experience to your audience.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,

Sara

Here is just a sampling of reviews I've received on my work:

"I’ve hired Sara W. many times as a copyeditor and proofreader for our books, and have found her to be a joy to work with. She is extraordinarily skilled and detail-oriented, a consummate professional, and always meets her deadlines. Any book she works on has been improved by her sharp eye." —Julia Abramoff, Publisher and Director of Editorial at Apollo Publishers"A big thank you for your incredibly hard work on this offer. It's always a pleasure to read your enthusiastic emails, receive your excellent manuscripts and feedback, and hear your well-considered advice. Keep up the good work!" –Jolien De Groof, Production Editor, Clavis Publishing"Great job on The Night and Its Moon!" - Heather Hall, Associate Managing Editor, Sourcebooks"I wanted to thank you for taking a look at The Floating Girls. [The editor] forwarded me some of your comments . . . they made my day (month is more like it!) . . . Thanks again for your hard work." – Lo Patrick, The Floating Girls"I so appreciated receiving your lovely note with the copyedits. Thank you for taking the time to write so thoughtfully about the book — and thank you for the great copyediting job! I was glad to be in such good hands." – Katherine Towler, The Penny Poet of Portsmouth"Thanks for proofreading DEMOCRACY — I know that was a complex book and I appreciate all the work you put into it!" – Kelly Winton, Counterpoint Press"Thanks to Sara W. for her accurate proofreading." –Lamar Waldron, Acknowledgments, The Hidden Assassination of JFK"Thanks SO much for all the help. The proofread correx are excellent, [the author] really enjoyed working with you and we appreciated all the extra work you did from the xeroxing, mailing, proofing, coordinating with [the author], etc. This was a beast of a project and you really helped make it easier on everyone involved." –Kelly Winton, Production Editor, Counterpoint Press