Overview
More than 15 years editing experience, several years as a writing coach and writing mentor, more than two decades as a writer, a masters in professional and technical writing, an undergraduate English degree and psychology minor from Duke University, and over a decade running my own small press publishing award-winning nonfiction and children's books inform me as I work energetically and thoughtfully with authors.
My most extensive experience is with nonfiction (especially memoirs) related to health, psychology, and wellness and children's books related to health, mental health, and learning differences.
When working with me, writers will feel my full focus and my high regard for their work and their stories. Because editing is work that I enjoy and feel I am highly skilled at, I do it with tremendous joy and dedication. Because I understand the trust that an author places in me by opening themselves to my edits, I hold writers' stories with awe and tenderness. When this understanding exists in the writer/editor relationship, I've witnessed stronger collaborations that lead to better books. Both as a writer working with various editors and as an editor working with many writers over the years, I've learned how extensive, deeply engaged feedback can transform manuscripts.
“I can’t give Erin enough credit—from developmental to final editing, she knew exactly what my story needed, and after about nine months of creative push and pull, she made a brilliant observation that gave my book the beginning I had been searching for, my opening equivalent of Cheryl Strayed’s hiking boot going over the ledge of the PCT in Wild. Erin is a dream editor, one I will always choose if I can.” Aimee Ross, author of Permanent Marker: A Memoir
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Silver Nautilus Award 2020, 2022
- 2022 Third Place, General Nonfiction, National Federation of Press Women
- 2022 First Place Award, Nonfiction, Arkansas Press Women
Work experience
Self-employed
Writing coach, business writing (including organizational story development), and editing for essays and books.
Chi Omega Foundation
Draft foundation materials including appeals, brochures, speeches, executive staff letters, email blasts, scripting, donor proposals, The Column newsletter (70+ pages), articles for The Eleusis (circulation over 220,000), and more for the largest women’s fraternal organization and the second largest women’s organization in the U.S. 5–10 hours weekly, 2011–2019. Monthly projects through the present.
Self-employed
Run this “small press for big voices” publishing award-winning nonfiction and children’s books. Sole employee working with freelance designer and interns to select, edit, design, publish, and market nearly 30 books while also providing editing services and publishing and marketing consultations.
Literature and Medicine (Journal) / Johns Hopkins University Press
Managing Editor for academic journal, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, responsible for all levels of edit, direct author communication, maintenance of journal website, and coordination with Executive Editor.
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
Instructor responsible for curriculum development and instruction of professional writing workshops for approximately 40 graduate students per semester. Individual student writing tutor.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Instructor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing’s First Year Writing Program responsible for curriculum development, instruction, and grading for approximately 50 students per semester.
Portfolio
