Editing + Coffee = Joy

Not only am I a certified editor with experience editing fiction, nonfiction, short stories, queries, grad school essays, business communications, and web copy, but I’m also a coach and an advocate. I have more than a decade of project management and mentoring experience in both the writing world and for Fortune 500 companies.

I have a journalism degree, an MBA, and an editing certificate from the University of Chicago, one of the few programs that focuses on developmental editing. This training has honed my skills in copy editing, line editing, plot and character development, dialogue, tension and conflict, themes, pacing, and all the elements of quality fiction. It also offered exploration into thesis development, organizational structure, and continuity of nonfiction pieces. My background in business, leadership, and strategy also gives me a unique perspective on many nonfiction topics.

And on top of the menagerie of experience, I am a writer. I have poured my soul into manuscripts and sheepishly handed them over to editors (yes, even editors need editors). So I understand how difficult it can be to edit your own work and how nerve-wracking it is to hand it over to someone else. My editing approach accounts for this. I strive to offer informative and instructive comments guiding writers in improving their manuscript and their craft. My past experience allows me to partner closely with authors to help them find their strengths and to strengthen their weaknesses bringing their writing to its peak.

I am an active member of the Editorial Freelance Association (EFA), ACES: The Society for Editing, and the Writers League of Texas. My involvement in these organizations sets standards that guide my works and keep me in tune with the latest trends, conversations, and education in the editing, writing, and publishing world.

A little about me personally, I live in Austin, Texas, with my husband, our loveable, obnoxious two boys, and one crazy pup. I played NCAA DI college soccer and love sports. I’ve lived all over the country and enjoy being outdoors except in the Texas summer. My favorite things are cooking, gaming with my kids, and, of course, curling up with a cup of coffee and a good book.