I edit for storytelling

I offer what I call “story editing,” an editing approach also called “developmental” or “substantive” editing. This includes “line editing,” which focuses on individual words and sentences as well as overall story elements. I was a story editor when I wrote screenplays for an animation studio, and that fits what I do best. For more detail, see about the author.

What that doesn't mean:
While I will catch 95% or better of grammatical and punctuation shortcomings, certainly at a professional writing level, I'm not a copyeditor who is expert at all aspects of grammar and punctuation. My real strengths lie with story and narrative craft.

Editorial philosophy

I respect your voice. While I will offer suggestions, usually for reasons of clarity, meaning, or pace, I do not rewrite to fit my way of saying things. I aim to help you achieve your intent.

• If it’s to describe, then to create description that evokes the scene.
• If to increase tension, then to help create crisp writing for effect that does the job well.
• If to characterize, then to help create nuances through action, description, and dialogue that bring characters to life.
• If to create a riveting plot, then to suggest twists, point out detours and going astray, to restructure--I’ve even suggested new endings

      Focus of edits

• Tightening the writing (you may see lots of adjectives and adverbs go away)
• Story flow & pace, rooting out dead spots
• Plot flaws
• Continuity
• Staging action
• Description (that also characterizes)
• Character development
• Dialog that moves the story
• Dialog tags and action beats
• Transitions
• Use of active voice
• Proper word usage
• Clarity and weak word choices
• Overuse of words or characters
• Redundancies
• Spelling
• Sentence structure
• Coaching & instruction on writing craft