You can count on me to treat you and your manuscript with respect and kindness. As a writer, I know how it feels to receive feedback.
Wherever you are in your writing process, I can help. All queries are welcome.
Do you need a big-picture look at your manuscript, a copy and stylistic edit, or a proofread? If you don't know what to do next, I would be pleased to explain the options.
My services include
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coaching
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manuscript evaluations
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developmental editing (aka "big picture" or substantive editing)
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copy and stylistic editing (aka line editing)
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proofreading
I also offer three online workshops, via Zoom, through the University of New Brunswick's College of Extended Learning. These are good value and enable you to improve your writing before engaging the services of a professional editor:
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How to Edit Your Own Novel
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How to Edit Dialogue in Fiction
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Fixing Common Writing Errors
You can find out more and register here: https://www.unb.ca/cel/enrichment/leisure-learning/courses-online.html.
Are you interested in becoming a fiction editor and working with authors? In October 2024, I'll be teaching Jennifer Lawler's Beginning and Intermediate Developmental Editing for Fiction courses via Club Ed.
Find out about these courses and register here: https://www.clubedfreelancers.com/courses-instructor-led/
About
When you hire an editor, you're investing in their professional judgment. You can have confidence in my work.
I'm a professional development enthusiast, and my skills are sharp and current. Since starting my own business in 2016, I've taken many courses, workshops, and webinars on fiction editing, copy and stylistic editing, and proofreading.
Your manuscript will benefit from what I have learned about fiction writing from author-instructors such as Tim Lott, Ellen Sussman, Tiffany Yates Martin, David Corbett, Robin Black, David Lynn, Wayne Grady, Susan Pohlman, Kathy Page, Merilyn Simonds, and Jennifer Lawler, as well as Sarah Burton and Jem Poster, the co-founders of Cambridge University's master's program in creative writing.
I have also been fortunate to hear these great writers speak about their books and their craft: Delia Owens, Joyce Carol Oates, Madeleine Thien, Ian Williams, Mary Karr, Lisa Moore, Naomi Klein, Susan Orlean, Jennifer Clement, Sandra Gulland, and Paul Theroux.
I've been editing since 2008. I worked as a senior Parliamentary/Hansard editor before starting my own business in 2016.
For my copy editing skills, I was nominated for a Rosemary Shipton Award for Excellence in Book Publishing at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in 2015.
I have expert-level knowledge of grammar and punctuation. Prior to 2008, I taught English to speakers of other languages (primarily grammar and writing to international undergraduate students and to Francophone military personnel).
I belong to and volunteer for Editors Canada.
I hold Government of Canada Secret (Level II) security clearance.
On a more personal note, I love reading, travel, and gardening. Our garden caters to birds and pollinators. We don't use herbicides or pesticides, and we don't rake our leaves in the fall.
Client comments
Hearing from satisfied writers and publishing professionals is one of the best parts of my job:
"Shelley enhanced the reader's perspective, preserved my intentions, and handled the difficulties related to sailing and sexuality. As well, she organized the unique foreign-word problems professionally. In short, she exceeded my expectations and those of my publisher." - Gerald Knight, author of the Legends of Lainjin series
"Just finished reading your report. You have more than justified my belief that you were the right choice for an editor. This is precisely the critique I have needed. As I read it, I was thankful for your kind words but more thankful for your comments on the weaknesses of the book. You have broken a dam, in a sense. I am very excited again after being disheartened and perhaps disillusioned about my own abilities. I cannot thank you enough." – fiction writer
"I can't overstate the value of your critique. I have learned a lot about creative writing. You have forced me to rethink and reshape many parts of my story. I hope you'll like the results, for which you deserve much credit." – fiction writer
"I have had a chance to go through the first chapter or two of your editing and have found that your work is very impressive as always." - fiction writer
"Just do what you can with it and polish it and make it all lovely. In other words, give it the special Shelley treatment!" – magazine editor-in-chief
"Absolutely bloody brilliant as ever. Thank you!" – magazine editor-in-chief
"The author really likes your reworking of the back cover copy. Good job! He was also really impressed with the author queries I forwarded to him, the language issues (French and Italian), and the baseball one in particular." – publisher
"Thanks, Shelley. The final book owes much to your rigorous proofreading."
– managing editor
"It's a pleasure to recommend your skill and ability." – creative director
Experience
Although I specialize in editing fiction, I have also edited and proofread
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creative non-fiction
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guides and manuals
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application software
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web pages and blog posts
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magazines
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recipes
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poetry
As the first chief sub-editor of The Maritime Edit magazine, I fact checked and copy edited the text and proofread the final layouts for volumes one through four. I also created the house style guide.
As a senior Parliamentary editor at the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, I created Hansard transcripts, verified content, and followed styles and formats prescribed by the house style guide. I also trained new editors and was the language/style resource person.
Education and training
Numerous editing-related courses, workshops, and webinars
Club Ed Certificate in the Developmental Editing of Fiction (August 2023)
Certificate in Publishing, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
Master of Education in Administrative Leadership, Simon Fraser University
Bachelor of Arts in English, University of British Columbia
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics and TESOL, University of Leicester
RSA/University of Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, International House, Hastings
Conferences
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Editors Canada Conference 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
San Miguel de Allende Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Office dogs
I share my home office with Sophie (l) and Teddy (r).
They doze under my desk and keep me company.
And they're responsible for office morale. Just look at those sweet little faces.
Contact
Thank you for visiting my website. How can I help? I welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs and provide a quotation.
eganediting at gmail dot com