Passion meets precision.

Academic, Creative Nonfiction, and Fiction Editing

As an ethnographer, I’m trained to listen and deeply understand other viewpoints. I bring this experience to my work as an editor. Through immersing myself in your perspective as a writer, I elevate the strongest version of your ideas, in your own voice.

I specialize in working with scholars in the humanities and social sciences, and those who use ethnographic and community-based participatory research methods. I also delight in editing creative nonfiction and fiction (including short stories, essays, and books). I hold a certificate in editing from the University of Chicago.

Services

  • Reviewing a piece of writing to ensure clarity, correctness, and adherence with the relevant style guides and dictionaries. This includes editing for grammar, punctuation, syntax, and spelling. References will also be checked for formatting and consistency.

  • Working with a text to improve the organization, shape the overall vision and presentation of ideas, and refine the prose.

  • Supporting writers in setting and meeting collaboratively developed goals. This may include project planning, developing personalized organizational and time management systems, reviewing works-in-progress, and offering encouragement along the way!

  • "Working with Melissa as a copyeditor for my fiction manuscript has been fantastic. It is a remarkable experience to be so in sync with one’s editor. From the start I felt that she understood both the vision and the voice of my novel, which gave me a deep sense of trust as she worked through my book. Melissa’s attention to detail, responsiveness, professionalism, and kindness are all unparalleled. I will recommend her far and wide…and when I write my next book, she’ll be my first call!"

    Noa Silver, Author

  • “Melissa did an amazing job reviewing my PhD dissertation. She was deeply committed and provided me thorough feedback, from proposing a more logical structure down to the level of grammar. She is a kind, energetic, and responsible person, and her feedback was key to my work and encouraging me to push and finish my degree. It was a pleasure to work with her. ”

    Laura Efron, PhD, Historian

  • "Melissa is an attentive, reliable, and meticulous copyeditor and proofreader—she is terrific to work with! Over the years, she's worked on projects for us ranging from industry reports to blog posts by established scholars, as well as by graduate and undergraduate students. Melissa is a collaborative and effective worker within and across teams on cross-cultural, international research; she is thorough, organized, and a real pleasure to work with."

    Jenny Fan, Research Institute Manager

  • "I'm thrilled to recommend Melissa. Her strong work ethic, precision, and reliability makes her a standout and ideal person to work with. She effortlessly adapts to new challenges, fostering a positive and flexible work environment. Melissa is a friendly collaborator, and her problem-solving skills and effective communication ensure seamless project execution. Working with Melissa has taught me a lesson in professionalism, efficiency, and collaboration."

    Erica Belli, Educator and Project Manager at PhotovoiceWorldwide

I provide each of my potential clients with a custom proposal and estimate. My rates are derived from guidelines provided by the Editorial Freelancers Association. If you’d like to discuss your project and learn more, feel free to reach out to schedule a free consultation!