Frances C.

Oscar Wilde once said, “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” Shouldn’t you? If you’re a passionate writer, that means finding the most competent developmental and content editor or writing coach. My experience as a an editor and author in general nonfiction and academic publishing means I am especially well equipped to help those looking to complete a book, book proposal, dissertation, peer-reviewed article or blog. Since 2023, I’ve helped 9 first-time authors produce award-winning books as their developmental and content editor. In fact, while 10% of books at my hybrid publisher won awards, a whopping 45% of the books I edited won—that’s 4.5x better. As a developmental and content editor, I’ve worked with a wide range of subjects: communication, culture, education, health, immigration, insurance, leadership, memoir, nutrition, sales, taxes, and wellness. I’ve also guided authors from all walks of life including a cardiologist, a chairman of Veteran Affairs, a mayor, real estate broker, several C-suite executive, tax consultant, life coaches—as well as a 14-year-old high school student. I always strive to help my authors create a viable structure for their overall book, ensuring that each chapter is strategically organized while examples in each chapter are relevant. When I find the content satisfactory, I shift my attention to style, checking for syntax and grammar. Thoroughness counts. That’s how I helped produce 9 award-winning authors, over half of whom have won multiple awards. A few have even won prestigious awards, including the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the Next Generation Indie Book Award, IAN Book of the Year Award, the Golden Door Silver Medal; and the PenCraft Spring Best Book Award. Still others have reached #1 in their respective Amazon categories. You can find my recommendations from many of my writers on LinkedIn. But I am not just your ordinary developmental or content editor: I am also an academic author and editor with a PhD in English literature from Oxford University. I’ve published in peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed for journals and academic presses (both trade and university). In other words, I’ve been on both sides of academic publishing. Not least, I am a freelance writer with outstanding storytelling skills who has been boosted 31 times on the Medium platform: less than .07% (yes, you read correctly) get boosted there. As such, I’d like to help ease your path so YOU don’t spend untold time revising fruitlessly. I can help you organize and structure your manuscript, regardless of length. I can help you craft a compelling argument and fix your prose while showing you how to write for your chosen audience. Since we are busier than ever, my guidance will shorten the time you need to complete your article, chapter, dissertation, or book and bring you closer to publication! Let me add that although born and raised in the US, I am particularly skilled at working with ESL writers too: this comes from a lifetime of helping my parents write. In fact, I was able to help two ESL book authors, one of whom won 4 book awards! If you work with me, you can expect detailed commentary as well as timely work and communication. I am more than happy to meet on a weekly basis via Zoom. Here’s a brief summary of my skills and experience: 2 years of developmental and content editing where I helped 20 book authors 20+ years of undergraduate teaching experience, including online and onsite, with excellent course evaluations and faculty observation reports 20 years of writing for peer-reviewed journals 10 years of performing peer reviews for journals in literature, history, and political thought (which means evaluating academic essays written by university faculty) 5 years of book writing 5 years of doctoral dissertation editing (not including my own!) I’m a native English speaker and writer who learned French and German in secondary school and college. I was also raised by multilingual parents—and as such, I understand the different challenges faced by native and non-native writers of English alike.