I‘ve worked in the field of language and communications for twenty years—writing, editing, interpreting, reporting, translating, teaching. I love the work with a passion. It’s where I belong.

I'm a native speaker of English and Dutch and I studied French and German language and literature at university. I speak several languages and travel extensively, and I’m sensitive to the nuances of the English language spoken around the world. My authors and clients are artists, scholars, and writers of fiction and nonfiction. I edit artist statements, book manuscripts, and theses. Some of my authors and clients are non-native English speakers writing in English. I work in American English and British English and offer translation between the two. (Yes, it’s a Thing. It’s called Localization.)

Language is dynamic and evolving, and I keep my skills fresh and my tools sharp through professional associations and training. I have a Certificate in Copyediting from Emerson College Professional Studies Program (Boston) and I’m a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) in the UK, The Society for Editing (ACES, formerly American Copy Editors Society), and Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). As an additional service to my clients I’ve maintained a commission as a Notary Public in the State of Rhode Island since 2012.

One of the joys of being an editor is building a relationship with a writer, and it’s why I don't subcontract work to other editors. From first consultation to final draft my client works exclusively with me.

Copyediting. Developmental editing. Substantive editing.
So, exactly what is editing?

My job as an editor is to guide a writing project from rough first draft to polished final draft. I offer support at every stage of the process and I’m happy to jump in midstream when a writer needs a helping hand.

Copyediting addresses the technical quality of the text and covers spelling, punctuation, grammar, and language use. It involves creating a style sheet to ensure consistency of style preferences throughout the manuscript. Copyediting may be light, medium, or heavy, depending on the quality of the writing and the client’s needs.

Substantive editing, content editing, and line editing are terms often used interchangeably. This type of editing works at the sentence and paragraph level to address the writing style and use of language, and to improve the creative quality of the content. It can involve making or recommending significant changes to a manuscript, such as reorganizing or rewriting the text.

Developmental editing is a process of close collaboration between writer and editor. It begins with the writer’s initial concept or draft and proceeds with the intention to create a finished product that will speak for itself or stand out in the marketplace.

Proofreading is not copyediting. Proofreading refers to the checking of the final version or ‘proof’ of the text in preparation for typesetting. It involves checking for errors, including typographical errors and issues with typesetting specifications and page makeup. It includes comparing the latest stage of the project to earlier stages and making sure that changes have been made correctly.

No matter what type of editing support a writer needs, my priority as an editor is to stay true to the voice of the writer and to acknowledge the idiosyncracies that make a work unique. Sometimes that means breaking the perceived rules of conventional grammar or syntax, and I’m willing to do that to honor the authenticity of the work.

I work with several editorial styles, including The Chicago Manual of Style and The Associated Press Stylebook for US English and New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide for British English.

First write down your thoughts, Then give thought to your writing.

— D. Cunningham