Writing from the Deeper Self

Introduction: I bring 30 years of publications experience, together with a deeply honed intuitive understand of what a writer wants to say, and valuable ways of saying it. I have a knack for helping writing come to life, as well as, of course, making sure that it is clear, well-structured, and free of grammatical, typographical, and other copyediting errors. If a client needs to understand something more deeply about what s/he wants the writing to convey, I can help bring forth that clarity by listening to the client in a short phone conversation. Out of that, a deeper understanding comes, which is reflected in what I do for the written material. My premise is that the person matters as much as what they write -- and indeed, paying attention to who the person is actually helps the writing flow better. I've been told that clients often come away from working with me with a heightened sense of the value of their written work, even more than when they first contacted me. I have won awards for my editing and my own writing (I have been published frequently), and I like to think that -- in addition to my sheer skill -- this says something about how committed I am to my clients: that I give them the best of myself, and treat their project with all the care and sometimes perfectionism that I would treat my own. I'm proud of the work I do, and glad to help my clients not only look better in print, but really get through to their readers and make a positive difference. I like the process of coming to understand who a person is, and what they want their writing to be. I like entering the world of the writing, briefly (even if it's a PhD thesis), and enlarging my sense of myself in that way. I enjoy finding the jewel in the rougher work of the manuscript presented to me, and making it gleam through my editing. And, when possible, I like the opportunity to actually develop a book with a client -- a not-yet-fully-written manuscript, where my listening skills, and ability to translate what the client tells me into how their book can take form, can come into play. This service, I call "Book Development," because the book develops organically, out of the client's own deep desires and creative ways (as well as work). Finally, I like the experience of completing working with a client, and knowing that I have provided them with an excellent service and most readable product.