Most writers I work with don’t send me messy drafts. They send manuscripts they’ve revised multiple times, shared with beta readers, and checked carefully with grammar tools. And a lot of them are already in good shape. However... Self-editing and professional copyediting aren’t the same thing—and that difference is exactly what helps a manuscript feel polished instead of just “pretty good.” What Self-Editing Does Well When you revise your own work, you’re usually looking at

I’m excited to share that I’m now a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) —a huge milestone that represents both experience and continued professional growth in my editing career. Membership in the CIEP isn’t automatic, and it's not easy. Editors must demonstrate proven work history, training, and professional standards before being accepted at the Professional level. That means authors working with a CIEP Professional Member can f

If you write, you use punctuation every day without even thinking about it. Periods end sentences, commas organize ideas, question marks signal curiosity, and so on... but these symbols weren’t always part of the writing lexicon. Many evolved from ancient scholarship, medieval handwriting, annoyed monks, and even business shorthand. Here’s a quick tour through the surprisingly fascinating history of the punctuation you use in your writing to this day! The Ampersand (&) Image

* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links shared in this post. Wow, January was a whirlwind! I'm honored to have kicked off the year with a heap of new projects from many repeat clients. The Italian Obsession During the first week of January, I completed a proof-edit of The Italian Obsession by TL Swan. I have worked on several books for this best-selling author already, and none of them have disappointed. If you like dominant, u

I just registered for the Grammar Girl's Guide to AP Style  webinar! I'm so excited about this professional development opportunity because it will expand my skill set and hopefully open new doors for me careerwise.