Book Editing and Me
Something about words and their use has inspired me for as long as I can remember. Language is the great invoker and shaper of the life force that urges itself through us. As important as any meaning conveyed is the accompanying feeling. This synergistic realm of wholeness is where I live with words. I feel them as much as I see or hear them. While I use and respect the accepted rules of grammar, syntax, and the like, rigid pedantry makes me cringe.
I grew up in an artistically and literarily inclined family, and so, although I eschewed academia, I seem to have developed an innate sense of proportion and flow along with a general appreciation of art in its many forms. I have also enjoyed working with my hands and heart, creating objets d’art, and in the building trades. I love to take the rough and derelict and make it bright, new, and crisp, celebrating its uniqueness. So, whether it is a raw manuscript or a building that is leaning to one side, my joy lies in lifting it up and bringing out its best.
I offer full-spectrum editing depending on the project’s needs, whether developmental, copyediting, proofreading, or general coaching and encouragement. I can add editorial value in any mode where words are gathered together, be it poetry, prose, or drama. However, the genre that appeals to me the most is memoir and other types of creative non-fiction.
Book editing is a spiritual art and a sacred trust. Beyond meaning, words are a means to transmit an energy that arises within one soul with the intent to impact another. I first want to understand the author’s intent and motivation for writing their book. Getting to know them and what makes them tick is foundational to my serving them well. A broader, unbiased view of the project within that context will sometimes unlock an unexpected and more exciting direction of expression that is ultimately more fulfilling for the author as well as the reader. The goal of any good editor is to help the author shine their brightest, so, for me, becoming their trusted ally and support allows me to do that most effectively. At the end of the day, clearly expressing the author’s voice and vision is the prime directive.
I prefer to work with authors who somehow wish to elevate the human condition toward greater unity—to help usher in a new humanity. It is my experience that we all exist in unity through many dimensions. Authors who may fear the slings and arrows of mundane opinion will find an appreciative and encouraging presence here. Having traveled widely in this world as well as realms within, I have learned to celebrate others’ ideas, cultures, experiences, and perspectives along with my own. Book editing is a lovely eddy within a larger stream. Perhaps we can row our boats gently down that stream merrily together.