Jayson MacLean

I’m a structural editor and copy editor specializing in academic, nonfiction, and literary editing. I have a PhD in philosophy, professional training in editing, and decades of experience helping authors refine and elevate their writing.

I primarily work with academics in the humanities and social sciences, where I edit scholarly manuscripts, dissertations, journal articles, and grant applications. I also work with authors outside of academia on their nonfiction and sometimes fiction writing. 

As a structural/developmental editor, my strengths lie in helping authors improve the clarity, logical structure, style, and readability of their writing. As a copy editor, I offer detailed attention to grammar, punctuation, consistency, formatting, and citation style. and I am very familiar with both APA and Chicago styles.

If you are an academic looking for an editor, I can help make sure your ideas are expressed clearly, concisely, and persuasively. If you are a grad student in need of editing for your dissertation, comprehensive exam, or major paper, I provide full copy-editing services and will ensure that your thesis adheres to your institution’s formatting and style requirements.

I also work with nonfiction and literary authors at both the structural and copyediting stages to help develop their manuscripts into polished, publication-ready material. I’ve worked with authors on books in areas such as technology and society, theology, social theory, meditation, self-help, and memoir, while for fiction writers, I edit both short stories and novels. I offer a thoughtful and cooperative approach, a keen eye for style and tone, and lots of practical, actionable feedback. 

I received my PhD from the University of Ottawa, where my specializations were in political philosophy and ethics and my dissertation was on liberalism and the virtues. I taught at a number of post-secondaries, including the University of Las Vegas Nevada and the University of Alberta, where I gave courses on topics such as ethics, political theory, feminism, environmental ethics, metaphysics, Modern philosophy, and critical thinking. As an editor, I completed the Editorial Skills program at George Brown College in Toronto.

I very much enjoy connecting with authors of all stripes and figuring out what their writing needs to make it really sing. If you need help with your writing, I’d love to hear from you. To learn more about my background and experience, please feel free to contact me or check out my LinkedIn page and website.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-maclean/

https://jmacleaneditor.ca