Melanie Rutledge

Hi! I’m an experienced editor committed to making your work the best it can be!

My non–fiction specialties are career guides, education and reference, self–help and self–improvement, sports and outdoors, travel, and wine and spirits. Editing specialties include structual editing and copy editing, both of which I’m accredited in from Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Canada. Other editing areas I can help you with include giving your work an editorial assessment and proofreading. I’ve worked as a bookseller and an in–house editor at CDG Books and John Wiley & Sons, and I’ve also worked as a freelance editor.

An editor worth their salt needs to be skilled with words, have a love for a good story well told, and practice a respect for and sensitivity to language, grammar, style, tone and voice. This is the art and craft of editing. It’s primordial, and you can’t go very far in a manuscript without it. I believe what sets a great editor apart, however, is their “people ability;” their ability to work constructively and efficiently with authors. Again, you need to be sensitive and respectful here, because an author’s book is a deeply personal expression of themselves, whatever the topic. The author has invested countless hours and energy to produce the manuscript, and the editor must respect this. I have worked with numerous authors over the course of my book editing career. I pride myself on delivering a superlative editing experience for the author and a solid working relationship with me that is both efficient and effective.

My editing desk is in my home office in Russell, Ontario, Canada, about 30 minutes from Canada’s beautiful capital, Ottawa. My trusty assistant, Charlotte (a youthful English Bulldog), keeps me company (and on track!) while I work. Looking forward to helping you with your work!