Thank you for visiting my profile page.

I specialize in editing fiction and enjoy working with publishers and with beginning and experienced writers. I would love to help you with your writing and would be pleased to provide you with an estimate for my services. My rates are competitive.

Being offered a position as a parliamentary editor at the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick drew me into editing in 2008. Before that, I taught English to adult speakers of other languages. As an educator, I committed to creating a pleasant, respectful environment. Regarding my editing practice, you can feel confident that this commitment still stands.

My portfolio includes

• novels and short fiction


• recipes


• poetry


• travel guides


• magazine articles


• web pages and blog posts

And I offer the following services:

• manuscript assessments


• copy and stylistic editing


• developmental/substantive editing


• coaching


• proofreading

To ensure that my skills are sharp and current and that my work is of consistently high quality, I undertake ongoing professional development. Since starting my business in 2016, I have earned certificates in publishing and in the developmental editing of fiction and have taken numerous courses, workshops, and webinars.

I offer three online workshops—How to Edit Your Own Novel, How to Edit Dialogue in Fiction, and Correcting Common Writing Errors—through the College of Exended Learning at the University of New Brunswick. You can register here: https://www.unb.ca/cel/enrichment/leisure-learning/courses-online.html

Finally, I have Government of Canada Secret, or Level II, security clearance.

Do you think we might be a good fit? Get in touch, and let’s find out!

What clients have said about my work:

Just finished reading your report. You have more than justified my belief that you were the right choice for an editor. This is precisely the critique I have needed. As I read it, I was thankful for your kind words but more thankful for your comments on the weaknesses of the book. You have broken a dam, in a sense. I am very excited again after being disheartened and perhaps disillusioned about my own abilities. I cannot thank you enough. (Fiction writer)

Absolutely bloody brilliant as ever. Thank you, Shelley! (Magazine editor-in-chief)

The author really likes your reworking of the back cover copy – good job! He also was really impressed with the author queries I forwarded to him – the language issues (French and Italian) and the baseball one in particular. (Publisher)

Thanks, Shelley. The final book owes much to your rigorous proofreading. (Managing editor)

Many thanks for the info. I'll be looking at the sites you've listed, as well as your suggestions, in the next few days. Your suggestions are extremely helpful, and you're a very good coach! (Fiction writer)

Credentials

• Master of Education in Administrative Leadership, Simon Fraser University


• Bachelor of Arts in English, the University of British Columbia


• Certificate in Publishing, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)


• Certificate in the Developmental Editing of Fiction (Club Ed)


• Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), the University of Leicester


• RSA/Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, International House Hastings

Keywords: fiction, novel, copy editing, copy edit, copyediting, copyedit, developmental edit, developmental editing, substantive editing, stylistic editing, stylistic edit, line editing, line edit, English as a second language, ESL, Hansard, magazine, manuscript analysis, manuscript assessment, manuscript critique, Parliamentary editor, security clearance, romance, crime

Updated August 2023