How can I help?
Translation from German and French
Do you have a technical manual that you need translated into English? Or a scholarly paper that needs to be translated for publication in English? I have an extensive background in scholarly research and over a decade and a half of experience translating technical documentation. I can translate your specialized documents into English with an expert eye to technical accuracy while crafting a text that is appropriate in style and tone for your audience.
The document types I translate include:
Technical manuals
Safety data sheets
User documentation
Product brochures
Newsletters
Operating instructions
Academic papers and articles
Scholarly monographs
Essays
English Language Editing
Do you need your English-language journal article reviewed for language quality before submitting it for journal publication? I’m just the linguistic expert you need to give you peace of mind. As a trained scholar, I am well versed in the linguistic features of scholarly English and can quickly identify and correct any problems with style, usage and tone that might put your article at risk of rejection on language grounds. I approach academic writing in English as a genre in its own right, with its own rules and protocols, and I can help you avoid pitfalls that might create difficulties in getting your article published in English.
When articles written in English by non-native speakers of English are submitted to a journal for publication, it is critical that they be reviewed by a qualified expert to ensure that the quality of the language meets the standard for academic publication. Anything short of native language quality—which can range from simple errors of usage to the failure to recognize when a particular word choice is unacceptable in the English academic register—will be at risk of rejection for deficient language quality.
I will carefully read your paper and make the necessary corrections to ensure that it meets the standard of language quality required for publication.
Developmental Editing
Do you need help preparing a book outline or getting a article draft ready for publication with an academic journal or scholarly publisher? I can provide you with a detailed manuscript assessment to help you work through issues of argumentation, concept and style. Alternately, we can together develop a publication plan that will enable you to effectively strategize and navigate through the often daunting process of preparing a book or article draft for publication.
I offer developmental editing of journal articles and book manuscripts for scholars with a focus on the humanities and the social sciences. As an editor, I help academic authors develop their manuscripts around strong arguments, allowing them to connect successfully with their target audience and advance the discussions they’re passionate about inside their field and beyond.
More About Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing for Academic Authors
Developmental Editing—also called structural or substantive editing—is the stage of editing that deals with the “big picture” issues of structure and composition in scholarly writing. A developmental editor can help the author identify and flesh out what is most essential to an argument and how the constituent parts of the argument fit together to form a coherent, well-rounded text. This entails carefully reflecting on such factors as the context in which the author is writing, the intended reception, relevant professional norms and expectations, etc. In contrast to copyediting and proofreading, developmental editing comes early in the writing process and takes place mainly at the chapter or paragraph level. It involves entails paring an argument down to its essentials, often making difficult decisions about what really belongs in the manuscript and what might be better separated out for a separate project.
Who Can Benefit from Developmental Editing
Though developmental editing can be beneficial to scholars at any stage of their career, it can be particularly useful for early career scholars facing the ticking clock of tenure publication while carrying full teaching loads. A developmental editor can help the author in fleshing out the argument, shaping the chapter structure and making sure the manuscript is written in a style and tone that is most likely to connect with the desired target audience.
A developmental editor can also be helpful in cases where colleagues are not readily available to provide feedback. But more established scholars can also benefit from assistance with organizing their material and deciding exactly which among competing goals they’re trying to accomplish with this particular writing. In some cases even more experienced writers may simply wish to have a fresh set of eyes take a look at their draft and provide an honest evaluation.
Those who simply find the academic publishing process obscure and need help deciphering the steps of the process.
Those who have received interest from a publisher but have been told the project needs work before it will be suitable for publication.
Those who have received feedback on their drafts from readers or peer reviewers but are unsure how to interpret aspects of the suggestions and/or the unclear or contradictory.
Your Goals as an Author
Whether your main purpose in writing is to meet publication requirements for professional advancement or to establish yourself as an authority in your field, or perhaps to reach a wider audience beyond academia to advance a particular discussion you’re passionate about, a developmental editor can work with you to make sure that your writing is pitched at the right level of specificity to best reach your target audience.
Schedule a free consultation.
Whether your project requires translation, editing or development, I can lend the skill and experience that will help you accomplish your goals. Please submit the form below or contact me directly, and I’ll get back to you shortly!