Academic Editing Services
Because I offer a range of editing services, I can intervene at any point in the writing process, from brainstorming to polishing text for immediate publication. Every project starts by assessing where it stands in the writing process and where it should end up.
The three broad paradigms of service explained below—developmental editing, stylistic editing, and copyediting—are places to start, but these approaches can be tailored to meet the needs of even the most idiosyncratic of academic writing projects. If you have needs not addressed by the services below, please contact me to discuss possibilities. I can tailor a package specifically for your project.
When you have an idea of the kind of editing you’d like or if you just want to chat about how I can help you polish off your writing project, the way to get started is to contact me: katie@tweedediting.com or (503) 877-2KVH.
My calendar is typically booked three to six months in advance for book-length projects, while shorter documents (e.g., journal articles) can often be worked into my schedule with less notice. So don’t wait to contact me until your manuscript is “ready” to be sent out for editing. It’s never too early in the writing process to start exploring the possibility of working together. I do offer rush rates for projects that require me to work overtime, but getting in touch with me early will help avoid that scenario.
For general policies, see the frequently asked questions.
Note that I’m not currently accepting projects written for degree programs, such as dissertations, theses, or coursework. I do still work with students on manuscripts for publication and other professional documents.
Tweed’s Clients Are …
Professors, independent scholars, academic publishers, advanced graduate students, other academic professionals
Tweed’s Projects Include …
Monographs, book proposals, journal articles, essay collections, job-search materials, CVs, grant proposals
Tweed’s Specialties Are …
Humanities and qualitative social sciences, such as literature, cultural anthropology, languages, history, religion, area studies, and philosophy
For examples of the types of academic documents I’ve developed and polished with authors, take a look at my Clients & Past Projects page.
For the foreseeable future,
Tweed is only accepting projects in the HUMANITIES and qualitative, nonexperimental SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Categories of Editing
Core service paradigms that can be tailored to meet the needs of your unique project
Developmental Editing
When you want thorough conceptual input or need better shape and direction—at any stage, from brainstorming to full draft
- Working with you to develop manuscript from initial concept, outline, or draft (or some combination thereof) through any number of subsequent drafts
- Making suggestions about content, organization, and presentation
- Identifying and solving problems of overall clarity or accuracy: organizational weakness, lack of focus, redundancies, nonacademic tone, wordiness, triteness, vague generalizations, unsubstantiated claims, and weak sentence style
Developmental feedback is also available as an add-on to copyediting service.
Stylistic Editing
When your manuscript is well structured and basically grammatically sound but needs an injection of sophistication in terms of language and expression
- Enunciating the thesis and key topics often and artfully throughout
- Addressing patterns that undercut your argument: missing transitions, unclear concepts, extensive description, lost argument, uneven pacing, over-quoting, and so forth
- Adding “breathing room” and picking up the pace where the rhythm is suffering
- Ensuring consistent voice and assumed readership
Copyediting
When your document is complete and well shaped but needs polish
- Clarifying sentence structure and tone
- Checking for or imposing consistent style and format
- Correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, tense, inconsistencies, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of the original text
- Preparing a style sheet documenting decisions about style and format
- Querying apparent errors or inconsistencies
Full copyediting necessarily involves multiple passes through the material. When a manuscript is not going immediately to typesetting afterward, a single pass of copyediting may instead be sufficient. I offer single-pass editing for a reduced fee.
Specialty Services
Packages keyed to critical junctures on your scholarly path
Visiting Editor Program
Individual Faculty Consultations at Your Institution
- On campus or virtual
- Consultations with faculty authors on publishing projects: manuscript checkups, book plans, strategy brainstorms
- Short sessions spread over 1–5 days and based on short packets authors submit in advance
- Possibility of additional components: editorial talk, revision workshop, follow-up work with select faculty, etc.
Past participants have rated the program highly, calling it a “great opportunity” and saying it is “helpful to learn more about the book writing and submission process from a developmental editor.” (Feedback and ratings gathered by host institution.)
Based on the format of Emory University’s Meet the Author & Agent event series, for which I was the invited editor in 2021. Departments, career development offices, individual faculty—please contact me to discuss.