Theresa S
Elk River, United States
“Once writing is polished, it sparkles like a fine gem.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BS in Veterinary Technology
North Dakota State University
1996–2000
Favorite referencing style
My favorite referencing style is a tie between APA (for its elegance in conveying necessary data in an easy-to-access format) and IEEE for its straightforward approach.
Why I became an editor
I am a lifelong bookworm and grammar nerd, and I've been writing since I was ten years old. When a friend wrote a book and asked for help editing it, I discovered the joy that comes from taking a good piece of writing and polishing it to make it great.
Background and experience
I have provided proofreading and copyediting services for friends, one of whom is a professional author. The books I have assisted with include The Beautiful Side of Chaos by Jennifer Monahan and several books by Christopher D. Schmitz, including The Shadowless, Ashes of Ailushuri, Rise and Fall of the Obsidian Grotto, and The Goldilocks Heist (forthcoming).
Why I love proofreading and editing
I enjoy making small changes to a work that have a big impact on the overall quality of the writing. My years in the veterinary field have made me very comfortable with medical and pharmaceutical terminology. I love the language of medicine and the way that complex words (e.g., pneumothorax, ovariohysterectomy) can be parsed into their component meanings.
Favorite book:
Diamond Mask by Julian May is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
When I'm not proofreading, I'm either making beautiful jewelry, sewing (though not very well), or cuddling with my cat.
Editing tips:
I like to make a first pass to get a sense of the tone and correct any obvious grammar and punctuation errors. My second pass focuses on the individual words, sentence structure, and larger changes.
