How Does the Process Work?

My special skill and enjoyment lies in working with an author to develop a rough manuscript into a polished piece of writing that fits the format, length, audience, content, and style requirements of the publisher, journal, or funding agency.

Developmental editing is a holistic, iterative, and collaborative process. We will start by talking about your work and the requirements of where you want to submit it, and I will read what you have written, whether it be an outline or a full first draft. Depending on how far along you are and what kind of help you feel you need, we could address the overall structure and flow of the work, what content to include or exclude, the structure and flow of chapters, sections, and individual paragraphs and sentences, and reducing word count for a given length requirement. Always, the process is consultative and collaborative: you give me drafts, I make suggestions for rewriting, but the final decisions are always yours. If we are stuck on a section, I might do a suggested rewrite using your words and ideas, and you are then free to adopt, adapt, or reject it as you wish.

“Judy is one of the few editors I have worked with who understands what I am trying to say.”
Phyllis Blumberg, University of the Sciences
Contributor, To Improve the Academy

“As I began to meet deadlines, Judy offered intelligent and insightful response that generated even more work energy and inspiration.”
Sheila Siragusa, Faculty Author