I am an experienced, thoughtful, and detail-oriented editor, ready to make your cover letter, resume, or application essay the best possible version of itself.
First and foremost, though, I’m a teacher. Here’s what that means for you as a client:
- Your essay or cover letter will be in your words — that’s what your reader is looking for! Your prospective college or employer wants to know the real you, in your own words. That means that while I’ll highlight problem areas and offer suggestions, I’m never going to rewrite sentences or paragraphs for you. Trust me, it’s better this way.
- You’ll get detailed line notes, just like your high school English teachers gave you (except I’m probably pickier than they were!) I’ll correct any spelling or grammatical errors. I’ll highlight your best lines and the lines that don’t quite work, and offer suggestions to improve weaker aspects of your writing.
- You’ll get a comprehensive critique offering higher-level suggestions for how to improve your piece. I’ll also address whether or not, in my opinion, your piece addresses the prompt or requirements. With shorter pieces, my critique is often longer than your essay.
College Application Essays
I got into Pomona College with an essay about watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer with my little sister. Here’s what I learned: colleges want to see the real you in your essays. It’s the only chance they have! There will be hundreds of other applicants with your test scores, GPA, and extracurriculars, but there is only one you, and you are awesome. Your essays should show the admissions committee why you stand out, and why you’re a great fit for their school (hint: it’s probably not because you went on a mission trip).
I’ll help you hone your writing so you can show college admissions committees your best self. We’ll deal with grammar and spelling, of course, but we’ll also figure out what (true) story you’re trying to tell, and make your storytelling as engaging as possible.
Cover Letters
I subscribe to the Ask a Manager school of cover letter writing. Your cover letter should be more than just a summary of your resume — they’ve seen that already! The cover letter is your opportunity to show your prospective employer what sets you apart from the dozens of other applicants for this job. I like cover letters with a lot of content and a lot of personality, and in my experience, employers like them too.
I’m especially skilled at editing cover letters for folks working in education, because that’s what I do! (Of course I’m happy to work with folks outside the education field, too! You may just need to spend a little time acquainting me with the norms and expectations of your field.)
Resumes
Your resume should tell a story about you: what you can offer to an employer, and what kind of work you’re most passionate about. We’ll highlight your accomplishments and assets so that busy HR screeners can figure out just how awesome you are at a glance.
Please note that I am not a resume writer. You’re the only person who knows exactly why you’re great at your work — I’m just here to help you explain your accomplishments in a way that engages potential employers. (And to catch any pesky typos!)
I can also assist with resume design, if that’s something you’re looking for. This usually takes some extra time.
Proofreading
I only offer comprehensive editing for cover letters, resumes, and application essays. For other types of documents, I offer proofreading only. This means I’ll make corrections in the following areas:
- Spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Citation and footnote formatting (please let me know which citation style you’re using)
- Document formatting (please let me know if there are specific requirements for your piece)
Rates
I charge $40 (US) an hour for editing and proofreading services. I charge by the hour because some pieces don’t need as much work, and I don’t want you to overpay. For editing, I typically spend about half an hour on pieces up to 300 words (so you’d pay $20), but I’ll give you an estimate before I get started.
Second- or third-round edits, if desired, will be charged at the same rate. They don’t usually take as long as the first edit.
If you’d like to discuss your work in person, I’m happy to meet via Zoom or on the phone at the same hourly rate. In-person appointments typically last half an hour. For high school students, these meetings are most impactful when I’ve seen several of your essays and can give you some overall feedback to supplement the detailed notes on each piece. Please come prepared with questions, too!
Discounts may be available for high school students at my discretion; please include such requests on your estimate form.
All payment is via PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo.
I’m ready to book! What do I do next?
Please complete this form. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible (within 24 hours Monday-Friday) with an estimate for the price and turnaround time. Once I’ve received payment, I’ll get to work on your edits!