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Top-Rated Developmental & Copy Editor for Memoir and Nonfiction Books Your ideas are powerful. Let's make sure your book does them justice. Memoir and nonfiction authors come to me when they have something meaningful to say — but need a trusted editorial partner to help them say it with clarity, structure, and impact. I'm Barakat, a Top-Rated developmental and copy editor on Upwork, specializing in memoir and nonfiction. Over the past two years, I've worked with authors on manuscripts ranging from focused nonfiction guides to full-length books, helping them transform raw drafts into polished, reader-ready work. One client said it best: "Barakat went above and beyond the assignment. She provided me exactly what I needed and helped shape my direction." Whether your book is about business, personal growth, lived experience, or hard-earned expertise — I'll help you structure it clearly, refine it professionally, and get it ready for the readers it deserves. EXPERIENCE In the past few years, I've partnered with authors and professionals across a wide range of nonfiction projects — including a 35,000-word manuscript on AI for business, self-help workbooks, and memoir-style narratives. Clients consistently highlight three qualities in my work: I communicate clearly, I deliver under pressure, and I never lose sight of what the author is trying to achieve. Clients have described working with me as: ✦ "Extremely professional. Even under tight deadlines, she delivered high-quality work and maintained great communication." ✦ "She thought ahead and made valuable suggestions that improved the final result." ✦ "Detailed, thoughtful feedback — and open to short turnaround times." I bring that same level of care and commitment to every manuscript I work on. WHO I WORK WITH Memoir writers ready to shape their personal story into a compelling, emotionally honest narrative. Nonfiction authors — coaches, consultants, and experts — turning their knowledge into a structured, reader-focused book. First-time authors preparing their manuscript for self-publishing or professional submission. Authors who want an editor that listens, communicates, and treats their manuscript with the same seriousness they bring to writing it. If you want a collaborative partner rather than just a proofreader, we'll work well together. SERVICES OFFERED Developmental Editing Big-picture guidance on structure, flow, pacing, and reader engagement. You'll receive a detailed editorial report covering what's working, what needs strengthening, and a clear path forward — so revision feels purposeful, not overwhelming. Copy Editing A thorough line-by-line review of grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency, and style. Your manuscript will meet professional publishing standards while sounding completely like you. Proofreading A precise final pass to catch every remaining error before your book reaches readers. Clean, consistent, and publication-ready. Beta Reading & Feedback An in-depth reader response covering clarity, engagement, structure, and overall impact — ideal for authors who want honest, thoughtful feedback before moving into full editing. WHAT SETS MY WORK APART ✓ I think ahead — not just fixing what's there, but anticipating what your manuscript needs next. ✓ Your voice stays intact — I sharpen your writing without flattening what makes it yours. ✓ Detail-oriented at every level — from big-picture structure down to the final punctuation mark. ✓ Reliable under deadlines — high-quality work delivered on time, every time. ✓ Collaborative by nature — I listen carefully, follow your vision, and communicate every step of the way. ✓ Free 1,000-word sample edit — experience my editing style before making any commitment. RECENT PROJECTS Nonfiction Book on AI for Business (35,000 words) — Developmental editing and structural feedback on a full-length nonfiction manuscript. Delivered a comprehensive developmental outline, shaped the author's direction, and ensured the content was clear, organized, and reader-focused. Client noted the work went far beyond expectations. Memoir & Personal Narrative Editing — Copy editing and developmental feedback for memoir-style writing, focusing on narrative cohesion, emotional authenticity, and a consistent authorial voice throughout. LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK To help me understand your project before we connect, I'd love to know: What is your book about, and who is the ideal reader you're writing it for? What stage is your manuscript at — early draft, complete draft, or nearly ready to publish? What is the one thing about your manuscript that you feel still isn't working the way you want it to? Ready to take your manuscript to the next level? Send me a message today. I'll review your project details and respond within 24 hours with a clear, honest recommendation — no pressure, just a genuine conversation about your book and the best path forward. Your story matters. Let's make sure it lands.

Let's be honest. Most manuscripts don't fail because the writer lacks talent. They fail because nobody told the writer the truth. Your friend said it was amazing. Your writing group said "maybe tighten chapter three." Your mom cried at the ending, but she also cried at a paper towel commercial last Tuesday. None of that gets you published. None of that gets you reviews. None of that gets readers recommending your book at 1am to someone who should be sleeping. That's where I come in. I read fiction the way your future readers will hungry, impatient, and completely willing to put your book down if you lose me. The difference is I'll tell you exactly where you lost me, exactly why, and exactly what to do about it. Your readers will just leave a two-star review and move on with their lives. I specialize in science fiction, fantasy, and thriller, genres where pacing isn't a suggestion, world-building has to earn its word count, and readers will forgive you almost anything except being boring. What I'll do to your manuscript: ✅ Beta Reading — I read it as a reader first. No editorial filter, no politeness tax. You get my real reaction, where I was hooked, where I checked my phone, where I genuinely didn't see that twist coming, and where I absolutely did. That reaction is worth more than a hundred "it's great" responses. ✅ Developmental Editing — Structure, pacing, narrative arc, character consistency. If your story is a house, developmental editing checks whether the foundation is solid before we talk about the curtains. Most manuscripts need this more than they need anything else and most authors skip it entirely. Don't be most authors. ✅ Line Editing — This is where your prose stops surviving and starts singing. Sentence rhythm, word choice, dialogue that actually sounds human, flow that pulls readers forward without them noticing. Your voice stays completely intact. Everything fighting against it doesn't. ✅ Proofreading — The last thing standing between your manuscript and public embarrassment. Typos, punctuation, consistency errors, the word "definitely" spelled four different ways across 80,000 words. I find all of it. Every last one. You're exactly who I work with if: ✅ You've finished your manuscript and something still feels wrong but you can't name it ✅ Your beta readers liked it but couldn't tell you why the middle dragged ✅ You're self-publishing and your name is going on this thing permanently ✅ You want someone who will treat your story seriously enough to be completely honest about it What you actually get: ✅ Editorial letter with specific, prioritized revision guidance, not vague gestures at "clarity" ✅ Inline comments in Google Docs Suggesting Mode so you see every decision explained ✅ Multiple solutions per problem, because "fix this" without options isn't feedback, it's homework ✅ A reader's real reaction documented throughout, not manufactured after the fact ✅ Your voice protected at every single stage Genres: Science Fiction · Fantasy · Thriller · Mystery · Horror · Young Adult · Historical Fiction · Romance · Literary Fiction · Memoir Short stories to 120,000+ word novels. No cookie-cutter packages, scope and turnaround discussed per project so you're never paying for what you don't need. Most editors will tell you your manuscript has potential. I'll tell you whether it actually does, and if it does, I'll help you prove it on every page. If you're serious about publishing something worth reading, click Invite to Job or send a direct message. Tell me your genre, word count, and where the manuscript feels stuck. I'll take it from there.

𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 📚 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐃𝐏, 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 𝐊𝐨𝐛𝐨 + 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬 & 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 🏆𝟏𝟎+ 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 self-publishing experience | 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎+ KDP Books Formatted and Published🥇Top Rated KDP Specialist on Upwork 🌟 The authors I work with are launching at the highest-stakes shelves on Amazon KDP. I help them win it: ◆ "We hit #1 in our category in the first week launch window" ◆ "The cover my designer made was bouncing; Hammad rebuilt it and it converted" ◆ "First time I've worked with a Book formatter who also understood KDP keywords" ◆ "He thinks like a Book publisher, not a vendor" 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲. ⚡ I cannot help everybody, but we may be a great fit if you are thinking: ◆ "I've got a finished manuscript and no idea where to start with KDP" ◆ "My last book launch fell flat; I want this one to actually move" ◆ "I'm tired of bouncing between four freelancers who never speak" ◆ "I need a Book cover that competes with traditional publishers, not a Canva template" ◆ "My Book formatter delivered the file and I still have no launch strategy" ◆ "I want a publisher-grade book without going traditional” We focus on serious self-published launches across non-fiction, memoir, business, self-help, and children's ($195+ project minimum, $1,500+ for full launches). 📚 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: Sabri Suby Pauric Mather Beverly Hills Publishing World Economic Forum 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥: ★ Stop bouncing between editors, formatters, designers, and launch people; we handle the full pitch (Editing, Cover Design, Book Interior Layout, KDP Strategy, Launch Ads) under one roof ★ Put your best foot forward on your one shot at a successful Amazon launch ★ Anticipate KDP rejection issues and pre-handle them (every file ships through KDP Previewer + EPUBCheck before delivery) ★ Receive print-ready, validation-tested, future-proofed book files ★ Captivate Amazon readers with the cover and category strategies $1M-author publishers use ★ Work with an experienced full-stack publishing team that works at 10X the speed of fragmented freelancers …and even save money by reusing the design system across your future books. 𝐌𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞: ✅ 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅, 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔-𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 - Author of Behind the Runway (#2 Amazon Best Seller, Fashion & Textile Business) ✅ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒆; 𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒅'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 - Author of Sell Like Crazy (international bestseller) ✅ 𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ 𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒈; 𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒅'𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 - Author #1 Amazon Best Seller in Guitar Method instruction 🔢 𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬: ◆ 87% Amazon bestseller success rate ◆ Over 10,000 book covers + interior layouts built ◆ 1,000+ KDP titles published across 47+ genres ◆ $2M+ tracked author revenue across launched catalog ◆ Best Sellers across memoir, business, self-help, children's, and Christian living ◆ Editing built on Chicago Manual of Style or your in-house style sheet ◆ Book Formatting in Adobe InDesign, validated through KDP Previewer + EPUBCheck ◆ KDP launches anchored on Publisher Rocket–validated keywords + A+ Content + Sponsored Ads 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐭? 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬: 1- Watch the video on my Upwork profile and check out my work samples 2- Press '...' button then 'Send Message' button in the top right-hand corner 3- Write me a personalized note including your manuscript stage, target genre, and launch deadline Expertise: Amazon KDP, KDP Publishing, IngramSpark, IngramSpark Formatting, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Press, Book Formatting, Book Cover Design, Book Editing, Manuscript Editing, Proofreading, Copy Editing, Line Editing, Developmental Editing, Children's Book Illustration, Picture Book Design, Book Layout, Interior Formatting, Typesetting, Adobe InDesign, EPUB, Kindle, KDP Print, Hardcover Design, Dust Jacket Design, A+ Content, Amazon Ads, Sponsored Products, Publisher Rocket, KDP Categories, KDP Keywords, Self-Publishing, Indie Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Business Books, Self-Help Books

My job is to recognize, respect, and amplify your unique voice to make your work shine in the slush pile. I OFFER: ✍️ Developmental Editing ✍️ Line Editing ✍️ Copyediting ✍️ Proofreading ✍️ Beta Reading ✍️ Plot Reviews ✍️ Book Blurbs & Author Bios ✍️ Editorial Assessments & Critiques ✍️ Plot Outline Assistance & Creation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Kristian did an amazing job, delivering more than I expected.... For the biggest problem areas, she provided a very detailed solution that could be implemented. I will definitely be back!" WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE: ✔️ An unmatched knowledge of genre conventions and tropes in science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and romance. ✔️ Detailed editorial assessments and critiques that point out every area where your writing has room to grow — and offer strategies to help you get there. ✔️ Comments that go above and beyond to teach you what you need to know to produce cleaner drafts every time. ✔️ Intimate familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style, MLA 9, and the AP Stylebook. ✔️ Unparalleled experience professionally blurbing, reviewing, writing, and editing fiction. ✔️ Award nominations and wins for fiction, poetry, and teaching/advising. ✔️ A deep appreciation for the hard work involved on both sides of the slush pile. I find the plot holes, structural issues, sentence-level errors, and punctuation mishaps that distract readers, agents, and acquiring editors from understanding and appreciating your protagonist's journey. YOU SHOULD HIRE ME IF YOU... 🤝 ... just finished your first manuscript and don't know where to go from here. 🤝 ... received a plot outline from a ghostwriter and want to know if it's any good. 🤝 ... aren't sure what genre(s) and subgenre(s) best fit your work. 🤝 ... have a genre-bending project that needs a second pair of eyes. 🤝 ... read a review that made you reconsider writing as a hobby or career. 🤝 ... haven't written in a long time and want an unbiased critique of your work. 🤝 ... need help with macro-level tasks, such as plotting a series, developing strong characters, writing convincing dialogue, etc. 🤝 ... want to develop a style sheet to ensure consistency across multiple writers, editors, and books. 🤝 ... speak English as a second language and want a copy editor to double-check your work. 🤝 ... composed your query letter and need a final review of your manuscript to make sure all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted. 🤝 ... don't know the difference between proofreading and beta reading, but are certain your book needs a doctor TODAY. Editing is a collaborative process, and I look forward to working with you to bring out the best in your fiction. WE WON'T BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU... ❌ ... have a screenplay, poetry chapbook, or work of nonfiction that needs assessment. ❌ ... are looking for someone to write your academic essay or circumvent plagiarism detectors for you. ❌ ... use AI writing and editing tools to create a product. ❌ ... want someone to tell you only what you want to hear. ❌ ... aren't interested in constructive criticism. 📚 Ready to get started? Have more questions? Feel free to reach out! 📬

Senior Publication Designer | Book & Magazine Layout | Adobe InDesign Expert | Member, Society of Publication Designers What do you want your publication to accomplish? I design publications with the outcome in mind—how they represent the client, the voice they carry, and the impact they leave. My approach is grounded in traditional typesetting and page construction. I started in a book press workshop, apprenticing under a master typesetter. Those fundamentals continue to guide my work today. For nearly three decades, I've dedicated my career to designing books, magazines, reports, catalogs, and other long-form publications that support my clients' goals. Each presents a unique challenge, and discovering the right solution is what has kept this work rewarding. I collaborate closely with editors, authors, and production teams to shape practical design solutions that hold up through development, revision, and final output. Let's discuss your project. Jana

𝙀𝙥𝙞𝙘 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 began with a love for great stories! The kind that deserve to be written well, edited sharply, and presented beautifully. I got tired of seeing great ideas buried under weak writing or boring layouts, so I teamed up with a crew of creative misfits like ghostwriters, editors, designers, and book lovers. Now, we help authors turn raw ideas into polished, retail-ready books that actually sell. I provide full-service book production for authors and publishers from the first word to the final file. Whether you need a ghostwriter who can capture your voice, a proofreader who catches what everyone else misses, or a cover designer who makes your book impossible to scroll past, I bring the same standard to every part of the process: technically flawless, genuinely compelling. With over 100+ titles successfully launched, I bridge the gap between a raw manuscript and a professional product that stands alongside Big Five publications. Why Clients Partner With Me: 🌟 Ghostwriting and content development across fiction and non-fiction genres, written to match your voice and vision. 🌟 Professional proofreading and developmental editing that tightens, clarifies, and elevates your manuscript. 🌟 Custom cover design and illustration with total visual continuity across your entire series. 🌟 Guaranteed approval for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Lulu with zero pre-flight errors. Core Competencies... 🌟 Ghostwriting across romance, thriller, memoir, self-help, children's books, and business non-fiction. 🌟 Expert typesetting, widow/orphan control, and custom layouts for complex non-fiction, poetry, and workbooks. 🌟 High-conversion cover design, character development, and professional illustration. 🌟 Deep expertise in KDP Paperback/Hardcover standards and IngramSpark global distribution requirements. Your book deserves more than a clean layout or a competent draft, it deserves to be a complete, professional product that sells. Click "Message" to discuss your project's writing, editing, or visual needs.