Hire the Best Book Editors in Tennessee

Hi there! I am an American Native English copy editor and proofreader whose work has been used in/by some of the world's: - ✅ Leading book publishers and news publications (Abrams Books, Forbes) - ✅ High ranking academic journals and institutions (ASCE Library, The US Chamber of Commerce, AAAS) - ✅ Top businesses, brands, and websites (PetSmart, Netflix Originals, PILOT Inc.) ...and I’m very excited to help bring your own writing to life today! I provide you with masterful copy editing, error-free proofreading, and professional formatting - all on a fast turnaround time. With me, you can be sure you're getting the highest quality English editing on the market. My editing process is done entirely by hand, combing through each word and every comma to expertly copy edit and transform your writing into the most professional, powerful, and engaging document possible. What separates great editing from good editing isn't just catching errors, but knowing when to hold back. My job isn't to rewrite your work in my voice; it's to find the strongest version of yours and bring it to the surface. After 500+ projects, I've developed an instinct for exactly where a piece loses momentum, where a sentence is working harder than it needs to, and where a single word change makes a paragraph land the way it was always meant to. Some words from a few of my happy clients: ⭐ - "Lindsey was EXCELLENT! I would highly recommend for any of your editing needs. Flexible, intelligent, highly skilled and all around a great person to work with!" ⭐ - "Lindsey did great work, my book went #1 in 12 Amazon Bestselling categories! and his finishing touches were a great investment!" ⭐ - "Lindsey is the quintessential editor. I could not recommend him more. Such a great guy to work with, very detailed, and eager to overdeliver. And overdeliver is what he did. You will not be disappointed by the level of skill and expertise he offers. One of the best people I've worked with here on Upwork." ⭐ - "Lindsey is legit. He said he could tackle my problem editing with his xp and he most certainly did. Laid out his initial opinion and about the time it should take him then went to work. Not only was it effective, it was extremely prompt. If I ever need an editor again he will have first dibs. No question." ⭐ - "Always great working with Lindsey. Turnaround time is super quick and the work is high class." ⭐ - "I cannot say enough about Lindsey's ability to elevate my writing. If you want to communicate clearly and concisely, Lindsey is the writer and editor you need. Thank you again, Lindsey! :)" ⭐ - "As always, brilliant work. I can trust Lindsey with any writing project and know it will come back sounding and looking AMAZING!" Some examples of services I can provide, broken down by category: ACADEMIC: Editing and proofreading, including paper, dissertation, thesis, essay, and research report revisions. APA 6 and 7, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago Manual of Style formatting are all specialties that I can easily handle! ADMISSIONS: School and university admissions essay coaching, MBA, job application, resume, and CV editing; personal statements and statements of purpose AI CONTENT: Editing and bringing a human touch to enhance AI-generated drafts and make them publishing-ready ARTICLES AND BLOGS: Working with you to find your unique author’s voice and help fine-tune your content to be clear and compelling. I'm deeply familiar with AP Style and Chicago (CMOS) best practices, but I can also quickly interface with custom or in-house style conventions! BOOKS: Fiction and non-fiction book editing and proofreading; short story, epic novel, or autobiography BUSINESS: Correspondence (including B2B), marketing material, and product text, as well as corporate websites, internal documents, email campaigns, content and news articles, sales, and newsletters DEVELOPMENTAL: Assessing content at a high level to help develop ideas, structure, and narrative resonance GRANT WRITING: Polishing grant documents to be persuasive, professional, and clear SCIENTIFIC and MEDICAL: Science and medical proofreading, copy editing, and fact-checking TECHNICAL: Technical editing of internal documentation, manuals, whitepapers, and reports WEBSITES: Website content editing and proofreading across all types of genres and design styles - AND MORE (Don't see your project type listed? Reach out - chances are I can help!) I’m also available on retainer for ongoing or high-priority editing needs. Ready to get started? Send me a message with a brief description of your project (document type, word count, and any deadlines I should know about) and I'll get back to you within 24 hours. I'd love to take a look!

The best part of editing and proofreading for me? I think it's fun! Proofreading and editing were adjunct to all of my jobs in the business world for thirty years. And now, over the past ten years, I've had the opportunity to freelance proofread and edit projects as varied as business books to cookbooks to crime novels to studies in other forms of consciousness. I've been working with a lot of first-time authors and find that very rewarding as well. As an author myself, I know the kind of dedication, creativity and doubts that we all have had to deal with in order to bring our works of art to fruition. But then there's the reticence to share it with a third-party professional, a whole new set of eyes, whom you hope and pray will assist you in framing and tweaking and polishing your art into something the whole world will appreciate. My goal is to do just that for you and still keep your voice, your magic, and your goals intact. I recently moved to Nashville to teach young singer/songwriters how to be entertainers. I've written two books on the subject. I have self-published both books utilizing Amazon's Kindle format and print-on-demand. I've just updated the 38th version of my current book; I am forever editing and updating it, making it better. I work out of my home in Nashville and I can be reached anytime between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. Central Time, seven days a week, which allows me to adjust to the schedules of my clients in all US time zones. Reading, while spiffing up other people's writings as well as my own, are my passions. Fun fact: I was my elementary school's spelling bee champion two years running!

I help authors refine and prepare manuscripts for publication. With the target audience in mind, I focus on clarity, tone, and reader engagement to ensure the writing connects effectively with its intended readers. I specialize in Christian nonfiction and self-help writing, helping authors create content that is clear, structured, and audience-appropriate. My work includes developmental feedback, copy/line editing, and proofreading. I use Microsoft Word's Track Changes to clearly mark revisions and include comments where helpful. I can also adapt my process based on project needs. My goal is to help authors produce manuscripts they feel confident publishing, not only through detailed editing but also through clear guidance and support throughout the revision process.

Professional editing and proofreading with a personal touch. From business and education to memoir, spirituality, and self-help—I will edit and proofread your nonfiction content to perfection. I also enjoy working with children’s fiction authors. Hire me! Testimonials: "Recently, Shawn proofread and edited my latest book, Teaching with Puppets Made Easy. I thought my manuscript was clean and tight. But Shawn brought her expert eyes to my project and gave me plenty of edits to accept and even more brilliant suggestions to consider. I highly recommend her to anyone with a manuscript they want reworked into tiptop shape!" — Mary Beth Spann Mank, author, Teaching with Puppets Made Easy "Flexible, friendly, and, above all, a very competent proofreader/editor who always manages to keep deadlines. I can highly recommend her!" — Liesbeth Heenk, Amsterdam Publishers "I hired Shawn to proofread my 300+ page personal memoir, and she provided a calming and supportive voice to the very end. I feel so grateful that I found her. She made my book so much better!" — Kristy Sweetland, author, Stark Raving Zen *** A FEW OF MY EDITING SKILLS: Editing | Copy Editing | Book Editor | Ghost "RE" Writer | Line Editor | Improved Wording & Phrasing | Technical Editing | Nonfiction | Citations | Fact Checking | Chicago Manual of Style A FEW OF MY PROOFREADING SKILLS: Proofreading | Grammar Correction | Spelling | Punctuation | Error Correction | Designed Book PDF Proofreading | Book Cover Proofreading | Marketing and Promotional Copy Proofreading

Do you sometimes feel like you're drowning in the vast sea of circular, boring language, and you can't seem to get out? I am here to provide my proofreading and editing services as I have been doing for 12 years now, and ready to collaborate with everyone! I hope that when you come across my profile, you shall be able to bestow on me the confidence to make your project come to fruition. Your writing can be completely yours or have AI elements to it, and I'll appreciate full disclosure if your writing is AI-generated for disclaimer purposes. I charge based on a tiered system of under 50,000 words, 100,000 words, and over 200,000 words and will accept both hourly and fixed rates. I am keen on flexibility and will strive to be on schedule. You are more than welcome to look at my portfolio/projects. It is ONLY a sampling of the kind of work I have accomplished in and outside of Upwork. Please mind this platform's compliance policies when inviting me. On this site, I have edited/proofread the following: * memoirs * romance (mafia romance, fantasy romance, purple prose) * poetry * AI-related blog articles * AI-generated content * medical surveys and forms * grants and proposals * urban novels * sports podcasts * erotica (strictly adult, no fanfiction) * business and finance blogging * children's literature * horror short stories * esoteric/paranormal * cosmological/spiritual * sci-fi short stories * self-help and motivational * articles and reviews (for websites - restaurant industry and catering) * beta reading (crime, romance, young adult, DIY) * fantasy * translation (ENG - SPA) * audio transcription (ENG - SPA) * subtitle revisions (ENG to SPA) * audio testing (SPA) I am a dedicated proofreader, open to translate from Spanish to English and vice versa. I have reformatted manuscripts and I am a published academic with a doctorate degree in Anglophone Caribbean studies and drama. I am polishing my skills on a frequent basis and I do believe it is in practice that I can truly excel, all in the client's benefit. Some of my proofreading and formatting work prior to joining this site includes: * plays/screenplays (religious, thriller) * fanfiction (YA/anime) * beta editing * essays (literature, social studies, philosophy) * translation (SPA - ENG) * interviews * polls/surveys * book reviews I am open to proofreading horror more often, sci-fi and other types of erotica, but any offer that seems to be right up my alley is welcome! I have experience with NDAs and other consultancy matters in reading sensitivity. Please do let me know in which ways I can be of assistance and I shall be more than glad to provide information and feedback as needed. I am available for offers and proposals. I look forward to reading and hearing from you!

Let me help you polish your manuscript and strengthen your story. Using The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and Merriam-Webster Dictionary, I provide professional editing that helps authors meet industry standards while improving clarity, consistency, pacing, and reader engagement. Need words cut? I'm particularly skilled at simplifying complex sentences, tightening prose, and identifying areas where the story can be strengthened without losing your unique voice. My goal is not only to improve your current manuscript but also to help you grow as a writer. I believe in teaching the craft through the editing process so you can apply those lessons to future projects. Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, or self-publishing, I provide thoughtful, constructive feedback designed to help your book reach its full potential. Ideal for: • Romance • Women's Fiction • Family Sagas • Cozy Mysteries • Fantasy • Contemporary Fiction • Clean and Sweet Fiction • Self-Publishing and Hybrid Authors Seeking Professional Editorial Support I have experience editing romance, women's fiction, cozy mysteries, fantasy, romantic suspense, historical fiction, and nonfiction, with a focus on helping author strength story structure and prose.