Hire the Best Copy Editors

Hi, I’m Eimear—a freelance editor, proofreader, and story-shaper. With 10+ years of experience in writing, editing, and proofreading across corporate and creative spaces, I specialize in transforming manuscripts into polished, engaging, and publication-ready work—while preserving the author’s voice. I hold a Master’s in Journalism and have completed the Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing, bringing strong judgment, accuracy, and narrative sensitivity to every project. My areas of expertise include: ✍🏻 Line & Copy Editing I refine sentences for clarity, flow, tone, grammar, and consistency, enhancing readability while preserving your unique voice. ✍🏻 Developmental Editing I provide thoughtful, constructive feedback on plot, character development, pacing, and overall storytelling—always respecting your vision. ✍🏻 Beta Reading You’ll receive concise, actionable notes on pacing, clarity, engagement, and overall flow. ✍🏻 Proofreading A meticulous final review focused on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and minor inconsistencies. If you’re searching for a freelance editor who prioritizes clear communication, detailed feedback, and supportive guidance, I’d love to hear more about your project. Testimonials: "Eimear is an exceptional editor, with excellent consistency, a strong eye for detail, and the ability to provide insightful feedback in a clear and thoughtful way. A fantastic editor anyone would be lucky to work with!" "I have worked with many copy editors in the past and Eimear was one of the best." "An exceptionally intelligent and helpful beta-reader. Provided highly nuanced points that made me think. Highly, highly recommended."

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.

You could call me a "Content/Document Improvement Specialist." Because of my 25+ years experience in writing, editing, and document creation & development consulting, I can pretty much review and improve any written content thrown at me. I can help you with simple proofreading and formatting to perfect your final draft, assist you with copy editing to ensure you exactly express what you want to say, support you with structural editing to make sure your content elements flow correctly to achieve your objectives, and team up with you in case you are stuck and need someone to help you write missing parts. I would be happy to come alongside you to help you make your content the best it can be. EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS: A. Diverse Content: ○ Academic: books, monographs, case studies, book chapters, instructor’s guides, journal articles, conference presentations, curriculum & course materials, and master theses and Ph.D. dissertations. ○ Business & Research: research reports, strategic plans, work plans, proposals, requests for proposals, business cases, and communications. ○ Technical: software user guides, how-to instructions, training material, business analysis documentation, process flows, and testing documentation. ○ Learning Content: storyboards, scripts, eLearning courses, assessments and quizzes, best practices, participant and trainer guides, FAQs, process/procure user guides, presentation slides, design documents, flyers and posters, surveys and forms, websites/webpages, and video close captions and on-screen text. B. Advanced Editing and QC Capabilities: ○ Performing all editing methods/techniques, including structural content edits, developmental editing, detailed copy edits, and proofreading and formatting. ○ Reviewing and editing a multitude of different types of content, documentation, and material in accordance with established standards, guidelines, and checklists. ○ Editing content for grammar, accuracy, consistency, structure, flow, conformity to standards, and effective use of language to meet audience objectives. ○ Coordinating and consolidating edits and feedback comments from multiple content reviewers, developers, and SMEs. ○ Proofreading transcribed materials by comparing them to original audio and video narrations. ○ Using comment creation, management, and resolution functionalities in applications such as MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat to streamline content updates. ○ Developing new content standards, style guides, and review guidelines/checklists.

I’m all about words. Choosing the right one for the right moment can be magical. Punctuating all of them correctly is essential—I'm a huge fan of the Oxford comma. As a professional copy editor, my job is to help you put the right pieces in the right places. I love to read and consume large amounts of media from a variety of sources and genres; some great, some poor, all educational. Struggling to fine-tune your non-fiction manuscript? Not sure if your fictional plot is interesting? Let me help. I have a high volume of clients and am up-to-date on reader preferences and good branding strategies. I admit to having a soft spot for YA fantasy/sci-fi writers, so contact me about your passion project! If you are contacting me for work: • I choose my clients carefully through a simple interview process: you send me a sample of your writing, I send you a critique, and we decide if we can stand each other. • If we move forward with the project, come prepared, you will get true edits. • I am tough and thorough. My job is to make you look good. • Everything happens in Google docs, MS Word, Pages, or Scrivener using editing tools so you have complete control over any changes. • I do not ghostwrite but I will help you find your voice because it needs to be heard.

In 2012, I graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor's degree in English. I then moved to Croatia to teach English at a small university. After teaching for one year, I began my career as a freelance editor, proofreader, and writer. I also have some experience with SEO and transcription. My goal is to achieve excellence as an editor and perfect my skills to help others improve their writing and web content. I do my best to give projects my full and patient attention in the interest of producing high-quality work.

𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆, 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖: What is that one thing you want from your editor? Editors look out for grammar, structure, style, punctuation, and so on--that's a given. But if you had to concoct everything an editor does in a phrase, what would that be? It's probably (drumroll)—produce the best possible version of the creator’s work. Creators, authors, and writers are the 𝒗𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔 to change. Just because the noise is 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒚, the paint is 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕, the engine is 𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅, and the tires are 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒕 (or tyres, wink)—doesn’t mean the inherent value of that vehicle is lost. 📨📭My editorial services are focused on impact-oriented message. I will see to it that your writing accomplishes EXACTLY what was intended, who it was intended for, and whether the arguments are other than logical, legible, rhetorical, or lyrical. ⚡︎Professional Highlights⚡︎ 🌟 10+ years of editing and proofreading experience with theses, business books, STEM textbooks, non-fiction books, blogs, and brand copies with 5-STAR RATINGS and EXCEPTIONAL FEEDBACK 🌟 Seasoned non-fiction/creative non-fiction expert 🌟 Worked with multi-billion dollar companies and their CEOs, FORBES writers, authors, professors, PhD students, and scholars 🌟 An stickler for accuracy and a Grammar enthusiast 🌟 Traditional Publishing Consultant: book proposals, agent letters, book editing, developmental editing, proofreading, references, and indexing. You know, academic writers sometimes get so tangled up in their complex sentences that it's like they're lost in the weeds, desperately looking for their magic wand. So, when I chat with academic writers, I typically ask them this question: Are you aiming to write just for your fellow professors to decode, or do you dream of getting your work published one day? And they get the point. So, these are the services I offer: ⛏ Copyediting: Will watch out for grammatical range and accuracy, cohesion, coherence, style guide adherence, facts, and so on, and will scrutinize for errors in style and structure ⛏ Line editing: Will charge your writing with power words, trim the fluff, correct grammar and punctuation, rephrase sentences, fill in transitions, recharge dialogues, maintain consistencies, facilitate flow, and most importantly, ensure legibility. ⛏ Developmental Editing: I will watch the comprehensive coverage of the subject: there's a lot of give-and-take involved in dev editing. First, I'll receive your manuscript either in its bud or toward maturity. All you have to do is be ready to hear the harshest criticism of your work. Just kidding! Keep an open heart to major revisions of your work, including the structure, outline, themes (if any), etc. Trust me, it's worth every bit. ⛏ Proofreading: This is the final stage. I'll read your work letter by letter, word by word, and sentence by sentence (word by word is fine :-D) for any crept-in errors. ⛏ Reference Style: For academic papers, I'll fix any style inconsistencies and update them. I'm familiar with APA (7th Ed.), MLA (8th/9th Ed.), Chicago Manual of Style (17th Ed.), Harvard Style, New Hart's (Oxford; 2014, 2nd Ed.), AP style (2019) guides, and American Sociological Association (ASA). ⛏ Traditional Publishing Assistance: A growing number of writers are self-publishing these days, though it's something many in the industry dread. It gives you all the leverage over your book's finance, marketing, and distribution. However, you can always stay off the hassles of self-publishing. Why not pitch your idea to an agent? 💌 All it takes is a query letter, right? ☢️ Not exactly. Traditional publishing is an arduous route, and only the right advice and tons of patience will take you through it. I can help edit your book in its preliminary round so you can shine in the eyes of the acquisitions editor. Also, I can assist you in crafting agent letters and book proposals, catching up, bargaining, and striking the deal. SOUNDS LIKE A FIT? Tell me more, invite me to a job, or simply shoot me a message. See you on the other side. 🌟TESTIMONIAL ALERT🌟 ⚡︎A University Professor: "Umesh is an excellent copyeditor. I've worked with several freelance copyeditors before. I'm not a terrible writer--previous copyeditors found errors, of course, but they tended to be basic things, mainly things I could have caught myself if I read the manuscript carefully. In contrast, Umesh is a professional copyeditor. He found mistakes I definitely wouldn't have found, . . .did not know were mistakes. [...] He also happens to be familiar with different writing and citation styles." ⚡︎A multi-billion-dollar company's CEO: "I recommend Umesh's service to everyone, especially the ones who only trust native editors."