I am an editor specializing in developmental and line editing for scholars in the humanities and social sciences, as well as for nonfiction authors writing for general audiences in related areas. My experience, training, and passion are working with authors to express complex ideas clearly.

I hold a PhD in literary studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and I have eight years of editing experience working with scholars and nonfiction authors. For several of those years, I served as the managing editor at Southern Cultures, an award-winning, interdisciplinary scholarly journal published by UNC Press. I have worked with academic authors in a wide range of fields, including literary studies, history, American studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, media and communications studies, and political science. I have also worked with many authors on creative nonfiction projects, from cultural commentaries to personal essays. In addition to my experience as a professional editor, I spent several years as a professional writing instructor during my years of graduate training.

The experiences of earning a PhD, teaching writing, serving as an in-house editor, and now working as a professional freelance editor have equipped me to help aspiring authors contribute impactfully to their fields of study. For example, not only did I go through the publication process myself as an author while earning my PhD, but as a managing editor I became intimately familiar with the inner workings of that process. I have evaluated hundreds of academic essay submissions and worked closely with many authors. I understand the most common mistakes authors make and know what it takes to shape a piece for publication. Over the years, I have solicited and read hundreds of reader reports, and I have consulted with authors about how to address those readers’ recommendations for revision—all while taking care to preserve each author’s vision. In my editing business, I continue to derive satisfaction from helping authors to articulate their findings and polish their writing so the brilliance of their ideas shines through. To that end, I especially enjoy helping writers to think creatively and expansively about reaching their target audiences, from fellow experts to interested general readers.

These experiences have also given me a deep empathy for aspiring authors. I know the enormous amount of research and analysis that go into producing a manuscript for publication. I am intimately familiar with the challenges that authors—especially those still early in their careers—face as they seek to publish their work. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to demystify the writing process and help authors map out a path forward.

Editing nerd though I am, I also have interests unrelated to words! When I am not editing, I can usually be found far away from my computer screen—hiking in North Carolina’s beautiful forests, jogging with friends at my local run club, having a beer with friends, napping with my cats, and cooking up a storm with my husband.

To learn more about working with me, please visit my list of services. To hear directly from authors I have worked with, read these testimonials about my editing. And to get in touch, reach out to me at hello@emmacalabrese.com or fill out the form on my contact page.