If you are looking for a book coach, copyeditor, or proofreader, you have arrived at the right place!
Even the best writer needs another set of eyes to catch those mistakes
that sometimes slip by, even after the most careful review. Your goal as a writer is to communicate with your readers, and for that you
need an editor with both the eye of a hawk and the patience of a saint
to help you clarify your words and ideas so you can reach your target
audience.
Whether you are writing a college admission essay or a personal memoir, a
how-to book or online text, I can give your prose the sharp eye that
every manuscript needs. From simple spelling and grammar problems to
larger issues of structure and development, I will
help you achieve the clarity you need without the sacrifice of your unique voice.
It will always be you and your readers meeting together on the same page.
I have copyedited nearly 100 nonfiction trade books, plus numerous college essays and thousands of pages of online text.
Among my most significant projects:
Proofreading of The SAT/ACT 50 Myths and Mistakes and
A Parent's Guide to the SAT/ACT by David
Benjamin
Gruenbaum, handbooks for students taking college entrance
exams, and their parents.
Copyediting of Windham's
Rembrandt by James Humphries, a compelling, posthumous
memoir of an art teacher's experiences inside the Texas
State Prison educational system.
Proofreading of B2B advertising for Doremus, the oldest advertising agency in the U.S., for such clients as Hewlett-Packard and Corning.
Copyediting and proofreading of over eighty books on science, politics, and popular culture for Chelsea House Publishers, the award-winning publisher of textbooks for high-school students. One of my projects for Chelsea House was the award-winning Oceans by Dana Desonie, cited as as "One of
the Top Ten Environmental Books for Young People" by Booklists,
the publication of the American
Library Association.
Copyediting
of enormous sections of the Global
Integrity Report, annual, worldwide surveys
of political corruption and transparency, much of which
was written by non-native English Speakers (also known as ESL writers). This
project also involved working with a complex content
management system.
I have also edited a vintage-car magazine, a poetry chapbook, college term papers, and many other kinds of documents.
My work is accurate and timely, and I offer my comments and queries in a
patient and good-humored manner. My services include all levels of proofreading, copyediting, and, as an award-winning author and independent publisher, I also provide developmental editing, book coaching, and advice about navigating the new world of independent publishing.
You can find out more about me by e-mailing tbdeluxe@sbcglobal.net; or visit
http://www.editorsforum.org and type in the last name below for more information.
Here are some comments by a few of my clients:
"Just wanted to thank you for the incredible job with the book! I look
forward to working with you on the next book!"--David Benjamin Gruen,
author of "The 50 ACT/SAT Myths and Mistakes" (Ahead of the Class).
“Thomas
is, quite simply, one of the finest copy editors and proofreaders I
have ever encountered; to work with him is a joy. He's the sort of
person who is always the first choice for particularly challenging and
important projects.” Mary Ellen Kelly--Chelsea House Publishers
“Thomas
is a pleasure to work with because he is a skilled editor (for
everything from biographies to science texts) and understands the need
to be flexible as publishing needs and deadlines change. He is always
thorough and will adjust his level of editing depending on what is
requested for various projects. Plus, his work is always on time and he
is thoughtful when communicating concerns.” Justine Ciovacco--Chelsea House Publishers
"Thomas
worked for me as an editor on a seasonal project over the course of
several years. It was never a question of "Should I call Thomas to work
on this again?" Rather, every year I thought, "Gosh, I sure hope
Thomas is available." We were editing an extensive international
report, mostly written by non-native English speakers. Some of it was
fascinating, much of it was tedious and tremendously boring.
Regardless, Thomas approached all of it with passion, editing savvy,
and a critical eye. He is a thoughtful editor, going beyond the style
guides to really question the logic and organization of the content he
is reading. He was definitely an asset to this project, and I recommend
him highly." Jennifer Orr-Project Editor, Global Integrity Project
I look forward to hearing from you! And best of luck!
Thomas Burchfield Editing and Writing
Oakland, CA
Keeping writers and readers on the same page
