My job as your copy editor or proofreader—first and foremost—is to be your advocate.
We live in an age of distractions and stiff competition. More than ever, your written materials need active prose that will engage your readers. I help ensure that you always look and sound your best on the page. Without the typos, grammatical blunders, and other errors that diminish the effectiveness of your writing, your message will ring clear and true.
I am prompt, polite, and straightforward.
With over 25 years of experience editing in settings ranging from engineering and elder care to universities and nonprofits, I am comfortable managing tight deadlines and complex projects, working respectfully with all types of personalities, and com-municating clearly.
As the indie publisher of my own best-selling and award-winning book of nonfiction, I am sensitive to what it feels like to be on the receiving end of editing. I understand the importance of copy editors and proofreaders interacting professionally with authors and publishers and completing their work thoroughly and on time.
Martha Stettinius
Copyediting and Proofreading
About Me
MA, English Education,
Teachers College,
Columbia University
BA, History, Wells College,
summa cum laude
Essential Skills Certificate Program,
American Medical Writers
Association
Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing
Education
books (mostly nonfiction but also novels)
e-books
articles (general interest)
research articles
websites
blogs
newsletters (print and digital)
academic papers and theses
nonprofit annual reports
brochures and flyers
press releases
proposals and RFPs
reports
land use surveys
conference proceedings
college applications
Experience
Professional Education
The Art and Science of Editing (Poynter News University and the American Copy Editors Society)
Clarity is Key: Making Writing Clean and Concise (Poynter News University and the American Copy Editors Society)
Copyediting Intensive (Editorial Bootcamp)
E-books Webinar Series (Editorial Freelancers Association)
Editing for Inclusive Language (copyediting.com)
E-editing II: Editing in Word: (Editorial Freelancers Association)
Fundamentals of Editing (Poynter News University and the American Copy Editors Society)
Getting It Right: Accuracy and Verification in the Digital Age (Poynter News University and the American Copy
Editors Society)
Language Primer: Basics of Grammar,Punctuation and Word Usage (Poynter News University and the American
Copy Editors Society)
Self-Publishers Online Conference (Logical Expressions, Inc.)
Self-Pub U and Book Authors' Circle (Logical Expressions, Inc.)
There's Math in My Journalism! Solving Your Numbers Problems (Poynter News University)
Tools for Working with an ESL Author (copyediting.com)
Writing Online Headlines: SEO and Beyond (Poynter News University and the American Copy Editors Society)
Ever since middle school I have cared deeply about written language. I notice dangling modifiers, missing commas, and inconsistent citations—not because they break certain rules, but because I hate to see anything weaken a good story. Even a press release, web page, or journal article can be a story in its own way, with an au-dience, theme, style, and intent.
"For me, the first line of judgment
with any editor is whether she can write
well herself, so Martha's excellent prose
was why I trusted her with my writing
in the first place. She fully vindicates that
trust: her feedback is both excellent and
respectful. It's a relief to have someone else
check my work so carefully and with such
a keen eye for detail."
— Linda B. Glaser, freelance writer