Eight Weeks in the Life of an Academic Editor: A Portfolio Showcase
As a professional academic editor specializing in APA 7 style, I've had the privilege of working on a diverse range of projects over the past eight weeks. This portfolio showcase highlights the breadth and depth of my editing expertise, demonstrating my commitment to enhancing scholarly work across various disciplines and formats.
Project Highlights
1. Doctoral Dissertation on Immigrant Women's Narratives
This extensive project involved editing a 68,983-word dissertation exploring the experiences of immigrant women. Key editing tasks included:
Restructuring and formatting headings for clarity and APA 7 compliance
Creating a comprehensive document map and table of contents
Ensuring bias-free and inclusive language throughout the document
Cross-checking in-text citations with the reference list
2. Research on Psychedelic Therapies for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals
This 18,602-word study required meticulous attention to detail, including:
Applying custom APA 7 styles for consistent formatting
Creating a comprehensive document map for easy navigation
Developing a specialized word list for consistent spelling of technical terms
Verifying proper usage of abbreviations and acronyms
3. Master's Thesis on Spiritual Emergence and Emergency
This 6,810-word thesis demanded a quick turnaround without compromising quality. Editing tasks included:
Ensuring all headings were in title case and properly formatted
Generating and formatting an automatic table of contents and table of figures
Creating a table of abbreviations for reader clarity
Cross-checking in-text citations with the reference list, highlighting missing citations for author review
4. Exploration of Consciousness and Ancient Perspectives
This 7,003-word paper required a nuanced approach to complex philosophical concepts:
Addressing capitalization inconsistencies in specialized terminology
Ensuring proper formatting of references for interdisciplinary sources
Refining language to maintain clarity while preserving the author's voice
5. Study on Brain Waves and Higher Consciousness
For this 7,566-word paper, key tasks included:
Standardizing scientific terminology and abbreviations
Formatting complex tables and figures for APA 7 compliance
Ensuring consistency in the presentation of neurological concepts
6. Reclaiming Creativity
This 5,785-word paper on reclaiming creativity required a balance between academic rigor and creative expression:
Refining language to maintain the author's unique voice while adhering to academic standards
Ensuring proper citation of creative works and psychological theories
Formatting creative exercises within an academic framework
7. Exploration of the Orphan Archetype in Psychology
This 5,865-word paper demanded careful attention to psychological terminology:
Standardizing capitalization of psychological terms and archetypes
Ensuring proper citation of foundational psychological texts
Refining language to balance academic rigor with accessibility
8. Book Project on a Developmental Process
This ongoing project involves editing a 120,000-word manuscript for publication:
The author has passed the proposal stage and has asked me to continue on as her developmental editor
Developing a comprehensive editing timeline and communication protocol
Preparing for monthly coaching calls to support the author's writing process
Planning strategies to simplify language and improve readability for a broader audience
Creating a system to track word count progress and ensure compliance with publisher guidelines
9. EMDR and Indigenous Mental Health Services
This multifaceted project included editing various materials:
Reviewing and providing feedback on PowerPoint presentations
Editing flyers and essays for clarity and impact
Ensuring culturally sensitive language and appropriate terminology
Balancing academic content with accessibility for diverse audiences
10. Dissertation-to-Journal Article Transition
This project involved transforming a doctoral dissertation on religious schemata into a publishable journal article:
Condensing a lengthy dissertation into a concise, focused article suitable for journal submission
Restructuring content to meet specific journal guidelines and word count requirements
Refining the literature review to highlight key studies relevant to the article's scope
Adapting the methodology section to provide essential information within space constraints
Revising the results and discussion sections to emphasize the most significant findings
Crafting a compelling abstract that encapsulates the research's essence
Ensuring all citations and references comply with the target journal's style guidelines
Developing a submission strategy, including identifying suitable journals and preparing a cover letter
Editing Process Highlights
Across all projects, my editing process included:
Applying custom APA 7 styles for consistent formatting
Conducting thorough grammar, spelling, and style checks
Ensuring logical flow and coherence of content
Verifying proper use of APA 7 elements such as headings, citations, and reference lists
Running specialized editing software (e.g., PerfectIt) for additional quality assurance
Performing a final, comprehensive proofread
Value-Added Services
In addition to core editing tasks, I often provide clients with:
Custom APA 7 style sheets for future reference
Handouts on specific APA 7 rules relevant to their work
Guidance on bias-free and inclusive language
Suggestions for improving document structure and flow
Ongoing support through coaching calls and email communication
Assistance with presentation materials and public-facing documents
Strategies for transitioning academic work from one format to another (e.g., dissertation to journal article)
Advice on publication strategies and journal selection
These projects showcase my ability to handle diverse academic editing tasks, from extensive dissertations to concise articles, scholarly books to presentation materials, and complex format transitions. My expertise in APA 7 style, combined with attention to detail and a commitment to preserving each author's unique voice, ensures that every piece of academic writing I touch is brought to its highest potential.
Whether you're a doctoral candidate, a master's student, a professional researcher, an author working on a scholarly book, or an academic looking to publish your research, I have the skills and experience to polish your academic writing. Let's work together to make your scholarly work shine!