Editing, ghost-writing and proofing testimonials

Here’s what you can expect from my editing, ghost-writing and proofing services…

(NB: looking for my copywriting testimonials? Find those here!)

100% commitment to the project and never once made me dread ‘the editor chat’

I’m the author of a thriller series and I needed a thorough editor who’d make my latest instalment the best it could be. Tanja had come highly recommended as an editor for a previous book I’d written in another genre, and I liked her work on that first project enough to ask if she’d consider editing this one too.

While this was technically a copyedit, I invited Tanja to flag anything she spotted that I could improve, and she absolutely delivered. In addition to all the usual copyediting stuff, she also helped me hone certain aspects of the book I’d overlooked, and she picked up on a few small plot holes as well. The result was probably my most polished, best-developed novel yet.

Tanja’s work has opened my eyes to what I can do better with my next book, and where I can really up my game. She left no stone unturned, was 100% committed to the project, and was never anything short of helpful. Plus, her communication is wonderful: I never ONCE dreaded having ‘the editor chat’ with her.

Sam Eckford (writing as Samantha Adair), Author, The Tom Grant Series

Super-speedy, super-reliable and super-friendly to boot

I needed fast-turnaround help to edit a 10,000-word white paper I’d co-authored for a client. With a looming deadline, I really needed a fresh set of eyes to help me deliver a high-quality, typo-free document. 

Tanja proofread the entire white paper, meticulously catching every typo, inconsistency and grammar mistake. She also helped me improve the structure and flow of the document. And she did it all within 24 hours of me contacting her. 

Her work gave me the peace-of-mind and confidence of knowing the document I handed my client was polished, professional, and written in clear, concise, consistent language. She was super-speedy, super-reliable and super-friendly to boot. 

I’m stoked to have found someone I can trust to pull out any weeds in my writing. I definitely hope to use Tanja’s services again.

Carla Ellerby, Composed Communication

I know my book will have a HUGE impact on my readers

“No non-fiction book ever goes well without an editor: as authors, we’re too close to our subject. So I knew I needed Tanja to challenge my writing and make it the best it could be – no lost threads or unfinished points.

The editing involved far more than that, though. Tanja literally helped me pull my book apart and put it back together again. She restructured it so that it made sense for my reader, and gave it real flow. She also improved my research so my readers could sit back and focus on learning, instead of trying to figure out what I meant.

I loved how complete and clear her communication was. I knew exactly what was happening and what I needed to do at every step of the way. At no point did she leave me wondering when we’d talk about this, or when we’d cover that.

Beyond that, Tanja made me feel SO MUCH more confident in the book that’s now going out with my name on it. This is my first non-fiction book, so I felt a bit like the ‘new kid’ after writing it. But I have no hesitation today in promoting it, recommending it and reaching out to stores to sell it. I know that because of her, it’s a great book, and one that will have a huge impact on my readers.

I’d recommend Tanja to anyone writing any kind of book. She’s easy to work with, and completely upfront from the get-go. She explains everything, asks you the hard questions and then gives you the room to answer. I have no doubt that she’ll be my editor for all my future books.“

Stasha Washburn, The Period Coach

I received SO much more than what I paid for

“I needed my book professionally proofread, and I knew that Tanja and I shared the same interests and values.

I’d worked with editors in the past who’d gone way over their deadlines, so I was initially concerned that the turnaround would be slower than promised.

However, not only did Tanja deliver my proofed manuscript early, but she also went above and beyond in her checks. In addition to catching all the spelling and punctuation issues, she also helped me to identify terms that people outside of my niche wouldn’t understand. I feel like I just paid for a proofread but received the value of something closer to a line edit.

I now have a polished manuscript that I’m not afraid to put out into the world. I’d happily recommend Tanja’s editing: she was an absolute pleasure to work with.“

Miriam Cumming, author of Get Your Witch Together

You made the editing process super easy, and dare I say it… fun?

“I had a lot of ideas for my book, and I knew basically what I wanted to say. But I was concerned that the amount of information would confuse, rather than inspire, people.

I’d never worked with editors before, but you and Tamara came highly recommended so I knew I could trust you. You talked me through every aspect of the project, including setting clear timelines, which gave me confidence in the process.

Then, once we got started, the two of you made it super-easy, and dare I say it… fun? You encouraged me when I felt stuck, and helped me figure out alternatives when it looked like something I’d initially planned wouldn’t work.

And now I have a real-life, actual printed book that I’m confident in and proud of. It increases my credibility and creates an additional stream of income for my business. And I know it’s helping my ideal clients too – just last week, someone told me they’d ‘read it twice this year’ because it helps them to understand what’s going on and how to move forward.

I’d recommend your editing without hesitation, and can’t wait to work with you again on future projects.”

Rebecca Kane, author of The SHEro Archetypes 

A perfect job for my cover blurb… on the first draft!

“After writing my novel, I found myself all out of words to describe it. Every time I tried to write the back cover blurb myself, it came out as a rambling mess.

It’s important to me to work with people I align with, and I’d followed Tanja for quite some time and knew we’d work well together. So it seemed natural to ask her to write it for me.

She did a perfect job on the first draft – accurately describing my story, and making it appealing and exciting for my readers. Her book blurb package included two rounds of revisions, but I didn’t need them. I literally couldn’t think of anything to change in the initial version she sent through.

She made the process easy, and her book blurb package is so affordable! It was such a relief to be able to focus on laying out my novel and submitting it to publishers, knowing that her outstanding blurb was waiting for me when I was finished.

I’m totally getting Tanja to do my next novel blurb too (unless I get picked up by a publisher before then anyway!)“

Anna Shelley, author of ‘My Life as a Magician‘

I’m now confident I have a story that tells the tale I want it to

“I’m a confident non-fiction writer, but this was my first foray into fiction and I felt like a complete novice. I’d worked with you before, so when my style editor suggested my novel needed ‘a light copy edit’, I knew exactly who to contact.

You went above and beyond expectations with your expert, insightful feedback – noting plot and continuity issues as well as improving the language. In short, you helped me rethink and tidy up my manuscript – a LOT.

I’m now confident that I have a readable, consistent story that tells the tale I want it to without tripping people up with my ‘sesquipedalian loquaciousness’ (love for using big words!)  My book is SO MUCH better for the work we did together – I’ve already recommended you to my author friends.”

V.E. Patton, author of ‘The Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1‘

My new book has firmly established me as an expert

“I knew I needed to write a book, but all the information was stuck firmly in my head. I’d start writing and get caught up in dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the ‘T’s instead of letting it flow.

You took the ideas I’d recorded myself speaking, organized them into something logical, then wrote them all out clearly in non-technical language my readers would understand.

As a result, I’ve finally got my book out in the world where it can transform people’s lives and finances. I’ve launched a Kickstarter Campaign to get it published in print, and meanwhile, it’s firmly established me as an expert and authority in my space.

I’d recommend your ghostwriting and editing work without hesitation. You were professional, flexible with my timelines, and super easy to work with.  I loved working with you, and would do so again in a heartbeat.”

Debbie Sassen, author of The $1K Investor, DebbieSassen.com

Tanja delivers what she promises and more…

“I needed help editing a complex technical report for a client. It’s often hard to find a copy-editor with good attention to detail — and who can follow the brief.

Tanja delivered.  Her editing was of a very high standard. She also gave professional advice for my client to help them improve their other writing.

Client feedback was excellent: Tanja’s work helped to cement my relationship with them, and has opened up chances to do further work for them.

Basically, Tanja delivers what she promises and more, on time, and she’s nice to work with. I couldn’t ask for more than that.”

Matt Fenwick, Managing Director, True North Content

Tanja & Tamara made the process really easy for me

I’d happily recommend Tanja & Tamara’s work

Tanja & Tamara took all the guesswork out of everything!

I realised fairly early on in my book-writing process that I was too close to the content to see the things that really needed improving.  I knew what I was writing about, so it all just made sense to me as I read back through it.  I knew I needed to get a second (and third!) pair of eyes to show me the issues I couldn’t see myself.

Tamara and Tanja worked really well together as an editing team: Tamara checked the overall flow and structure, while Tanja looked at the more detailed editing. Between the two of them, they did an awesome job of ensuring that it all made sense, and then added that extra polish that a finished, professional book needs.

What made their work so unique was that they did all this while respecting and even enhancing my authentic writing voice.  I’d had other people offer unsolicited editing feedback, but their changes made the writing sound NOTHING like me – so I really appreciated Tanja and Tamara’s approach.

Throughout the process, they were friendly, organised, and easy to work with.  They took all the guesswork out of everything, which made things so much easier for me.  I’d absolutely recommend their editing services to other authors who want to hand their publisher a professional, polished manuscript without having to stress out about how to get it that way!

Amanda Sterling,  The Humane Workplace

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**  Books with a double asterisk are those I edited while subcontracting to Alex Fullterton at the Author Support Services agency.