ABOUT MAGIC WORDS
I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I’ve eaten; even so, they have made me.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Everyone has a story.
You’ve reached “The End.” Those long nights, the bottomless cups of coffee, so many rewrites and revisions and read-throughs finally behind you. You’ve done it, magic writer. You’ve spun words into a finished book, and you’re ready to put your tale into the eager hands (and e-readers) of your awaiting fans.
Your readers deserve the best
story you can give them.
ONE THAT WILL IMMERSE THEM IN YOUR WORLD
INTO THE WEE HOURS OF MANY NIGHTS
But readers can be tough. (I know you’ve seen those reviews. Yikes!) They have high standards for writing craft and will catch every goblin and troll lurking in your pages. Your self-published book should be just as good as anything Tor or PRH releases to satisfy those expectations.
Never fear! That’s where I come in, waving my trusty red pen—er, keyboard—to help.
Hi! Hey! Hello!
I’m Shawna, and my job is to walk with indie authors like you on the journey to publish your book. I ease your manuscript over the editing potholes in the path so you can put your final product out there with confidence.
I’VE BEEN TRAINING FOR THIS MY WHOLE LIFE
I read my first words when I was two. By five, I was leading reading circle in Mrs. Cook’s kindergarten class. At nine, I wrote my first action-adventure story about a girl who shipwrecks on an island in Alaska (complete with a custom-designed Strawberry Shortcake–themed cover, courtesy of my mother).
To say words are in my blood is only mostly true. I’d say: words are my blood.
Yup. I was the nerdy kid always with her nose in a book.
The one scribbling poems and stories in her math notebook. The English teacher’s favorite student.
Degrees in literature and communications set me on a winding career path: high school English teacher, communications specialist, web designer.
Through it all, I read: scary stories that kept me up into the wee hours and thrilling fantasies that made me long for a world where magic was real. (Pssst, it is.)
Through it all, I wrote: stories, novels, poems. I won NaNo. I ate, drank, and breathed words.
When the pandemic very kindly demanded that I decide what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life, I chose words.
Armed with a shiny certificate in editing from the University of Chicago, I hung out my shingle, sharpened my pencil (well, warmed up my keyboard, really), and invited word-lovers like you to join me on this journey.
MEMBER OF
EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE
Education
Certificate in Editing, University of Chicago
BS English, Missouri State University
MA Communications, Lindenwood University
Editing Training
Copyediting Fiction, Editorial Freelancers’ Association
Intermediate Copyediting, EFA
Copyediting Practicum, Editorial Arts Academy
Intermediate Line Editing for Fiction, EFA
Developmental Editing, Editorial Arts Academy
Editing Sci-Fi and Fantasy, Jennifer Lawler
Experience
Freelance editor for trad publishers (Tor/Nightfire)
5+ years editing for indie authors and publishers
40+ years writing novels, short stories, poetry
30+ years studying literature and writing craft
Expert in LOTR and Star Trek trivia
Highly skilled at being owned by cats
I CREATE THE MAGIC OF POLISHED, PUBLISH-READY PROSE, HELPING YOU GET YOUR STORIES INTO THE WORLD AND TURNING YOU INTO THE AUTHOR YOU DREAM OF BEING. I ALWAYS:
Listen intently to your writing dreams
Focus on kindness and support
Leave a light footprint on your words
Offer transparent pricing & processes
Create editing magic!
Ready to go on this journey?
FREEBIES
FREEBIES
Are you taking the DIY scenic route? I have gifts for your solo editing journey.
WORK WITH ME
WORK WITH ME
From critiques to tweaks, I have a full slate of services to give your manuscript the royal touch.
FAQS
Shawna was a delight to work with. From the beginning, she was very communicative and made sure I was comfortable with the timeline and the deliverables. Her developmental edits were thoughtful and thorough. Her line edits brought out the best in my story and made it infinitely more readable. Throughout the whole process, Shawna sent me updates and left encouraging notes. This was an ideal editing experience! I would recommend Shawna to any aspiring author looking to take their story to the next level.Shawna did a great copyedit, on time and as promised. It's great to have such a reliable partner to fix all those little glitches.
As a first-time author, the editing process was super overwhelming. That was until I met Shawna, and I knew immediately my manuscript was in good hands. From our first communication to our most recent, Shawna has been kind, clear, insightful, and just the best to work with. Upon receiving her edits, it was clear how much work Shawna put into her services, and I am so grateful I could have her talent on my story. Because of Shawna's Style Tune-Up I am certain my book is in much better condition than before, and I hope to work with her again!
Working with Shawna was a wonderful experience. From the beginning, she homed in on what I liked about the book, which was the rhythm of the language, and she kept that intact throughout her detailed and thoughtful editing.
I felt that she was an ally as I read through the remarks, and everything she noted was valid, clear, and helpful. At every stage, Shawna is professional and present. I would recommend her to any writer.Shawna is an absolutely delightful person to work with, her professionalism and kindness second to none. I look forward to future opportunities to work with her again and would recommend her services to anyone seeking editorial assistance in her writing categories of preference.
Working with Shawna on my manuscript was an absolute game-changer. Her edits were insightful and thoughtfully executed, enhancing the clarity and readability of my work without compromising my voice or vision. What truly impressed me was Shawna's ability to catch even the smallest inconsistencies and errors that I had overlooked. I wholeheartedly recommend Shawna to any author in need of a top-notch copyeditor and proofreader. Her expertise, dedication, and ability to enhance a manuscript are truly exceptional. Thanks to her efforts, my book is now ready to make a significant impact, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her contribution.
I was at a point in my process where I needed to know if the story I had in my head was the one that I was putting into words. Shawna’s Story Diagnostic was thorough and encouraging. It gave me the energy to carry on to the next phase of my novel. She is warm and encouraging, yet practiced and professional. I trust her feedback, her advice, and her commitment to the content she is reviewing and the relationship she in turn builds with her clients! 10/10 Would recommend!
As a first-time author, I finally took the big plunge and sent my book out for editing. I can't say enough good things about Shawna and her Story Diagnostic. Not only did she help me identify the problem areas in my manuscript, but she also offered up innovative ideas for fixing them. Throughout the whole process, she was enthusiastic and responsive. I truly got the feeling that editing is a passion of hers and not just a job. I would recommend Shawna without a doubt and look forward to working with her in the future.
I was more than pleased (delighted! invigorated!) with Shawna's query assessment and happily made the changes she suggested. I appreciate the depth and understanding of her recommendations and really believed she had my best interests at heart.Shawna delivered on time and did excellent work. She provided detailed instructions for accepting or rejecting changes in MS Word, as well as a letter covering the things to look out for when reviewing her work.
If you are looking for an editor for your manuscript, look no further than Shawna. She is professional, thorough, and a pleasure to work with. She was extremely responsive to my questions (her knowledge and explanations of CMOS are second to none), gracious with her feedback, and willing to answer questions about both my writing and the publishing industry in general. After working with Shawna, I felt I had a better manuscript and a more confident understanding of the editorial process.
Shawna is an excellent professional with laser-sharp attention to detail, catching grammatical errors and especially my worst nightmares: echoes. It's hard as the story's writer to notice when you're using words repetitively! So it's about making sure the writing is not only error-free but a high-quality reading experience as well. Shawna really did work her magic polishing my manuscript, allowing me confidence in putting forth my work to the world. Highly recommend, and would love the chance to work with her again on future projects!
The entire editing package I received from Shawna was fantastic. Quality work that helped me develop and polish the opening of my novel for the query process. Would highly recommend her services to other writers in a heartbeat!
Shawna did a proofread for my collection. She was very helpful, taking the time to explain things on the page and beyond, like what software I needed to keep up. As a first time self-publisher, there's a short list of people I've hired that will be making the list for the next one. Shawna is on it.
