Hello there!

I’m Elizabeth, and I love working with writers! I believe every story matters, and I’m passionate about helping you tell yours. (I told some of my own story in Serving Well: Help for the Wannabe, Newbie, or Weary Cross-cultural Christian Worker, the book I co-wrote with my husband.)

After earning my undergraduate in chemical engineering, I pivoted to editing. In 2015 I began serving as the guest editor for A Life Overseas, a website that provides encouragement for cross-cultural workers. The site has been viewed over 3.5 million times since 2015 and currently averages about 25,000 views per month. In 2016 I transitioned to Editor-in-Chief, a role I continue filling today.

In addition to the online editing, I’ve also provided content editing and copy editing for several books. My focus has been memoir and Christian nonfiction, but I’ve also edited Bible studies, Christian fiction, and public health curricula.

Regardless of where you are in the writing process, I would love to work with you to set your story free.

Types of Editing Services

Content Editing. Sometimes referred to as developmental or substantive editing, content editing deals with the big picture. I’ll help you identify your thesis/storyline and center your manuscript around that main idea. I’ll guide you to expand in some places and trim in others. I’ll also help you structure your Table of Contents.

Copyediting. Copyediting looks more closely at the details. I’ll help you rearrange and refine your sentences, including offering options for you to choose from (this is often called line editing). As I comb through the text, I’ll correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Proofreading. After a round of copyedits, I can also give your manuscript a final proofread. Errors are sometimes missed or introduced during an earlier round of edits, so all manuscripts benefit from that final proofread.

Book Coaching. I now offer coaching for writers who feel stuck on their book writing journey. You can learn more about that here.

In my experience, most manuscripts need content editing, copyediting, and proofreading. I can provide all three for you, or you can hire me for just one or two of the editing options.

Testimonials

Click here to read these reviews in their entirety.

“Elizabeth maintained my voice and content while providing the technical editing that helped the sentences to flow as clearly as possible.  I appreciated her stark attention to detail while still being cognizant of the big picture and how the details fit within that context.” —Lauren Wells

“Elizabeth challenged my word choices and helped me to form a better understanding of my voice, my audience, and especially, my intended message.” –Christina Miyano

“Elizabeth provided both technical editing suggestions as well as topic and voice suggestions, giving just the right amount of criticism and encouragement. Her editing improved my writing without overtaking it or changing it (a problem I had with other editors in the past).” –Julie Jean Francis

“Elizabeth takes in the whole message and works with the details, helping to craft stories that are clear and readable, always reflecting and enhancing the true voice of the writer. She’s not afraid to challenge or praise.” –Marilyn Gardner

Contact

Email me at emarietrotter@gmail.com for rates and more details.