Meet the Scribbr Editors

My background is in Literature and Philosophy in which I have a PhD from the University of Sydney. I have worked for a number of years as a university lecturer teaching courses in literature, writing studies and critical thinking in Australia and New Zealand.  I have also taught ESL as having a Japanese father and European mother meant growing up with an awareness of the vagaries of language. I have been in love with words since my mother first began reading me bedtime stories and, for this reason, desire always that every word be treated with respect. What does that look like? It means using the right word in the right place at the right time. Doing so almost guarantees that your readers will want to keep reading because they can fully grasp the ideas being communicated. How is it achieved? Curiosity. Curiosity about what it means to really think well, curiosity about those who have done so, and the certain knowledge that it is a skill that can be learned.

Hiya! I have always been a logophile, and I suppose this coupled with my love of traveling brought me into the freelance editing world. I have a bachelor's degree in English literature and French, and I have seven years of experience editing, tutoring, and teaching English as a foreign language. I also completed a joint master's degree with a thesis at the intersection of film, gender, and cultural studies. On any given day, you can find me a) crying over books or films, b) flinging food around the kitchen, c) lugging my backpack across the world, or d) mispronouncing greetings in Arabic (the next language on my list). Oh, and e) editing your work ;)

Writing tip: If you aren't sure where to begin or feel stuck when working on a text, just start writing. Sometimes slogging your way through a bunch of irrelevant ideas will lead you to a clearer understanding of what you really want to say about your topic.

I have over twenty years of experience editing academic and texts, including articles for peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, chapters in edited books, theses, and full books published by academic publishing houses.  For seventeen years I worked for one researcher.  Since his untimely passing I have been working as a freelance editor and Hebrew-to-English translator.  I also write children's books and so far have published twelve picture books, one of which won the National Jewish Book Award.  I excel at helping academics express their work in clear, professional English that flows smoothly.  Students: I can help you say exactly what you want to say.

After studying at NYU, I lived in Madrid, Barcelona, and Miami. I now call Cape Town home, enjoying False Bay and the peaks with my partner, two daughters, and one mischievous small dog.  

I started with Scribbr as an editor in 2018, and I’ve worked on dissertations, journal articles, personal statements, theses, and research proposals. Beyond ensuring consistency and correcting errors, I aim to help students and researchers express their ideas clearly and concisely.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I have a master's degree in English literature from the University of Stellenbosch. In my career of almost four decades I have worked as a journalist, editor and translator for parliament, corporates, magazines, book publishers and websites. Teasing out the meaning from a badly constructed sentence is my greatest joy!

Writing tip: Don't try to sound intelligent! Clarify your thought, then express it as simply as you can. Honesty is always the best policy in writing.

Hello!

I'm Bala (rhymes with "gala"), an Indian international with native English proficiency. I currently reside in Bengaluru, a cultural melting pot in southern India.

As a Scribbr editor, I aspire to bring clarity and consistency to your writing. Ultimately, I wish for beauty in all forms of communication.

Happy writing!

As a former ESL instructor and IELTS examiner, I love being a part of the international community. As a writer, I love helping other people succeed with their writing!

My educational background in Journalism has provided me with a broad base from which to approach many topics, including business, management, leadership, social sciences, humanities, and social media. My experience as an associate editor at a regional magazine catering to CEOs and other top-level decision makers has also enhanced my skill in developing compelling content. Moreover, my stint as a manuscript consultant has afforded me the opportunity to work on the journal articles, theses, dissertations, research grant proposals, and books of academics from renowned business schools in Southeast Asia, such as the Asian Institute of Management and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

I have been working with writing-challenged clients for several years. My objective has always been to uphold the accuracy of and consistency in messaging and style across all job orders and ensure the flawlessness of written material. This objective is complemented by my commitment to help clients to improve their writing.

My tip for writing: Spend a considerable amount of time on preparing an outline before working on a paper. A detailed outline helps identify a strong thesis and follow up with ideas and examples to build on that thesis. Referring to an outline during the writing process can vastly enhance your sense of focus.

I grew up in the Midwestern United States, graduating with a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. Don't let that social sciences degree fool you -- language is, and has always been, my true love. Despite never having left the 48 contiguous states (or, perhaps, as a result of this fact), I have an insatiable curiosity for the cultures of and experiences offered by various countries around the world. Editing and learning from the theses and dissertations of students who not only attend universities from all over the world, but have conducted research in some of the most amazing places, is something that I am extremely grateful to be able to do. 

Writing tip: Read. Your brain is constantly forming new connections, through every little stimulus it's given. As you read, you are subconsciously reinforcing the "right" connections -- the ones that tell you how a word should be spelled, where a comma should actually go, or which "there" (they're?) to use in a particular context. It's a simple, yet effective way to improve your grammar and spelling in the long term (no memorization required!).

Courtney started with Scribbr as an editor in June 2017. She has a Bachelor in Communication and a Master in Editing and Publishing, and has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 2013. She loves helping students and academics all over the world improve their writing (and learning about their research while doing so!).

I retired in 2018 from a 41-year career as a daily newspaper editor, but I’ve found that I miss the fulfilling work of editing. Thanks to Scribbr, I’ll continue to have the opportunity!

My husband and I live in Davis, Calif., a vibrant university town just west of the state capital of Sacramento. We love to travel, spend time with our grandchildren, and attend all types of sporting events (alas, we're stuck with televised sports during this global pandemic).

Writing tip: Simple, direct writing can be very powerful. When in doubt, use fewer words.

Hi! I love film and hope to live my life as if it is one (more Wenders than Leone though). I've taught English in Japan, was an adjunct professor in New York, and wrote blogs and books in London. I'd really like to help students with their theses and dissertations; I imagine I could learn a lot. :)

Hi! I’m a university professor and a national APA copyeditor for PsyD candidates. My years of teaching and tutoring have given me a wide-range of content knowledge. Since defending my doctoral dissertation in 2016, I’ve helped hundreds of students achieve academic success. My favorite part of working for Scribbr is that I edit for students, institutions, and researchers worldwide. You’ll be glad to know that Scribbr is “the real deal.” My colleagues respect the ethical, consistent editing standards from Scribbr editors!

Earl Miller is a freelance editor and writer with more than thirty years experience. He has over 300 publication credits, mostly in the visual arts field, alongside a breadth of editing experience in the corporate and academic sectors.

Hi! I was the girl reading a book under the slide during recess. In 2013, I graduated with a BA in English. Pouring, drinking, and selling wine in Paso Robles, California is my other job.

Reading fills me with joy. Writing allows my creative juices to flow.  Editing challenges my brain. I'm excited to be a member of the Scribbr Editing team! 

Writing Tip: Simple is good. Don't try to use a lot of fancy words to make a point. 

My academic background is in urban planning and public policy; I hold a master's degree in urban planning from Tufts University. I've recently taken a break from my field to spend my summers studying Swedish in Uppsala, Sweden. As a student of foreign language, I understand how frustrating it can be to struggle to find the right word or phrase in English, and I strive to help students clearly express their ideas. 

Writing tip: Keep it simple! It's better to write short, correct sentences than complex sentences containing many errors.

Hello! I'm Emily. I've been a technical editor for almost 25 years, working primarily in the electricity and energy sector. I have Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English Language and Literature, and I look forward to working with you!

Hi! I'm originally from Manchester, UK. I have a degree in mathematics, which I taught at high school, first in Namibia and then in the UK. In 2003, I moved to Tokyo to be with my girlfriend (now wife of 17 years) and have lived there since. I have been proofreading scientific work since 2006 but also enjoy doing anything in the social sciences. I can often be found with my head in a book or at a football stadium with my sons, cheering on FC Tokyo.

Writing tip: Try to make every word and phrase serve a purpose by avoiding wordy expressions. For example, "It is important to note here that" can just be replaced by "Note that". Not only will you make fewer mistakes and need to write less, but it will also help you sharpen your arguments. It's also kind to your readers. 

While studying to obtain a BA in psychology (which I received in 2015), I fell in love with language and found that I had a knack for writing and editing. Based on this experience, I knew I wanted a career that involved working with language in some way. So, soon after graduating, I began freelancing as an editor and loved it! After gaining six years of experience, I became a qualified editor at Scribbr.

My favorite thing about working for Scribbr is that it gives me the opportunity to help authors improve their English skills by pointing out common errors. For example, did you know that if you begin a sentence with the word "furthermore" or "moreover," it is usually unnecessary to include the word "also" later in that sentence?

Lately, I have been spending most of my spare time writing a novel that I hope to publish soon. また、日本語勉強するのが好きです。 (Also, I like studying Japanese.)

I love working with clients to boost the clarity, concision and cohesiveness of their writing, whether it's academic, business-focused or creative.

After living in London, New York and Montreal, I'm now based in the UK's beautiful Peak District with my wife and our young son.

I'm a literature student by trade (BA English Language and Literature, Oxford; MA English Literature, McGill), but I've worked right across the humanities and social sciences, as well as in various aspects of business through my professional work in marketing.

When I'm not busy editing, I run my own online marketing consultancy for small businesses, Maker's Name, specialising in website design, SEO, copywriting and digital advertising.

Writing Tip 

Writing should have punch and muscularity. Don't hide behind flowery or imprecise language. Be more like Hotspur in Henry IV Part I:

I had rather hear a brazen can'stick turn'd, 
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree;
And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry:
'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.

Go ahead, grate that axle-tree, and get rid of any mincing poetry once and for all!

Hi, I'm Jamie! I currently live in Windsor, Canada, and I lived in Toronto before this.

I first earned a degree in journalism, then graduated from university after completing a double major in philosophy and English language and literature. During university, I studied abroad for a year just outside of London, England.

I love editing philosophy papers and engaging with those ideas, big and small.

When I'm not editing, I'm probably playing with my dog, a spoiled 1-year-old American Eskimo, or hanging out with my wife. I also enjoy listening to metal, playing video games, and reading comic books. :)

Hi! I have a certificate in editing, an MFA in Dance, and a BFA in Ballet. I was an assistant professor of Dance at Portland State University and performed with modern dance companies for over a decade. 

I love reading and follow a variety of interests including literature, editing, health, and world news. During my graduate studies in dance, I took additional classes, such as kinesiology, biomechanics, and training periodization, to broaden my understanding of human movement potential, gaining knowledge across the art and science of motion.

I enjoy helping writers achieve clear and graceful writing. Pursuing clarity through grammar, usage, and mechanics is rewarding.

I have lived in states ranging from the East Coast to the West Coast in the United States and in Suffolk, England. I currently live in Oregon with my three kids, my husband, and a poofy poodle.  

Born and raised in Scotland, I studied computer science at university before working as an IT developer in the telecommunications industry. I now work as a freelance copy-editor, using the attention to detail required by my background in computer science combined with my interest in language and linguistics to help others improve their writing.

My tip to improve your writing is to have someone else look it over. Another pair of eyes often catches mistakes you overlooked.

California, US, is my home state. I live in Pismo Beach, about a half block from the Pacific Ocean. It's a beautiful place to be semi-retired! I have a BA in English with a minor in history from CSU Stanislaus, and I've been editing professionally for over three years now. During college, I worked as a writing lab tutor and a reader for an English professor. I love language, and I've always been fascinated by the wild and crazy things it can do. My tip for learning to write better is to read a lot of good writing, as much as you can, because it tends to be contagious.

I worked in molecular biology research for nearly 30 years before leaving to help care for my aging parents. As I return to the world now, having lost them both, I realize that I wish to help not only the next generation of academic researchers but also all of those who look to better our condition on this little rock in the Milky Way. I know English writing and grammar very well, and I have written and published nearly 40 peer-reviewed papers in international journals. But we all have our own stories -- and mine does not matter so much in the grand scheme. This rock, and our galaxy, which is one among trillions, may be our only anchors in a vast wilderness, and so let's treat them accordingly. I would be most honored to help in any efforts in this pursuit. :)

After growing up in Southern California and receiving my undergraduate degree in Psychology and History, I decided to branch out a little, and I moved across the country to complete my master's in Psychology. Still in love with learning for its own sake as well as for its practical applications, I entered law school and earned my J.D. Across those seemingly divergent educational fields, one consistent thread was my love for writing, editing, and following the rules of grammar! I have found a place for that enthusiasm at Scribbr, and I love helping students and professionals advance in their writing. 

I have always enjoyed language and travel. After finishing university, I spent almost three years in Mongolia. I have now been able to live or work on every continent. I enjoy reading, and this is why I never get tired of being an editor. Every day I am lucky enough to be able to read texts written by different people on different topics.

I have been a professional proofreader and copy editor for two decades, having graduated with a BA in English and an MA in creative writing. I work for commercial clients too, but have a preference for academic proofreading and find it a joy to read essays and theses on such a diverse range of subjects.

In my spare time I write plays, read widely for pleasure, and take French lessons. I am British and living in the south of France.

My writing tip is: precision. Precision gives strength to a statement. It cuts out background noise and allows the ideas to speak. Inflated phrasing, repetition, and redundancy obscure the meaning of a text, which is particularly problematic for high-level academic works. The more complex an idea, the greater the need for precise language. This view is central to my practice as a copy editor.  

For as long as I can remember, reading has been my absolute favorite thing to do. My love of reading ultimately grew into a passion for helping others express themselves as clearly as possible through their writing.

I completed U.C. Berkeley’s Professional Sequence in Editing and have a BA (Vassar College) and MS (Portland State University) in geography. I use this background in the social sciences to inform my work.

My favorite punctuation mark is the em-dash—it is so versatile and makes a great statement!

Hello! My name is Leona and I'm a native English speaker from Northern Ireland. I have a Master's degree in French and Spanish, and I also hold a PhD in Spanish with expertise in Latina literature, gender studies, and intersectional feminisms. I have taught in Higher Education for over five years and I love helping students improve their writing skills and increase their confidence in expressing themselves. When I'm not teaching or editing students' work, you can usually find me crocheting a blanket or hanging out with my dog.

A writing tip: Start by doing it "badly"! If you're a perfectionist like me, the blank page is often the most challenging hurdle to overcome when writing. To combat that initial writer's block, commit yourself to doing a "bad" job. By removing any pressure to create a masterpiece from the outset, you will give yourself the chance to simply get your ideas down on paper. Then, you can start to edit and refine that "badly" written piece into a concise and well-structured essay.

I grew up in West Yorkshire, England. I have a BSc in chemistry from Durham University and a PhD in polymer chemistry from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. I’m currently based in Edinburgh.

Since I left university, my working life has varied widely to accommodate raising my two sons. However, the English language has remained one of my strengths and interests. Spelling and grammar errors have frequently drawn my attention, and at times I have had to restrain myself from correcting them.

I have over 8 years’ experience as an academic editor and have edited well over 2,000 academic texts in British and US English, specialising in scientific papers for publication in academic journals.

In 2015, I completed a TEFL course and began running a weekly EFL conversation class. Teaching English as a foreign language has made me more aware of concepts I previously took for granted, such as uncountable nouns. It has also given me an insight into the difficulties faced by those who learn English as a second language.

I enjoy improving a piece of writing and helping people write better English. For me, one of the best aspects of being an editor is that I am constantly learning.

Academic writing tips:

Write concisely – don’t use several words when you can use one.

Read your work aloud – this highlights grammar errors as they generally spoil the flow of the text. I often use Microsoft Word’s Read Aloud feature for this.

Magedah Shabo is a seasoned writer, editor, and English language educator with over 10 years of experience in the publishing industry. She contributes popular articles on reasoning, rhetoric, and bias to platforms such as Scribbr, QuillBot, and LanguageTool. Magedah's books, including Rhetoric, Logic, & Argumentation and Techniques of Propaganda and Persuasion, are used in high school and college classrooms across the United States.

My mom often tells the story of my first day of kindergarten: apparently I came home from school furious that I hadn't learned how to read yet. I quickly became a voracious reader, devouring every available bit of text--cereal boxes, shampoo bottles, and junk mail were my daily fodder. I remember clearly the moment in third grade when diagramming sentences suddenly made sense to me. I've had a love affair with words ever since.

I still love to read--and I still read cereal boxes. 

I enjoy editing because I delight in the process of enabling ideas to shine brightly. I've been privileged to edit in different fields throughout my career; I began by working for several real estate magazines, and then I was employed in the nonprofit sector, where I edited newsletters, donor support letters, books, and conference materials. After my sons were born, I volunteered for any editing I could get my hands on, which usually consisted of scads of newsletters and the occasional newspaper article. Editing academic work is especially interesting because of the wide array of topics I encounter. 

My tip: serial commas, also known as Oxford commas, are your friend. They eliminate confusion and lend a rhythmic cadence to your writing.

Hello! My name is Maya, and I’m from the UK. My academic background is in music, but the English language is my longest-enduring passion. Like many editors here, I’ve been reading voraciously since childhood, both to learn more about the world around me and to escape into the imagined worlds others have created. Working at Scribbr is a fantastic opportunity to read literature from across many fields and help students to communicate ideas they’re passionate about as effectively as possible.

Writing tip: Don’t aim for perfection in the first draft. Instead, focus on getting your ideas onto the page in whatever form they take, no matter how imperfect. Later, you can return and polish what you’ve written.

Hi! I'm an editor based in Northern California. My degrees are in English and microbiology, and I spent ten years teaching writing to college students before becoming an editor. I firmly believe that there are no bad papers, only ideas in need of development and writers in need of support.

Outside of work, I can usually be found cooking, riding bikes, humming along to folk and bluegrass music, trying to become a less-bad gardener, chasing my dog, and raising two small humans who love to read.

I'm a writer/editor/translator (Spanish to English), as well as a yoga teacher and retreat leader. Originally from Texas, I've lived on Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan highlands with my partner, daughter, cats and dogs since 2012. 

Hi, I'm Mitchell. I live in Arizona, USA, and I have a BA in psychology.

I’ve worked as an editor and writer for 30 years. I began as a BBC radio researcher and script writer, and after my first book was published in 1994 (Maypoles, Martyrs and Mayhem, Bloomsbury), I kept the wolf from the door by writing magazine articles and copywriting for agencies and corporates. Most of my work has been freelance, enabling me to indulge a parallel life as a semi-professional musician. In recent years I've specialised in academic and book editing, along with charity content management, and blogging for clients great and small. I’ve also written another 10 books since that first one (most recently The Little History of Oxfordshire, The History Press, 2019); and edited several others - for example, Professor Michael Crawford's groundbreaking The Brain Under Siege (April 2023) and two books for professional musician Tom Kitching: Seasons of Change: Busking England (March 2020) and EPs, B-sides and Rarities (2022).

The key to good writing is clarity. It's amazing how far the old format of 'introduction - method - results - conclusion' gets you, in any field of writing. Map out beforehand what you need to say in each section. You'll then have a framework, a path of least resistance down which your content can flow. It might not achieve full focus immediately, so take time out as and when necessary. Grab a cup of something, mess around on the guitar, whatever unwinds you, and then dive in refreshed.

Hello!

Words have always been my passion, ever since I read about Humpty Dumpty telling Alice about mastering them. I read a lot, I write and would like to write more, and I edit because nothing gives me more joy than experiencing words being used correctly, effectively, powerfully.

I have a postgraduate degree in Economics and another in Hindi. I have been associated with words for more than two decades now, writing and editing in both English and Hindi, and I still love to learn more about language and its usage.

I believe that writing is the most powerful when it is at its simplest. As Hemingway said, "My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way."

I wish you happy explorations in this wonderful world of the written word.

Hello!

I'm from Bengaluru, India, and I've lived here all my life, from its days of being a "Garden City" to being the "Silicon Valley of India." I've a Bachelors degree in Journalism, English, and Psychology and a Masters degree in Mass Communication. I've seven years of experience in editing newspaper articles, fiction, and academic textbooks as well as academic papers such as theses and dissertations. The latter has been my focus the past four years. While I'm most comfortable with papers on the Humanities, my love is for the language itself and learning something new every day. I like taking up online courses on various topics (currently on International Humanitarian Law) to help me edit better.

My hobbies include reading on a daily basis, practicing yoga, painting, cycling, trekking, and playing board games. I live with my husband and two cats, and I hope to adopt a dog in the near future.

Pro-tip: Make good use of punctuations, mainly periods. Nothing takes away your readers' attention and understanding like a long sentence. Two smaller sentences are more likely to express your intention clearly than a really long one.

Hello! My name is Richard, and I'm a native English speaker from Ontario, Canada with a master's degree in the field of applied linguistics. I’ve spent over a decade teaching English at universities and colleges across five countries, and I love helping students improve their writing skills. In addition to academic editing, I also edit books of various genres.

A writing tip: Avoid using adverbs like “very” and “really.” These words can take away from the strength of your writing, as the content itself should convey the significance. For example, if data demonstrates how significant an issue is, there’s no need to say it’s “very significant”—the evidence speaks for itself. Using these adverbs could also suggest an opinion, rather than letting the reader form their own conclusion. Instead of telling the reader that something is “very” important, show them through the strength of your argument. The principle of “show don’t tell” applies here—let your content do the convincing. 

I'm an English-speaking South African with a PhD in Linguistics. My educational background includes a Bachelor in Linguistics, English Literature and Philosophy; and an Honours and two Masters degrees in Linguistics.

In the past I have tutored first-year university English, and I have extensive experience in editing academic texts and theses.

A tip for writing in English (or any language that is not your mother tongue): First and foremost, try to express yourself clearly. Using complex sentences or 'fancy-sounding' words that you've found in a thesaurus often makes your argument harder to follow.

Hi! I'm Rukky, and I like to think of myself as a woman with many hats: researcher, writer, editor, singer, YouTuber, development worker, and lawyer. I hold a bachelor's degree in law from University College London, I am qualified to practise law in Nigeria, and I am currently enrolled on a master's programme in Sweden.

Over the course of my education and work, I have written and edited a variety of formal and creative texts, including essays, articles, blog posts, letters, manuals, songs, and poems. This extensive experience has given me a strong command of language as an effective tool for communication.

Here's my top tip for writing academic content: Words build sentences, sentences build paragraphs, and paragraphs build your entire argument. Deconstructing your argument like this will help you build a strong, coherent piece that effectively conveys your ideas to your readers.

I fell in love with words and the stories they created at a young age. The way different words connected to create different meanings fascinated me. In school, I began tutoring my classmates in English grammar, and I loved it. It was my passion, but I did not understand it then. I studied business, got my MBA from a wonderful university, and worked in a variety of fields, none of which fulfilled me. Finally, I made the decision to freelance as a writer and editor. From there, there was no looking back. I have learnt, grown, taught, and found fulfillment.

Since 2018, my focus has been on academic editing, and I specialize in APA and MLA formatting and citations. I enjoy academic editing since I learn something new from each paper, and it’s so rewarding to be able to help students.

Other things I enjoy: Lifting weights, going for long walks, cuddling my kids, baking, reading a good book

Writing Tip: Keep it simple; keep it clear.

I grew up in rural Ontario and spent a few years after high school making music at cafés and bars, before leaving for my university education. At Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I completed a combined honours degree, first class, in Philosophy and English, returning the next year to complete an MA in English. My undergraduate work focused on philosophy of language and feminist philosophy, while my master’s thesis focused on ecology and contemporary Canadian poetry.

While at the school my writing interests were broadened well beyond the scope of my own disciplines. As I completed my undergrad, I spent five years as a university writing tutor, seeing students at all levels of education (from entrance level to PhD) and treating writing in most academic styles: scientific, creative, business, journalistic, argumentative, and so forth. About half of the students who came to the centre were accomplished writers in their native tongues. These students worked with our tutors to learn the nuances of English writing specifically, and they gave me plenty of practice working with writers who come to English from other languages. During these five years I also graded for the Engineering, Commerce, English, and Philosophy departments, and gained some teaching experience along the way. I work in writing because I find it gratifying to read interesting papers on subjects or arguments I’ve not been exposed to.

Tip for writing in English: English speakers find that writing tends to be clearest when the main verb in a sentence is close to the beginning of that sentence, whereas it is more common in other languages to push the main verb further into a sentence. Try to be attentive to the placement of that main verb, and try to place it early.  This advice, of course, does not apply to all sentences, but works well as a general writing guideline.

Hello! My name is Sharon. I have a master’s degree in education and have worked as a freelance editor for several years. I love to help people express their ideas in clear, professional English. Writing tip: Focus on one idea per paragraph.

My degrees are a BA with English and psychology as majors, a BA Honours degree in psychology, and a master's degree in research psychology. My interests are broad, but I really enjoy working with post-graduate students as I learn so much from them. My advice for new writers is to write sentences that are short, simple, and clear. Include only one main idea in each sentence, and make sure there's enough punctuation. Many novice writers try to cram too much information into a sentence, or they use overly long and complicated words. Always put your reader first and try to make their reading task easier. 

Hi, I'm Susanne! I live in Flagstaff, a small mountain town in northern Arizona (USA). I have degrees in Environmental Science and Geology. For my PhD, I studied ancient volcanic eruptions and had the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in the western U.S., Brazil, Italy, and the Caribbean. I spend my free time running, cooking, baking, playing board games (I'm currently learning how to play chess! I'm terrible!), watching documentaries, reading, and hanging out with my spouse and son.

Although I love science, I've always loved writing, too. My first tip for academic writing is to create a detailed outline before you begin working on your paper. The more specific you can be, the better. The outline will serve as your writing roadmap and help you avoid veering too far off course as you put your ideas into words.

My second writing tip is for those who, like me, tend to get bogged down by self-doubt and perfectionism: start by simply getting words on the page. Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and just write. Then walk away. Have a cup of coffee or tea. When you come back, delete any unnecessary words, sentences, and paragraphs. What you'll be left with are ideas that you can build upon in a later draft and momentum to keep going.

Hello! My name is Talia. I have been writing from a young age, starting with short childhood stories and moving to academic texts. I received a Bachelor of Music History at Western University in Canada, where I was also Editor-in-Chief of Nota Bene: Canadian Undergraduate Journal of Musicology. I am very passionate about writing and editing, and I love helping writers express their unique perspectives in a way that encourages understanding and engagement. I am also a bit of a grammar nerd, probably thanks to my interest and studies in Latin!

Here is my quickest writing tip: never underestimate the power of a pre-first-draft outline! Starting a long paper feels much less overwhelming when you have a guide to remind yourself of what you are setting out to say. 

I am a research master’s student in media studies at the University of Amsterdam. Though I specialise in the humanities, I have worked professionally as an editor across diverse domains since 2017. Within academia, I am interested in the interpretative possibilities embedded in mainstream, heteronormative media. In the long term, I hope to address and pinpoint the existence of non-normative sexual and gender identities, woven as they are into the fabric of popular culture and media, particularly in the South Asian context, while continuing to build my career as an editor. My editorial work spans academic and non-academic texts, web content, and subject-matter assistance for professionals and aspiring students.

As a writer and editor, I find that the process of writing is inseparable from revision. As John Green says, "Give yourself permission to suck." Your first draft will rarely be perfect. Once you know what to say, it will be much easier to figure out how to say it.

I am originally from Wales but now live in the south of France with my wife and dog. After studying Theology (including a year in Israel) at university I headed off to teach English as a foreign language in South Korea. It was there that I met my wife. I returned to Britain and to university in Cardiff where I completed both a masters and PhD. in archaeology, graduating with the latter in 2010. Another couple of years in South Korea followed before we moved to France in 2012.

I adore reading, am an avid football (soccer) fan, and I am also trying to write a novel. 

Writing Tip: Keep it simple! When writing an essay, dissertation, or thesis it is important to use formal, academic language, but this does not mean you should try too hard to impress with unnecessarily long or difficult words. The subject being written about is often specialized and complex enough, do not make it more so. Using simple, straightforward language to explain your ideas and opinions will make it much easier for the reader to understand.

I am a native English speaker and an experienced editor and writer. I was born in London and live in the south of France, near Toulouse. I have been an academic for many years working with undergraduate, MA, and PhD students on their essays and theses. I have a BA and MPhil from Oxford University in English Language and Literature. I have an MA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Contemporary Curating and Critical Writing. I was formerly senior lecturer/programme lead in art history and theory at Oxford Brookes University and Dartington College of Arts and guest professor at Bauhaus University, Weimar; Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam; Open University; and Saint Francis University (US) exchange program in France.

I enjoy working with language and texts, just as a sculptor enjoys working with stone or a painter with oils and watercolours. I write fiction and non-fiction. I have published six novels set in early medieval Europe, a collection of short future fiction, and books and essays on contemporary art. My novels have won and been short-listed for a number of prizes including Impress Prize, Rome Film Festival Book Initiative, Santander Research Award, Literature Wales Writers Bursary and Authors Foundation Award. I also write book reviews and author interviews for the Historical Novels Society.  When I’m not working, I’m playing with my grandsons, reading books, chatting and walking with family and friends. I am an avid swimmer and own a waterproof Kindle.

Tips for writing: Notice what your bad habits and repeat errors are in writing and make sure you read through your text to edit them out. For example, I use “that” too often. We all have little tics that are a kind of throat-clearing in writing. Keep an eye on incorrect apostrophes especially in its/it’s. If you are struggling with your sentences or the flow or coherence of your writing, read it aloud to yourself. Think about who your readers are, what they know and don’t know, to help you decide what you need to tell them, how to keep their interest. The best way to learn how to write is to read constantly. Read anything that interests you: English newspapers, magazines, blogs, novels and textbooks.

Hello! My name is Zac, and I am an editor based in California. I hold a Ph.D. in Counselor Education, so my academic background straddles education, psychology, and counseling. However, I am an interdisciplinary scholar passionate about integrating various fields' knowledge and expertise. I am an academic writer (although I do dabble in creative and fictional writing) and have collaborated with others in nursing, biomedical sciences, occupational therapy, business, and literature.

As an editor, I bring this same excited curiosity to my work--I love editing because of what it represents for you, the writer. You have important ideas to share with the world, and my job is to preserve these arguments and stories to help you communicate them to a larger audience. One tip for writers is to consider your modality as you write. If you feel stuck as you type at the computer, try making a change! Write on paper, speak into a recorder, or record a conversation where you explain your thoughts and main ideas to someone else. Switching your modality can help rest certain parts of your brain while activating others, ultimately allowing you to work around the stuck point.