Excellence in Editing
My goal is to help you polish your writing so legions of readers will be transported and empowered through your unique words and perspectives.
6
Years of editing experience
35+
Books/dissertations edited and published
40+
Happy clients
All the ways I can help
Copy Editing
Detailed review to achieve consistency and correctness in grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, citations and references, and formatting according to required style guidelines. Light, medium, or heavy copyediting will be recommended after I review a sample of your dissertation, thesis, academic journal article, or fiction/nonfiction manuscript.
Developmental Editing
Detailed, in-depth editing on the structure of your memoir or fiction manuscript, including pacing, plot arc, character development, tone, and style. Feedback provided in a detailed editorial letter.
Proofreading
Final check of proof pages or a finished document to spot any lingering errors in spelling, punctuation, formatting, capitalization, and references and citations.
Shelli Jex Gustafson
Words, ideas, stories, and learning! These have been my passions for as long as I can remember. Stories transport me and help me learn about the world and my place in it. I’ve been fortunate to study at great universities and complete degrees and certificate programs in ethics and religious studies (Harvard Divinity School), anthropology (BYU), and copyediting (UC San Diego). Extensive travel around the world broadened my mind and brought me into friendships with people from many countries and cultures. I’ve lived in many regions of the U.S. and learned from many challenging life experiences.
I have worked as a paralegal, a community educator in healthcare decision-making, and as a research scholar in biomedical ethics at Stanford University. I joined my love of learning and stories to become a freelance editor of academic and creative writing. I love working with my clients and learning from their expertise and creativity.
I am proficient in Chicago and APA styles and familiar with AP, AMA, and MLA styles. If you need to follow a specific style for an academic journal or doctoral program, I can incorporate those guidelines too. In academic writing I specialize in religious studies, ethics, anthropology, and education. In creative writing I work with writers of memoir, travel, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and personal development.
I work in MS Word using Track Changes to edit and provide comments, bringing your writing to a high standard of excellence.
Happy Clients Recommending Me
“Shelli is one of the best editors with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work. As a scientist with over 50+ papers, I’ve worked with many excellent editors. So it is not without some experience that I say that Shelli’s help and attention to detail were stunning. She edited a very technical academic paper for me, pointing out areas that could use clarification, helping me with the bibliography, and noticing many essential ways to improve my manuscript that I would have never seen without her careful eye. She even took the time to look up the style guide used by the journal to which I submitted the paper. I give her my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation.”
Steven L. Peck, PhD
Professor of Biology
Brigham Young University
“Shelli sets that standard of all standards for professional editing services. I have worked with a number of fabulous —I mean truly gifted—editors over my nearly 25 years as a scholar and professor, and Shelli outdistances them all! I was blown away by her level of thoroughness, her accuracy, her perceptive editorial suggestions for cutting major passages, and her precision with revising short phrases. With no familiarity with my subject, Shelli made perfect calls about how to trim verbiage, distill complicated passages for greater lucidity and accessibility, and cut circuitous or tangential material. But beyond this, she is an editor who teaches. I actually left the process with better writing skills and strategies based on her comprehensive notes and suggestions. Her impeccable performance was topped off with consummate professionalism. She honored deadlines and rendered her services as agreed upon in our contract. I’ve already signed her up to work on the book I am currently writing. I am overflowing with gratitude, Shelli, for your unparalleled editorial work!”
Dianne M. Stewart, PhD
Professor of Religion and African American Studies
Emory University
“I had an extremely positive experience working with Shelli. The highlight, for me, was how she combined clear, direct feedback with inquisitive notes that helped tease out possible gaps in my writing. The clarity of her commentary showed that she had paid great attention to the details of my project. Likewise, her curiosity made it clear that she valued what I was trying to accomplish with my writing. Even when she had recommendations for changes and improvements, her feedback helped support my vision for the project at hand. I can happily recommend her editing services for others.”
Stephen J. Taylor
Author of Candle and Claw and Glyph and Glaive
Recent Projects Completed
Contact Me
Tell me about your project (word count, number of pages, topic, timetable, and style guide requirements). My rates are competitive, and I pride myself on excellent editing and communication skills. All my prices are calculated on an individual basis relative to the deadline, complexity, and size of your project. Please email me at jexeditink@gmail.com and tell me more about your manuscript and how I can help.
I look forward to working with you!