Editing Services for Writers and Aspiring Authors
Who I Am
A story has never been just a story—they’re life experiences, lessons, tragedies, triumphs; transformation and descent; love made, and love lost. They’re adventures detailing the intricacies of the human experience, the secrets of the self, and the art of psychological transformation. Story is the most intimate experience of empathy on paper, accomplished by a willingness to step into the mind of the other. By understanding what you are not, you gain insight into who you are.
Ultimately, they’re the maps that help us navigate the inevitable force of change. You have a story you want to tell, and there is a reader waiting for your words, your characters, your plot. My goal is to help you pull your intrusive thoughts into the world, because the things you have to say, well . . . no one else can say it quite like you. With my freelance experience, having worked one-on-one with numerous authors, collaborating with publishing houses such as Mahanna Press, and following the work I completed for my school’s literary magazine, Pathfinder—all en route to obtaining my master’s degree in creative writing—I hope to bring my expertise to your work.
As an aspiring author myself, I understand the unique struggle and inner turmoil that come with the writing process. I’m currently working on refining a collection of stories myself (two novellas, a novelette, and more than a few short stories) to publish. And I love working with stories that include strong thematic undertones and memorable characters. This is what I’m drawn to in my own practice, and the reason why I choose to work with every genre of fiction. In my process, I hope to not only become intimate with your writing but also you as the person who shares the same goal as I.
The work after first draft is completed can often feel daunting—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Working with a professional can bring clarity and direction to your process.
Jonathan McCloud
Yes, There Are Two of Us
Seeing double? No? Oh, well . . . are you sure? You said you don’t care? . . . actually, don’t even worry about it. Just wanted to say that we’re…ya know, twins—identical thank you very much.
Well, my name is Jaelan McCloud, and I work primarily as a copyeditor and proofreader. Outside of the work I do with Acorn Publishing, I also do freelance work with other publishing houses such as Milkweed Editions, Mahanna Press, and Quatro Publishing. And, of course, I’m always in contact with other aspiring authors looking to get their book edited by a professional before they self-publish, or send it off to agents.
Each level of editing within the book publishing process is precious in its own right—but copyediting holds a special place in my heart. Yes, we fix grammar, punctuation, syntax, and diction and what not . . . but at the root of this process is the understanding that words are the basic unit of thought. We sift through manuscripts and eliminate their lumps so that each sentence and paragraph feel as refined as they can be. We examine words and isolate the best of the best so that your readers only have the purest forms of thought to sift through.
Every simile, metaphor, analogy, personification, and motif, alongside punctuation and grammar, are under the copyeditors scrutiny. Why something like a simple comma holds massive implications, or how a period can change the entire meaning of a sentence, is lost to the average reader . . . but not to the copyeditor.
Since my brother is such a fantastic developmental editor, and might not always have time to fit in a copyediting project, he insisted I show face and offer my services as well. I work with a very wide range of genres—historical fiction, romance, mystery, and nonfiction here and there—but the projects I love to work on the most are science fiction and fantasy.
Jaelan McCloud
How We Can Help You
Free Sample Line Edit
Developmental Edits
Line Editing
Copyedits/Proofreading
Beta Reading
Script/Stageplay Reading