Claire is one of the most adept and committed editors I worked with. She is sharp in her perception, creative in her writing, and extremely fast to deliver. Claire manages to simplify the complicated: "heavy" scientific jargon suddenly makes sense to the laymen. More important, working with her is a learning experience: she goes out of her way to explain why corrections were made and does not limit herself to only correcting them. I wholeheartedly recommend Claire to any writing or editing assignment! Chen Sirkis, Expert in Medical Marketing Communication

Copy editing

A thorough check for clarity, consistency, correctness and conciseness. Changes to spelling, grammar and usage will be clearly marked, using your preferred software. I'll make tactful suggestions to improve unclear passages. If you provide a style guide, I will follow it assiduously.

Your copy edit will result in text that's elegant, cohesive and transparent. The errors will have gone and the writing will shine.

Send me a short sample, and I'll be happy to edit it gratis. A sample lets you see what I do and lets me provide an accurate estimate for editing the whole manuscript or article.

Proofreading

Letter by letter and word by word, a ClaireAllenEdits proofread will catch the mistakes that you can no longer see.

I can proofread in MS Word, on PDFs, or my favorite: old-school, on paper. Rush jobs are available and your deadline will always be respected.

Send me a short sample, and I'll be happy to proofread it gratis. A sample lets you see what I do and also lets me provide an accurate estimate for proofreading the whole manuscript or article.

Re-writing

I excel at finding the precise word, phrase or sentence to express what you need to say. All writers can get stuck: a re-write is the way forward.

Re-writes are especially useful to authors whose first language is not English (ELL or ESL).

But I can help you even if your first language is not language!

I prefer writing to real life: You can rewrite. A novel, for example, can be cleaned up, altered, trimmed, improved. Life, on the other hand, is one big messy rough draft. -Harlan Coben

Education and Experience

I hold a Professional Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington, as well as a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

I've edited all sorts of writing, for all sorts of publications:

Projects and Praise

Recent Projects:

Magazines

Columns (University of Washington Alumni magazine)
Mes Amis (Forest Ridge School Magazine)
Viewpoints (University of Washington diversity magazine)

Claire demonstrated quality work in all aspects of the copy editor's job: in doing primary reads, examining story structure and transitions, line editing, and style. Her understanding of the copy editor's role is solid. She also did her edits without hurting the writer's voice, and that is a rare skill. Jon Marmor, managing editor

fix.com (online how-to magazine)
Northwest Public Health magazine

Novels/Memoirs

The Creek, Winner of the Author U Draft to Dream Book Contest, Kyle Lockhaven

It was an absolute pleasure working with Claire. She was prompt, professional, and her prices were reasonable. The best part about hiring her as an editor was the communication and feedback she gave me during the editing process. I believe that her work was a huge part of me winning my first writing contest. I'm extremely happy with my decision to hire Claire as my editor. Kyle Lockhaven

What on Earth, Winner of the 2021 Prism Prize for Climate Literature, Susan Cope

What an eye-opening, clear-headed set of notes! Everything you've said resonates for me, and orients me in just the right way. Your understanding, both of the story and what needs re-working, makes you a superb help. Nothing you've said triggers my defenses--quite the opposite. Susan Cope, YA novelist

From Acorns, YA fiction, 2019 PNWA Fiction Awards finalist, Kyle Lockhaven

The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex, Kyle Lockhaven

. . . we earned a starred review from Kirkus, just in case you're interested in hearing of such things. I'm pretty shocked and happy about it! And I couldn't have done it without you. Also got really good reviews from Blue Ink, Indies Today, and a few others. Kyle Lockhaven

Sofia and Federico, historical fiction, Juan Garces

It has been a joy working with you. I have started reading and accepting your edits with great enthusiasm. I love your work and admire your elegance to teach and correct without pain for your client. Juan Garces

Five Star Trust, memoir/fiction, Joel Bell

I feel calm about the rewrite process and pleased to have been directed to you. Joel Bell

Charlie: The Hero by My Side, memoir, Helen Thayer

Just did a quick look at your editing. I LOVE it. And you are so diplomatic!!! Not once did you write, "What on earth are you talking about?" Good editing can go a long way to improve a writer’s ability. Helen Thayer, New York Times bestselling author and record-breaking adventurer/explorer

The Vodka Diaries, memoir, Rich Sayette

Just wanted to give you a heads up that I have listed you as a resource for all Peace Corps Writers Rich Sayette

The 50/50 Tour, memoir, Paula Mathews

Thanks Claire!! And even if you're not my first editor, you're my BEST editor!! I really appreciate all of your support and kind words. Paula Mathews

Mirror, Mirror: Confessions of a Celebrity Makeup Artist, memoir, Trista Jordan

I LOVE the way you edit and YOU are the best! Trista Jordan

Flying Seven Continents Solo, memoir, Harry Anderson

Short Stories:

Meat, Dhawilson Pena

I published the short story [you edited] on Amazon two days ago and it became the #1 New Release in its genre as well as #7 in all of Amazon's new short stories. Dhawilson Pena

Nonfiction:

Divorce: Survive. Recover. Thrive., Delicia McLean

Simple Lessons for Understanding the Economy, Waldo Lopez-Aqueres, PhD

I have to thank you once again for all your good work. I am very pleased with the assistance I received from you. It took me a while to select an editor, but when I did, I made the right choice. You are a credit to your profession! Waldo Lopez-Aqueres, PhD

A World Without Us, Kristin Little

Claire was instrumental in transforming my self-help memoir from an idea to clean and clear completed book. With Claire's work I can now confidently pursue self-publishing with an organized and professional manuscript. Kristin Little

If You Can Sell Software, You Can Sell Anything!, Cass Holloway

Teaching Kittens Calculus, John Mobley

Get Your Instrument, Get a Band, Make Money, Jamie Ambler

Claire was quite simply the best. She picked up on things that others let slide, and that's exactly what I was looking for. Her edit was thorough yet gentle, with superb comments that didn't restrict themselves to grammar. She made me think about how I came across to readers overseas (I'm from the UK) and how I could rephrase things and be much clearer in my writing while allowing me to retain my tone. I can't recommend her highly enough. And did I mention she finished her edit well ahead of the agreed deadline? Superb job, Claire - thank you. Jamie Ambler

Academic Writing:

Grant applications, CVs, articles for publication in the sciences and social sciences

"Vulnerability, due process, and reform in modern Mexico", Constitutional Political Economy, April 2020
Milena Ang and Yuna Blajer de la Garza, Stanford University

"The Citizen Who Does Not Belong: A Puzzle for Egalitarianism", Yuna Blajer de la Garza, Stanford University

I just read through your edits, Claire! Thank you! These are fantastic and very helpful. Yuna Blajer de la Garza

"Leadership, Power and Human Rights", "Cosmopolitan Monuments", "Leadership Sensibilities - A Constructivist Framework for Leadership Research"
Ricky Spruel, Gonzaga University

Thanks so much Claire. We have really appreciated your help and your patience. Jennifer Bloch Garcia, author, Wired for Reading

"I See Right Through You: The Logic and Consequences of Spurious Criminal Charges"
Milena Ang and Yuna Blajer de la Garza, The University of Chicago

"We Planted All These Trees Decades Ago: Elder Activism Against Devaluing Women's Labor", published in Gender Dynamics, Feminist Activism and Social Transformation in China
Shuxuan Zhou, University of Washington

I have used Claire's services to edit a PhD thesis. Having to be done by a fixed deadline, I valued Claire's ability to deliver her work perfectly on time. Her editing style is both thorough and gentle; she has a real talent for protecting your writing voice while nudging grammatical errors or punctuation faux-pas out of the way. She also gives you the reasons behind her changes which means that your writing will improve as you work with her. My next writing project will certainly include her. No hesitations. She is an absolute delight to work with! Marie-Peirre Hasne, author of "What is Access? A Philosophy of the Limit" PhD thesis

Promotional and Marketing Materials:

websites, brochures, blogs, email blasts, label copy

I create resumes for high-profile executives and professionals, and Claire's critical eye is integral to providing flawless, attention-grabbing documents. She is highly knowledgeable, extremely meticulous, reliable, and very kind. Eve Ruth, Executive Resume Writer, Compelling Resumes

My True Self LLC: blog posts for Gigi Carter, proprietor

CadenSee Medical Marketing: webpages, brochures, presentations, blog posts, writing and editing

Marchel Risk Consulting: webpages

Hunter Lewis: webpage teasers

Actively Learn/Achieve 3000

curriculum content creation and educator support

Claire is the star of our copy editing team. We trust her with sensitive and challenging texts where we want a special hand crafting delicate language. We trust her to maintain our intended tone while also clarifying our message and cleaning up our copy. Claire is easy to communicate with and quick to respond to urgent tasks with short deadlines.

Thank you so much for your amazing work on our assignments. We all appreciate how careful you are with language. You are a strong wordsmith and our assignments are better because of it Cristina Marcalow, Actively Learn

Contact

Just wanted to say thank you again. I re-read your edits and noticed all the little changes you made and comments you gave. Honestly, I find that you really have a gift for editing and also a will to make things sound better. The paper (and message) flows so much better now. In addition, I'm learning lots of new vocabulary and sentence structures thanks to you. Mariam Sambe, PhD candidate

ClaireAllenEdits@gmail.com