Melissa Simpson, MA-English, is a writing instructor at Hendrix College and in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Distance Learning program. She teaches academic writing and business and technical communication. She is skilled in MLA, APA, and Chicago manuals of style.
She writes and edits educational/tutorial manuals, users’ manuals, resumes, application letters, fiction and non-fiction books, textbooks, bibliographies, theses, and dissertations.
She is also a published author whose biography of author Flannery O'Connor was published in 2005.
Specialties:
Technical documents
Theses, dissertations, essays, term papers
APA format, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style
Feedback
"Since I am a non-native English speaker in the teaching profession, it is indispensable to have a good editor. I had tried so many editors before I met Melissa, and there's none who could do better work than she. I wish I'd known her while I was working on my doctoral dissertation. Melissa is a highly reliable, responsible, and professional editor that I recommend for all my friends, including native English speakers." Hiromi Saito, Ph.D. Queens College
"Of the different editors I've worked with during my career, I can honestly say that Melissa is the best. She posed the right questions when I was working on a re-write to make my work more clear for my readers. Plus, I've learned a little, as a writer, from her editing." Michele J. Hale, author of Skin
"Melissa Simpson provided editing services for a doctoral dissertation. I found Melissa's editing to be insightful, to the point, and accurate. I would highly recommend her services." Dr. Stephanie Stoneberg, Oakland Elementary Principal
"Melissa was very knowledgeable, helpful, timely, and a pleasure to work with. She understood my specific needs and fulfilled them quicker than I expected. I would not hesitate to call on her again or to recommend her to others." Patrick DeGrave, Village Administrator, Sunger
"Melissa provided a very thorough review of my dissertation and was willing to work within my time-line. She not only provided editing she added notes with questions for clarification in my writing. I would highly recommended Melissa for this type of work" -- Cheryl Lampkin, American University
"Melissa Simpson was a fantastic support. She was incredibly efficient and reliable. Without her editing services, I would have been lost. Melissa is simply the best I have ever worked with. I’d love to contact her again." Werner Bonadurer, PhD student, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Required:
Submit a sample of your book manuscript or story (Word/DOC or RTF
attachment preferred). The sample should be 5-50 pages. Large files
should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started
(e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).
Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your
project (e.g., footnotes).
(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):
(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):
(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction,
horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):
(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):
(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)
Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)
Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)
Rewriting / Ghostwriting
Critique / Evaluation
(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):
(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:
(09) Number of footnotes/references:
(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:
(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:
(12) What is your budget for the entire project? $ ________________
(13) Your name:
(14) E-mail addresses:
(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification
regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):
(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):
(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):
No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly
how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)
It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.
Note: Price quotes and time estimates for individual editors cannot be given over the phone or via chat. This is a network of freelance editors with varying prices and work schedules (see our FAQ). To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page.
Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours. It is possible that your submission was not received. You may also page the network coordinator by leaving voicemail or sending a fax to 469-789-3030.
Please be as complete as
possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive
the most accurate estimate.
Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your freelance editor / proofreader / writer, not with the freelance network as a whole or its coordinator.