Writing and Editing

I approach writing and editing as art-work: transforming complex ideas into accessible knowledge, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating materials that advance collective flourishing. Whether you need academic manuscripts polished for publication, organizational communications that embody your values, or strategic content for your non-profit’s newest program, I ensure your message reaches its intended audience with clarity, authenticity, and transformative power.

Foundations: Writing as Praxis

My writing and editing practice emerges from the understanding that language shapes reality. Every word choice, sentence structure, and narrative arc either reinforces existing power relations or opens space for alternative possibilities. Drawing on my background as a sociologist with a background in HR and in marketing, I help clients navigate the tension between accessibility and rigor, ensuring their content serves both scholarly standards and community needs.

Through my regular Spotlight on Society blog, peer-reviewed publications, popular writing on Yahoo, Fast Company, US News, or Newsweek, to academic conference papers at Cambridge and Notre Dame, I’ve developed expertise in translating complex concepts into compelling narratives that drive both understanding and action. This translational approach informs every project, whether we’re crafting grant proposals that center community wisdom or editing manuscripts that challenge disciplinary assumptions.

Academic Writing and Manuscript Development

My academic writing and editing services draw on years of experience navigating peer review processes, conference presentations, and interdisciplinary publication venues. I specialize in manuscripts that bridge theoretical sophistication with practical application, particularly in areas of organizational sociology, ethics, and critical theory. Services include:

Manuscript Development and Structural Editing: Working with authors to develop compelling arguments, strengthen theoretical frameworks, and organize complex ideas into coherent narratives that serve both academic and broader public audiences.

Publication Strategy and Journal Selection: Leveraging my familiarity with publishing landscapes to help authors identify appropriate venues, understand editorial expectations, and craft submissions that align with journal priorities while maintaining intellectual integrity.

Grant Writing and Research Proposals: Drawing on my experience with full-cycle grant administration and participatory research methodologies, I help organizations develop funding proposals that balance funder requirements with community-defined priorities through my Grant Writing and Administration expertise.

Literature Review and Citation Management: Conducting comprehensive literature reviews that incorporate diverse scholarly traditions, ensuring research builds on existing knowledge while amplifying underrepresented voices and methodological approaches. See also my Co-Investigator and Research Capacity Building services.

Organizational Communications and Content Strategy

Effective organizational communication requires understanding how language reproduces or challenges existing power structures within institutions. My approach to organizational writing integrates insights from critical discourse analysis with practical knowledge of workplace dynamics, helping clients create content that embodies their stated values rather than merely describing them.

Policy and Procedure Documentation: Transforming dense institutional language into accessible, actionable guidance that empowers rather than polices community members. This work connects directly with my Strategic HR & Organizational Consulting practice.

Internal Communications and Culture Change: Internal communications that foster genuine engagement rather than top-down messaging. This work often accompanies broader DEI Transformation initiatives.

Board Reports and Stakeholder Communications: Crafting reports that balance transparency with strategic messaging, ensuring stakeholders understand both successes and challenges while maintaining organizational accountability.

Editorial Services and Developmental Support

My editorial practice goes beyond surface-level corrections to address underlying structural and conceptual issues that strengthen both argument and accessibility. Services include:

Developmental Editing: Working with authors to strengthen overall structure, clarify arguments, and ensure content serves intended purposes while maintaining authentic voice and perspective.

Copy Editing and Proofreading: Providing meticulous attention to grammar, syntax, and style while preserving authors’ distinctive voices and ensuring accessibility across diverse audiences.

Fact-Checking and Source Verification: Confirming accuracy of claims, citations, and references while identifying opportunities to incorporate more diverse scholarly perspectives.

Style Guide Development: Creating custom style guides that reflect organizational values, maintain consistency, and guide future communications development.

Liberation-Centered Editing Philosophy

Unlike traditional editing approaches that prioritize compliance over creativity, my editorial philosophy centers liberation—both for ideas seeking expression and audiences seeking understanding. This means:

Voice Preservation: Maintaining authors’ authentic perspectives while strengthening clarity and impact, particularly for writers from marginalized communities whose voices may have been systematically excluded from dominant discourse.

Accessibility Enhancement: Improving readability without sacrificing intellectual sophistication, ensuring content serves multiple audiences simultaneously.

Critical Analysis: Identifying assumptions, biases, and power dynamics embedded in language choices while suggesting alternatives that align with stated values.

Community Accountability: Ensuring content serves not just individual authors or organizations but broader movements for social justice and collective liberation.

Specialized Applications

Academic Conference Presentations: Helping scholars transform written research into compelling presentations that engage diverse audiences while maintaining scholarly rigor.

Grant Application Narratives: Crafting compelling stories that demonstrate community need and organizational capacity while aligning with funder priorities and evaluation criteria.

Policy Briefs and White Papers: Translating complex research findings into actionable policy recommendations that policymakers can understand and implement.

Case Study Development: Creating detailed organizational case studies that document successes, challenges, and lessons learned in ways that benefit broader movement learning.

Integration with Consulting Practice

My writing and editing services complement broader organizational development work, often serving as entry points for deeper Research & Program Support engagements. Many clients begin with specific writing needs—grant applications, website copy, or internal communications—before recognizing opportunities for more comprehensive organizational transformation.

This integrated approach ensures that written materials align with organizational culture, strategic priorities, and community accountability rather than existing as isolated products disconnected from lived practice.

Working Together: Collaborative Process

My writing and editing process emphasizes collaboration and shared ownership rather than expert-client hierarchies. Initial consultations explore not just immediate writing needs but underlying organizational values, target audiences, and strategic objectives. This context ensures that written materials serve broader goals while maintaining authenticity and accessibility.

Throughout the development process, I provide regular check-ins, draft reviews, and revision opportunities that center client expertise while offering technical guidance on structure, clarity, and impact. Final deliverables include not just polished content but also recommendations for future development and maintenance.

Ready to transform your ideas into compelling, accessible content that advances your mission and serves your community? Book a complimentary discovery call to discuss your writing and editing needs, explore how collaborative development can strengthen your organizational voice, and design an engagement that honors both your expertise and your audience’s needs.

Contact me through the page to begin developing written materials that embody your values while achieving your strategic objectives.

Continue the Conversation

I regularly publish reflections on writing, critical theory, and organizational transformation through both academic venues and public platforms. Subscribe below for insights that connect craft with justice, strategy with authenticity.