My Editing Clients
Since I began freelance editing in 2005, I’ve had the privilege of working on many amazing books. Below are links to some of my clients and the books I’ve edited. I’ve also included a few more client testimonials below.
“Not only is Rachel a skilled editor, she is also gifted at handling the needs of the author. She has the ability to tune into the author’s concerns and desires which is just as important as the technical side of editing. She is the unusual editor who can work excellently with both novice and experienced writers.”
- Lacey Hanes Ogle, Assoc Publisher/Senior Editor, Deep River Books
“It has been my privilege to work with Rachel extensively over the past few years. During that time, I have come to appreciate the quality and timeliness of her work, as well as her overall professionalism. As the editor of a national magazine, I work with many authors who have a message to share, but may not have a background in writing or journalism. Rachel does a fantastic job cleaning up the articles — maintaining the author’s tone and intent, while at the same time helping them reach a level of quality worthy of a professional writer. If you’re looking for an editor who is dedicated, hardworking, and passionate about helping people communicate their message with clarity and impact, I highly recommend Rachel Starr Thomson.”
- Jonathan Lewis, Editor, Home School Enrichment Magazine
“Finding a good editor is essential to producing a high quality book. Rachel Starr Thomson’s pleasant personality and professionalism show how easy she is to work with. When she has a deadline she always accomplishes the work by the given date! She’s always willing to explain obscure rules of editing and helps the writer express themselves accurately.”
- Amy Puetz, author of Uncover Exciting History
http://amypuetz.com/
“I am sincerely grateful to Rachel Starr Thomson, fellow author and editor with Deep River Books, for her gentle way of ushering me along the narrow and focused path of pulling this story together in a finished product. In addition to her talent in editing and polishing my story, gently guiding me along and showing me where to focus, Rachel was proficient in smoothing out the rough edges of my first draft, finding that one perfect word or phrase needed to tighten the writing and pull it together in a finished product.”
- Lauri Khodabandehloo, author of Lonely Girl, Gracious God: A Mother’s Story of Autism’s Devastation and God’s Promise of Enduring Love
“One of the things I really appreciated was that Rachel read the book deeply-perhaps more deeply than anyone else-and knowing that there is still time to make it better, she did that. What remains from this process that we started together in early December is a much stronger, more readable and more enjoyable adventure story with a richer plot, characters with texture and, well, more character and scenes that are more vivid … I think she has a magic touch because she isn’t just an editor, she’s a writer herself, and I think she understands the mental gymnastics that goes on when submitting your work for improvement to another person. I suspect validation is something I will always struggle with, but Rachel made this process easy and even fun.”
- Sam Batterman, author of Wayback and Maximal Reserve
“As a first-time author, I knew little of what to expect when I began to work with Rachel on the editing process of my book. I was hoping to work with an editor that would be willing to provide honest feedback and insights on how to refine my book beyond just grammatical corrections. Working with Rachel exceeded my expectations. It was clear that she had gone beyond the word smithing of my story, and could see and feel the bigger picture of what I was trying to convey. I felt like Rachel was invested in helping make my story a success, and an end result that I could be proud of. “
- Kristen Richburg, author of Disrupting Grace
“I first became acquainted with Rachel Starr Thomson over a year and a half ago. I had just finished my first novel and was poised to send it off to a publisher when it was suggested that I have someone read through it first, professionally. I made inquiries with a Christian editing service and after answering emails from over fourteen very good editors and after much prayer, I decided to choose Rachel. I was instantly impressed after learning several things about her life and character that suited me personally and my style of writing. First of all, it is evident that she is in love with the Lord Jesus. That can be clearly seen in her writings. Secondly, she comes from a huge family—twelve kids—and still lives at home—not because she has to but because she is secure enough to do it and loves it!
“Now all of these things that I have mentioned are important but I found out that where the rubber meets the road—she really does know what she’s doing. When I sent her my first manuscript, she was honest—you should have seen the red ink dripping from the pages! But she said the book was readable and had a lot of promise. During the next several months, I learned more from her than I ever had in high school or college about writing. At times it was intense and I had nightmares that I was drowning in “white space” (just kidding!). Her teaching has given me the confidence and boldness to write the way I have always wanted to write. She is approachable and will research and answer any question you have and treat you professionally—even though you may be sucking your thumb as a novice writer.
“I have just completed my second novel with Rachel, doing her famous substantive edit and am very pleased with the results. It was worth every penny. Remember, once your book is in print, there is no going back. Even if you have a PhD and have just written the great American novel (or Canadian, for that matter!), people will judge you harshly for misspellings, grammar mistakes, punctuation issues and poor flow. Readers will not be able to get around a poorly written and presented manuscript, no matter how smart you are and what you have to offer. With that said, I could not imagine writing another book in the future without utilizing Rachel’s editing skills. She is a professional, a great lady and a friend.”
- Michael Leonard Jewell, author of At Home In Old Sodus and Life In Old Sodus
Other Testimonials
“It has been a real pleasure working with you. Some of my readers were nervous that my editor would try to make unwelcome changes. But your changes were all just what were needed, to make this a stronger manuscript. You’ve had a real part in this manuscript by your perceptive comments.” – Douglas McMurry, author, The Forgotten Awakening (coming from Deep River Books)
“Rachel Starr Thomson’s editing of the soon-to-be released book, They Have Cancer: What You Can Say and Do To Help, changed it from the thoughts and ideas of this author into compelling, easy-to-read, and useful information. The book even earned a high-profile endorsement. She was easy to work with, respectful of the manuscript, prompt, and with reasonable rates. She is a great editor, understanding what I wanted and delivering great results! Highly recommended!” – Heather Russell, www.theyhavecancer.com (book coming soon)
“Rachel Starr Thomson is a wonderful coach, writer, and all-around person, who through constructive criticism has made me a writer I never thought I could be. Now when I read my own writing I can’t wait to see what happens next and forget that I’m actually the one who wrote it and realizes what does happen next!” – Joshua Audenby (Student Writer)
“After spending a lot of time looking for an editor for my novel, Perceval: Prince, I was introduced to Rachel Thomson. I was immediately impressed by her skill and professionalism, which combined with her great appreciation of fantasy literature, makes her a great asset to your writing. I have enjoyed the chance to work with her and look forward to another chance. If you are a writer who is committed to your work, and you want to see the best from it, regardless the stage of its progress; I would be pleased to recommend her services. ” – Mark Turbett, author, Percival: Prince
“What did I get in the critique of my first novel from Rachel Starr Thomson? A thoughtful, nine page analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of plot, structure, style, and mechanics with recommendations and examples for improvement. Rachel commented on each chapter, giving weight to her overall suggestions. Her insight was invaluable to me as I rewrote the novel, making it a 100% better read. I recommend Rachel – 100%.” – Bob Menees, author of Wings Away
“Rachel . . . I really appreciate the way you did the first edit. Having another writer look at your stuff and provide helpful feedback is iffy at best. Untrained editors tend to want to change things to make them their own. When you made suggestions of change, it was not to change my idea, just make it clearer. I loved that. Your examples of how to reword were golden. You also respected the main project idea, which was to teach character through the references in the text. Your suggestions and comments made so much sense. It was easy to make the changes without feeling like I was destroying my work. Again, thank you so much for everything. For your wisdom, willingness to share links and info, your patience, and mostly your understanding. You are awesome, and I appreciate your hard work!” – Thanna C. Goff, author of The Old Mineshaft
More Books I’ve Edited
