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about ME
I’m Hilary Levinson, and I provide freelance editing and translation services, as well as coaching and consulting for longer projects. I’ve worked with many academic writers in a range of fields, including political science, social work, sociology, anthropology, history, literature, and the natural sciences. I have also worked with writers on blog posts, cover letters, short essays, and longer writing projects. In addition to editing and coaching, I’ve taught composition and college writing for a number of years. As a translator, I do both literary translation and technical translation, and I have worked with texts in physics, math, and computer sciences. I translate from Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Catalan) into English.
I work with writers at all stages of the writing process, whether you’re just getting started or trying to finish. I can help you clarify the stakes of your argument, organize an unruly idea, or polish your prose. I have an eye for detail, and I’m available to provide support and guidance at any (or every) step, if that’s what you need.
I write about books, politics, pop culture, and history. I hold a B.A. in English from Amherst College and a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Michigan. My academic work focuses on memory and politics in Latin America. You can find my academic CV here.
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Services
WRiting COACHING & Editorial CONSULTING
WRITING COACHING services are tailored to your particular needs. Coaching is best for people who are working on a long term project (book manuscript, dissertation, etc.) or several shorter projects over a long period of time (articles, essays, blog posts, etc.). Writing coaching can take place at any stage of the writing process. Services may include planning sessions or actions plans, editorial guidance (including line edits, as needed), and regular consults in person or by phone or email. Coaching also includes emotional support and guidance and helping you to meet your deadlines.
EDITORIAL CONSULTING is similar to writing coaching, but is better suited to clients who may need services on an indefinite number of projects on an irregular basis. I will be on call to offer guidance, including line edits, on any last-minute editorial needs you have, such as articles or book chapters, reports, blog posts, application letters or personal statements, etc.
TRANSLATION
I translate from Spanish and Portuguese into English and have worked with texts in a variety of fields, including physics, math, computer science, and technology, as well as literature, history, and politics. For shorter texts, I also translate from Italian, French, and Catalan into English.
LINE EDITING SERVICES
I offer a range of line editing services for both completed manuscripts and works-in-progress. Scroll down to see which service is right for you.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
Developmental editing means a close involvement with the content of your work and may include any or all of the following: re-ordering sentences and paragraphs, fine-tuning your argument, fixing awkward sentences, cutting redundant or unnecessary content, watching for gaps in logic, and polishing language and exposition. I can also help you identify and flesh out parts of your project that need more work, deal with organization and other structural issues, and provide research assistance.
This type of editing improves the overall structure, content, and development of your piece and ensures consistency and clarity of style. Developmental editing is more subjective than copyediting, since it deals with the actual content of your writing.
COPYEDITING
Editing for grammar, word usage, spelling, punctuation, and other mechanics, as well as overall clarity and consistency. Attention to the overall logic of the manuscript, as well as basic transitions and general coherence.
PROOFREADING
Proofing for typos, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Proofreading usually takes place within a final draft and is a service distinct from (and much more basic than) copyediting.
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rates
Writing Coaching (5 Hour Minimum)
$60/Hour
Editorial Consulting (5 Hour Minimum)
$60/Hour
Developmental Editing
$.04-.06/word
Copyediting
$.02-.04/Word
Proofreading
$.015-.03/Word
Translation
$.11-.16/Word
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Testimonials
“Hilary Levinson is a fantastic editor and writing coach. As an editor, she has strengthened the mechanics of my academic writing including grammar, flow, readability, and formatting for the target journal. Additionally, on several manuscripts, she has worked with me to clarify the argument of my manuscript by crafting stronger topic sentences and clearer interpretations of my data. Consequently, Hilary’s support has made me feel more confident in my ability as a writer and I am more comfortable submitting my written work for publication.”
“Thank you so much for the extremely careful and patient explanation on every comment and doubt I had. You really made everything clear, and I am completely satisfied with the responses. I also learned a lot from your editing and observations. It was very instructive for me.”
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CONTACT Me
Interested in working with me? You can email me at hilary [at] hilarylevinson.com. I am available to talk about any project at no cost.
Or, use this form to tell me about your project and what kind of help you need. I'll be in touch with a quote, and we can go from there!