Eliot West, PhD
they/them
I am an independent editor and educator serving creators who care about inclusivity. I work with publishers and other companies as a copyeditor and proofreader, and with independent authors on everything from big-picture story issues to sentence-by-sentence polishing. I've edited over four and a half million words in 178 projects since starting my business in 2018: might your words be next?
A literary scholar, romance fan, and incorrigible nerd, I’ve spent my life smitten with—and studying and teaching about—stories, language, and the sharing of ideas. As an editor, I aim to support creators in realizing their particular visions and growing in their craft—and to advocate for readers through a commitment to inclusive language and storytelling.
I’m also fundamentally a teacher, a role I’ve found myself performing my whole adult life in a surprising range of contexts: in a slew of college literature and writing classrooms, at a creative writing camp, in conference presentations and Q&As, at a library reference desk, in workshops for writers and editors, one-on-one with clients, and more.
I believe that editing is (or at least can be!) a form of teaching and learning, and that all of these interactions are best approached not only with loads of knowledge to share but also in a spirit of empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. And when you get right down to it, that’s what I love most about the work I do!
My many other great loves include: Schitt’s Creek and She-Ra, Maintenance Phase and Fated Mates, knitting, coffee, nature photography, gardening, our two gloriously big-eared dogs, and wombats.
And last but definitely not least: I'm reliable, prompt, and a pleasure to work with!
A literary scholar, romance fan, and incorrigible nerd, I’ve spent my life smitten with—and studying and teaching about—stories, language, and the sharing of ideas. As an editor, I aim to support creators in realizing their particular visions and growing in their craft—and to advocate for readers through a commitment to inclusive language and storytelling.
I’m also fundamentally a teacher, a role I’ve found myself performing my whole adult life in a surprising range of contexts: in a slew of college literature and writing classrooms, at a creative writing camp, in conference presentations and Q&As, at a library reference desk, in workshops for writers and editors, one-on-one with clients, and more.
I believe that editing is (or at least can be!) a form of teaching and learning, and that all of these interactions are best approached not only with loads of knowledge to share but also in a spirit of empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. And when you get right down to it, that’s what I love most about the work I do!
My many other great loves include: Schitt’s Creek and She-Ra, Maintenance Phase and Fated Mates, knitting, coffee, nature photography, gardening, our two gloriously big-eared dogs, and wombats.
And last but definitely not least: I'm reliable, prompt, and a pleasure to work with!
education
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I have a number of English lit degrees, most recently a PhD with specialties in literary theory and twentieth- and twenty-first-century British novels. In my academic life, I produced a body of work focused on narrative form and taught literature and writing courses for a decade.
A longtime voracious reader when it comes to writing craft, genre fiction, and developments in English usage (with special attention to inclusive language), I’ve also taken courses and attended conferences on a variety of topics in editing. I am not only committed to but downright enthusiastic about keeping my skills up to date through continuing education. |
member of:
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ACES: The Society for Editing (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Advisory Committee Member)
Professional Editors Network (PEN) LGBTQ+ Editors Association EFA/Editors Canada Academic Editing Chapter |
sharing my knowledge
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I have presented and taught about writing, editing, and how stories work through organizations including:
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