Clients' and Students' Experiences

editing clients say ...

When I first hired Eliot to edit my work, I was nervous. I knew, based on the sample edit, that they would make my books better, but my experiences with editing in the past had always brought back to me the specter of a displeased English professor. But I needn’t have worried. Eliot works hard to read and understand the text with the shrewdest possible eye. They leave insightful comments and questions to help me clarify my work and improve my word choice. They discover terms I’ve overused and ideas I’ve underthought. And they’re always kind and gentle. I’ve never felt bad or shamed for getting the wrong end of the stick; they just suggest better ways to handle things. I am glad I took the chance to hire them for Dionysus in Wisconsin and wholly recommend them for all your editing needs!
—E.H. Lupton, Author, Wisconsin Gothic series

Eliot is everything I want in working with a freelance copyeditor. They’re 100% on the ball, prompt and communicative, and they will nudge me to keep a project moving forward when necessary. Eliot’s work is always above and beyond: in addition to a well kept style sheet, each project includes an extensive and thoughtful list of comments and queries to the author. They are never shy about asking me clarifying questions, and their speed and accuracy are remarkable. Most of all, Eliot's affinity for handling LGTBQIA+ representation in romance is exactly what I need for my company's interactive fiction, which is written to be accessible to a wide spectrum of players. Don't hesitate to hire them.
—Mary Duffy, Editor, Choice of Games

I hired Eliot for their Idea Development service and a partial manuscript review when I felt stuck with a fiction project, and I am so glad I did. I was blown away by the concrete, thorough advice, and I really appreciated the examples and book suggestions. So much for me to think about!
—Anthony Martucci, Writer

I was quite nervous about the editing process, but Eliot guided me through my developmental edit with kindness and warmth. They were extremely compassionate and patient with me as a new author. Eliot took the time to thoroughly explain their edits and suggestions, making sure I understood each change and how they would improve my story and help to create more dynamic characters. Their flexibility with scheduling was also much appreciated: they worked hard to accommodate my limited availability during graduate school. I truly enjoyed working with them.
—Mara Norris, Author, Until Someday, Love Elliot

Eliot copyedited my interactive-fiction novel, Teahouse of the Gods. I appreciated their attention to detail working with a complex story set in a non-western world. Their work also stood out to me for their attention to neurodiversity and representation, which was reflected not only in the quality of their feedback, but also by their citation of respected sources and thoughtful discussions. As an added bonus for authors on a schedule, Eliot combines their literary and artistic acumen with clear communication and efficient project management to guide your story over the finish line to publication.
—Naca Rat, Author, Teahouse of the Gods

I have been working with Eliot West on revising my nonprofit's website—ensuring both consistency and inclusive language throughout and reducing redundancy—and, oh, my gosh, are they ever amazing! Way smarter than your average bear, with incredible attention to detail, and so much patience! I cannot recommend Eliot strongly enough, and I cannot imagine trying to complete any written project without their guidance. Every exclamation point and superlative here is entirely deserved!
—Nic Rosenau, Director, Planet Homeschool

I have had nothing but positive experiences working with Eliot. They have always been quick to respond to assignment requests and have consistently finished them on time. I’ve had multiple completed proofreads in my inbox from Eliot a day or two before I asked for them back and have never had to worry about them missing a deadline. This timeliness has never been a detriment to the quality of work either. Each book I've sent to Eliot has always come back in better shape.
—Luke Hanlon, Associate Editor, Red Line Editorial

coaching clients and students say ...

Eliot is a compassionate and attentive writing coach. In the time spent with Eliot, I developed a routine that worked better for my current lifestyle challenges, reduced my feelings of guilt from lack of productivity, and established a new normal.
--Amara Lynn, Author

This coaching experience made me actually want to write again and showed me how to move forward. Eliot is understanding and compassionate, and though I'm a disorganised mess with a schedule made of chaos, they never made me feel like I couldn't do this. Their coaching made me feel a lot more patience and kindness towards myself and brought joy and excitement back into the process.
--Lawrie Groening, Writer and Editor

Eliot has helped me to look at revision through a new lens. As a teaching artist, they discern my needs as a learner, create curriculum that is engaging and fosters critical thinking about the craft of revision, and meet me where I am to help move me to a higher level of understanding. I look at revision of my writing with greater intentionality because of the work I have done with them. I love being able to tap into their expertise to improve my craft.
—Diane Bell, Writer and Student at The Loft Literary Center

Eliot West is an inclusive, well-informed, and supportive teacher. Throughout the course, Eliot's extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject (and their many romance novel recommendations!) really shone through, and I looked forward to logging on to the online portal each week to complete the assignments. I also appreciated that Eliot encouraged students to comment on each lesson, sparking insightful and fun exchanges. I highly recommend Eliot as an instructor and look forward to learning from them again in the future.
—Maya Berger, Editor

The Consent Workshop challenged some deeply-ingrained structures in our writing and in our social relationships that I found very exciting to explore. This workshop exposes our inherited belief structure and powerfully seeks to overthrow it. It's a fascinating look at our most intimate moments and how we negotiate our shared space. Consent is vital to healthy relationships and bringing this into our writing can help empower and validate the feelings of many who struggle to find their voice and boundaries.
—Christine Letiza, Author

As a member of Lit!Commons at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, I have prized Eliot West’s writing instruction and guidance.  Eliot’s well-crafted lessons provide writers with practical and engaging strategies for revision and guides them to take the next best step wherever they are in the writing process. In a class setting, Eliot facilitates positive interactions with focused questions and invitations to share, providing students with thoughtful and analytical feedback. I thoroughly enjoy Eliot’s classes! 
—K. Zwolenski, Author