Developmental Editing

During the Developmental Edit, I strengthen the structure, pacing, and overall narrative flow of your writing, helping you refine your ideas and enhance the impact of your story.

Copy Editing

As your Copy Editor, I perform a rigorous edit that refines grammar, style, and tone, making sure your story is told with precision and professionalism.

Proofreading

Proofreading is a final quality check where I make certain the text is free of errors that could distract or confuse the reader, ensuring your writing is flawless and ready for publication.

Proposal Services

In today’s competitive publishing world, getting a publisher to read your manuscript can be an uphill battle. I offer book proposal services that help you craft a compelling case for your book.

Self-Publishing Services

Self-publishing can be an empowering yet complex process. I offer comprehensive self-publishing services that turn your finished manuscript into a polished, market-ready book.

COnnect

Get in touch today for a free consultation and let’s craft your masterpiece together.

writing is hard. don’t do it alone.

Meet your editor

When you work with me, you’re not just hiring an editor; you’re gaining a supportive collaborator who’s committed to making your work shine. I pride myself on being curious, responsive, and dedicated to understanding your vision.

editor & Writer

Joseph O’Meara

I hold degrees in Creative Writing and Philosophy from the University of Colorado at Denver where I also worked as a researcher for the Political Science Department. I learned the book business working as the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mystery buyer for Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado, which at the time was the largest independent bookstore in the western United States, and remains a staunch defender of the book buyer’s right to remain free from governmental interference.

My publishing experience includes working as a editorial production manager at Random House and as an editor for the National Alliance of Mental Illness. I recently completed the Strategic Storytelling Program at Columbia University and am a IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

I’ve worked as a writer for Amnesty International, Screen Rant, and volunteer as a Copy Writer for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. I recently authored two policy analysis papers for the Nebraska State Legislature, challenging arguments used to deny healthcare to the LGBTQI community and am currently working with a client on a book of essays about the transformative power of fly fishing.

For the last 15 years I’ve worked as a technical writer for a number of high-tech companies, including PayPal, Facebook, and IBM. I’m skilled in the art of translating highly complex information into language, graphic designs, and video content that make the ideas accessible to non-technical audiences.

Testimonials

Joseph is an outstanding editor who I can’t recommend highly enough. He is a consummate professional, and his work is always excellent. I was able to hand off my project to him, knowing I could trust him fully to complete the work on time and provide the most helpful feedback and suggestions. He was easy to work with and exceeded my expectations in every area. Having utilized Joseph’s services, I feel extremely confident moving forward with publishing my book.

Tim P.

Author-Flyfishing through the Crazy

Joseph is an exceptional editor with a natural gift for divergent thinking. He identified new opportunities to establish tone, found creative solutions to narrative problems, and encouraged me when I wanted to quit. His sharp reasoning skills, combined with a strong commitment to seeing me succeed, took a good book and made it great.

Mikail P.

Author & Screenwriter-The Fires of Orion; Star Trek: The Next Generation

Joseph’s deep understanding of epistemology, ethics, and formal logic made valuable contributions to several academic publications. He helped us expand knowledge and develop new ideas that impacted work focused on everything from the illegitimate use of power to the ethics of research in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. He has outstanding research and editorial skills, and a wonderful sense of humor, which is something the Academy can always use more of!

Simone B.

Lecturer in Classics: Queen’s College, Oxford University

Joseph has a proven track record of providing outstanding service to our customers. I have received many compliments praising his skill and professionalism. He takes the time to listen to your needs and provides actionable guidance on how to improve the quality of your message.

Deb K,

PayPal-Senior Communications Manager

Developmental Editing

During the Developmental Editing process, I provide recommendations to improve your work’s depth, focus, and flow without altering your unique voice.

Structural Refinement

I analyze the manuscript’s DNA and make recommendations for reorganizing your content to enhance the logical flow, coherence, and impact, ensuring every section contributes effectively to the overall message.

Content Clarity

I help you refine your ideas, clarify complex concepts, and eliminate redundancies, ensuring your message is clear and engaging for your target audience.

Tone & Style

I make recommendations to ensure the tone is consistent and appropriate for your audience, while aligning your work with its intended genre or style.

Paragraph & Sentence Structure

I provide revision recommendations to paragraphs and sentences for clarity, coherence, and variety that will improve the overall readability and engagement of the text.

Copy Editing

During the Copy Edit, I refine your work to ensure clarity, coherence, and polish.

Grammar & Syntax

I correct grammatical errors, improve sentence structure, and ensure smooth readability.

Consistency & Style

I enforce consistency in tone, terminology, and formatting, aligning your work with applicable style manuals (Chicago, AP, MLA, etc.).

Punctuation & Spelling

Every punctuation mark and word is carefully reviewed to eliminate mistakes and improve flow.

Clarity & Readability

I find opportunities to improve the clarity of your message and make recommendations for restructuring complex sentences and simplifying language.

Proofreading

As your Proofreader, I perform a comprehensive quality assurance review, ensuring the final manuscript is ready for submission or self-publication.

Consistent Formatting

I carefully review the manuscript’s visual design to ensure the consistent use of capitalization, italics, bold, font style, and spacing.

Correct Word Usage

Here I spot incorrect or awkward word choices and suggest alternatives (e.g., “effect” vs. “affect”)

Citation Accuracy

I review all quotations, footnotes, endnotes, and in-text citations to ensure consistency with the relevant style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

Typographic Consistency

I apply my love of great design to confirm uniformity in the use of dashes, hyphens, quotation marks, bullet points, and other typographical elements.

COnnect

Get in touch today for a free consultation and let’s craft your masterpiece together.

Proposal Services

With countless submissions vying for attention, getting your manuscript read by publishers can be a frustrating challenge. I help streamline this process, ensuring your proposal stands out and increases your chances of success.

Concept Development

I help you clarify your central idea, target audience, and unique selling points.

Synopsis Writing

I work with you to create a clear, engaging overview of the book, including key themes, tone, and structure.

Market Research

I apply expert research skills to demonstrate your book’s relevance by analyzing its potential audience, competition, and market demand.

Query Letters

I assist in writing a persuasive query letter that captures the attention of agents or publishers.

Author Bio

I help you highlight your background, expertise, and platform in a way that adds credibility to the book.

Chapter Breakdown

We develop a detailed outline or sample chapters to showcase the book’s structure and style.

Self-Publishing Services

I offer comprehensive self-publishing services to help turn your manuscript into a polished, market-ready book.

Manuscript Formatting

Ensuring your book’s layout is professional and reader-friendly, whether for print or digital platforms.

Cover Design

Creating a visually striking cover that captures your book’s essence and stands out in the marketplace.

Interior Book Design

Crafting clean, well-organized interior layouts that enhance the reading experience.

ISBN and Copyright Assistance

Helping secure an ISBN and copyright for your work, ensuring your book is officially registered and protected.

Print-on-Demand Guidance

Navigating print-on-demand services to minimize upfront costs while making your book available to readers.

Platform Setup

Assisting with uploading and configuring your book for sale on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, or other self-publishing platforms.

eBook Conversion

Formatting your manuscript for various eBook platforms (Kindle, Apple Books, etc.), ensuring compatibility and ease of use.

Marketing and Distribution Strategy

Offering advice on promoting your book, targeting the right audience, and distributing your work effectively.

Technical Writing & Content Development Services

Need clear, concise, and effective communication? I offer professional technical writing and content creation services tailored to your business needs.