What more people are saying.
As a contract faculty for many years, most of my writing had been for teaching purposes or job applications. When I began a tenure-track job, I wanted to revitalize my writing in a way that would be as pleasurable and sustainable as possible, while also effectively getting things out for publication. I sought a writing coach and editor who could help me work toward these aims and I’m so thrilled that I found Natalie.
Working with her has been one of the best parts of my first year on the tenure track. Since I began working with Natalie, writing has become much easier for me: knowing that I have a caring, smart, and incisive – but not judgmental – editor who will suggest improvements before I share out my writing with a journal editor has afforded me freedom.
I trust that Natalie will notice where I’ve not made my position clear enough, where I’ve run too quickly through a complex topic, or where I’ve fallen into bland academic writing and need to allow some honesty and creativity to emerge.
Natalie’s edits have both clarified the finer points of my writing and made my main arguments stronger. With Natalie’s support, I feel that I am developing a strong sense of myself as a scholar. I know what I want to contribute my field and I feel more confident that I will be able to write up my research so that it is both legible in academia and meaningful to me.
In addition to a swift turnaround time, a keen eye for detail, and an uncanny ability to see the larger flow of a piece of writing, I especially love Natalie for her heartfelt support of my aims and commitment to my success.
Bring your honest questions and aims to Natalie; If the two of you are aligned, you can’t find a better writing partner.
—Jody Valentine, Assistant Professor of Classics, Pomona College
I have worked with Natalie for several months now both on essays and a book. Natalie helps me see the layers of the story I am trying to tell and helps me explore the topics I am working on more deeply and meaningfully. She nurtures my curiosity while challenging me to broaden my perspective as we work together through my memoir. She has helped me focus and be disciplined in my writing while enabling me to think deeply. For me, she has had an uncanny way of knowing what I really want to tell through my story and I am enjoying bringing it to life with her.
—Shivani Malik, author, The Sky Looks Different Here
I was very fortunate to work with Natalie on my first book, published by The MIT Press. The Press had provided several rounds of editing support to get me into the proofreading phase. Natalie provided the much-needed proofreading, but she also added yet another level of editorial polish to the text. She challenged me to go further to clarify some of the ideas and connect threads even more succinctly. I'm very grateful for her diligence and incredible attention to detail.
—Matt Wizinsky, author, Design after Capitalism, The MIT Press
I knew I needed a professional editor to ensure my book was polished and of high quality. When I came across Natalie's impressive personal and professional credentials, I was confident she was the right choice. At the time, I was struggling to finish my manuscript. Balancing full-time work, I had spent over a year on it and felt weary, lacking the motivation to push through to the end. Natalie reignited my excitement for the project. After speaking with her, I was able to complete my manuscript within a few weeks. Her review provided invaluable feedback—she was kind yet honest, offering specific and actionable insights that helped me refine my work and achieve clarity in areas that needed improvement.
Natalie provided valuable suggestions to enhance my manuscript, making it more relatable and easier to understand. I especially appreciated her feedback on the tone of my writing, as her perception highlighted a disconnect between my intent and the message conveyed. Her honest insights were invaluable in helping me identify the adjustments needed to achieve the tone I envisioned.
Natalie was great at providing specific feedback that pushed me to grow as a writer. Everything she shared was thoughtful and made perfect sense. I especially appreciated the detailed two-page overview she provided, outlining her insights and suggestions, along with specific edits directly within my manuscript.
If you're looking for an editor whose expertise aligns with your project (you can explore Natalie’s many areas of expertise on her website), I highly recommend meeting with her to see if she’s the right fit. When I met with her, I knew immediately that she was the perfect choice. I started working with her right away, and it’s a decision I’ve never regretted.
—Shelley Braine, author of The College Debt Solution
I found Natalie at the beginning of my tenure-track appointment. I was struggling with getting my ideas to land consistently in publications and presentation venues. I also needed assistance with structuring longer research projects and papers as my scholarship expands and deepens in its complexity.
Natalie’s feedback is unparalleled. She has been pivotal to my growth as a scholar and academic. I have significantly improved my standing within my field and my skills as a writer and researcher by working with her. Specifically, Natalie offers pointed critique and questioning on the fundamental premise of the work, offering editorial insight and feedback only rivaled through peer review. It’s like having a preview of peer review prior to sending the work out!
Additionally, Natalie has helped me establish a framework and flow for producing my writing, which has significantly streamlined the process. I can now produce a paper efficiently and keep the argument concise and poignant throughout the process of composition.
Natalie is passionate about her work, she dives headfirst into the topic presented to her and embodies the subject matter with her feedback. Even though my field is relatively small and somewhat on the fringes of the academic landscape, Natalie can get her head into the core problems of the discourse and helps me unpack them to bring greater clarity and insight to my own field.
Natalie’s expertise in rhetoric and mastery of its strengths to improve writing is further evident in her ability to unpack an argument through the devices of language and reasoning. Meetings with her are like mini philosophical lessons and they are always enlightening.
I will recommend Natalie to everyone I know!! She is an incredible editor and a genuinely incredible person. I am so lucky to have crossed paths with her. I would recommend her to anyone at the start of their tenure-track timeline, those thinking about tenure, and those with tenure who would like to improve their writing and publication output. I think anyone in a learning or self-discovery process through research, teaching, or writing stands to benefit from Natalie’s expert insight. She should be regarded as a treasure to academics and the world of writing writ-large and given the utmost admiration for her contributions to the pursuit and expansion of knowledge!
—Christianna Bennett, Assistant Professor and Director, Geofutures, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
I sought Natalie’s help with a manuscript I was writing about raising a child with autism. I felt like I had a good metaphor for developing the story arc, and had several chapters written, but I needed help flushing it out and getting it to completion.
Natalie’s most helpful edits came in her suggestions to slow the pace of my storytelling and explore certain points more fully. She is so interested in the fine points of my storytelling, which make it a better experience for my readers.
Natalie hones in on story pacing, changing voices and how to hold the reader’s interest. Her edits make my writing tighter but also more engaging.
Aside from being a prolific editor, Natalie has a great grasp of how to get things in print. When she first read my manuscript, she thought it lent itself to breaking pieces of it into discrete articles for magazine publication. The first article I pitched got picked up by Newsweek! She also helped me develop an author website, offering suggestions on layout and content. She understands the importance of building a base of readers before publishing a book, if at all possible.
If you need a consummate professional who is a skilled editor and a thoughtful creator of content, you need Natalie on your team. Natalie makes my work better every time she reviews it, and as an aspiring author that is invaluable. I also just enjoy our sessions on Zoom because she is a terrific person who is really invested in her clients.
—Mary Snowdon, author, Pivot Party
I wanted to find ways to make my memoir manuscript more reader-friendly. Natalie's big picture edits were very helpful: she pointed out places that needed better structure and helped me to find ways to make the story flow better, to keep readers engaged.
—Han Kim, PhD, Everett E. Berg Professor of Business Administration, and Professor of Finance, Corporate Strategy and International Business at University of Michigan
We needed copyediting help with a manuscript, and Natalie was recommended to us by a friend who knew of her work. Natalie did an excellent job, not only fixing grammar and typographical issues, but also suggesting edits to improve the writing. Her rates, and the time she charged for the work were very reasonable. We had a tight deadline, and we were grateful that Natalie was able to accommodate that, without compromising on work quality.
—Jagadeesh Sivadasan, PhD, professor, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business
I reached out to Natalie because I was looking to expand the written culture of my business. I knew I wanted to document the great work we are doing, but I didn't have the time to execute all of the ideas I had. I needed a strong editor and copywriter who could distill my notes into sparkling sales documents. We quickly found we could trust Natalie to handle a wide range of assignments, from basic copywriting to well-written summaries of research. Always aware of deadlines, Natalie has a large skill set, but will ask for more clarification if she needs it. Though I am cautious to recommend her too highly because I don’t want her schedule to fill up too much, definitely hire Natalie if you want a reliable, flexible copywriter and editor.
—Brandon Tyree, Software Development Executive
I reached out to Natalie because we were looking for someone who could suggest changes, and provide straightforward constructive feedback, all while helping us keep the author's voice. The author's style is loose and conversational, and we wanted to keep that while tightening it up for the reader. Natalie's suggestions were spot on.
Her strength as an editor is her adaptability to what the task is—whether overall content flow or a final-stage proofing, Natalie jumps right in.
She is fun to work with and her work style allows for back-and-forth conversation to craft writing you'll feel good about. To anyone considering hiring her: you'll retain your voice as the author, and learn a few things along the way.
—Jenny Tubbs, publisher and editor, Zingerman’s Press
I sought Natalie because I wanted to deliver a top-quality report to my client and she identified places where language could be more precise and economical. Her strengths are her attention to detail and ability to adapt to many different writing styles. I recommend her highly, as she offers timely feedback and encouragement that will help you feel confident in your writing. Her keen eye helped me refine my writing and provide an exceptional product for my client. I will definitely hire her again!
—Meryl Herr, PhD, professor and consultant
Natalie is a thorough editor with an eye for details…she has a knack for seeing where you want to go and identifying what is missing. I am very appreciative of her voice and feel that my writing is much stronger thanks to her edits.
— Kevin Paul, writer
Natalie is a talented, well organized writer. She does a fantastic job bringing the stories of people and communities to life. Natalie's passion for education shines through her choices of topics and delivery of heartfelt articles.
—Lauren Fay Carlson, Editor, Rapid Growth Media
Natalie was a great help to me with a print project for a client. She asked great questions and was thoughtful in getting to know the organization, their style, and nuances, before digging into the work.
It was a relief to work with someone who is technically excellent and a wonderful storyteller. She's professional, takes an assignment and runs with it, and delivers on-time. I would recommend Natalie for any writing challenge.
—Amanda St. Pierre, Director of Advancement Communications, Aquinas College
Natalie is very reliable and always turns in her stories on time. She also regularly pitches, which is a huge help to me as an editor.
I rely on her each month for fitness-related stories and appreciate her commitment to GR|MAG and the quality of her work. She also turns in clean copy that fits the style and tone of the publication.
—Charlsie Dewey, Managing Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine