Stephen M. Parkin

Stephen is a skilled academic editor specializing in line editing and developmental editing. His content specialties are languages and literature, history, religion, classics, art history, psychology, sociology, anthropology, cultural/area studies, and education, though he has also edited for authors across the disciplines, including philosophy, political science, economics, the natural sciences (especially biology, ecology, chemistry, and molecular engineering), mathematics, medicine, law, library sciences, and business.

Stephen is also a dedicated educator with a passion for helping students connect meaningfully with their learning. He has won awards for his engaging, responsive teaching.

Outside of work, Stephen is an avid tabletop game designer, cook, and outdoors enthusiast. He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family.

Professional Experience

During his time at Whitman College, Stephen worked in elementary and middle schools as an academic tutor. Following graduation, he lived and worked in China teaching English at a first-class engineering college (Northwestern Polytechnical University). Later, Stephen returned to the States to complete his Masters and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at a top program in his field at the University of Chicago.

Stephen has extensive experience teaching academic, professional, technical, and business writing to undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals, including business executives, doctors, lawyers, social workers, teachers, nonprofit managers, and many others. He has also taught writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level.

In addition, Stephen has worked as an educational consultant, with special expertise in curriculum design, course design, active learning, and assessment.

Education and Awards

• Ph.D in Comparative Literature (University of Chicago, 2019)
• Certificate in College Teaching (University of Chicago, 2019)
• Masters in Comparative Literature (University of Chicago, 2013)
• Bachelors in Classics and Philosophy, summa cum laude (Whitman College, 2009)
• Francis X. Kinahan Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching Writing (University Writing Program, University of Chicago, 2014)
• Award for Excellence in Course Design (Chicago Center for Teaching, 2014)

As an editor, I help writers find their voice, clarify their ideas, sharpen their language, and produce high-quality, publishable work that will effectively reach their target audience. The editorial relationship is an important one for any writer—please contact me so that we can get to know one another and see whether we would be a good fit!

I am happy to review and provide a sample edit on a selection of your manuscript (~5 pages) to discuss what type of editing might be most productive given the current state of the text, as well as to provide a sample of my work, before we formalize an editorial agreement.

I am available for fast turnarounds on journal articles and essays, as well as for deeper work on extended, book-length projects. Please contact me for a project quote, and see below for useful details about hiring an editor.

Line Editing

Line editing aims not only to correct mechanical errors (in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and conventional usage), but more importantly, to improve the style and clarity of your writing so that your ideas are expressed as effectively and impactfully as possible.

As your line editor, I will help you improve the language of your text, including word choice, sentence structure, sentence length and variation, repetition, redundancy, rhythm, ambiguity, tone/register, voice, and other features that cut to the heart of readability and style. As a result, your text will be clearer, more precise, more expressive, and more engaging.

Line editing can also help you improve your writing for your target audience, reframe your ideas for a different audience, or determine where and how to cut a text for length (and where not to!).

Note that many universities do not allow line editing for dissertations. If this applies to you, consider a Manuscript Evaluation instead (a type of developmental edit, below). Line Edit: $12 per page ($48 per 1,000 words)

All rates are discounted for graduate students, independent scholars, and others without institutional or grant funding.

Developmental Editing

Also called "content," "substantive," or "structural" editing, developmental editing focuses on the overall content and organization of the manuscript as a whole. It usually involves high-level guidance about how best to structure and approach the argument of the text and its development, but it may also include direct changes to a manuscript, including rewriting and reorganizing, to demonstrate how to improve the text.

Developmental editing typically results in a long report (a "manuscript evaluation" or "editorial letter"), plus a video or voice call to discuss the report, provide coaching, and answer questions. A manuscript evaluation details various areas for improvement, and also discusses possible solutions to any concerns. Developmental editing also frequently involves line editing to demonstrate how to address certain deficiencies in the text.

Developmental editing may involve assistance in the very early stages of planning and drafting a manuscript, or may be provided for a full draft. Sometimes, when developmental editors are hired late in the publishing process, they may be called "book doctors." Manuscript Evaluation: $10 per page ($40 per 1,000 words) Full Developmental Edit: $12-15 per page ($48-60 per 1,000 words)

All rates are discounted for graduate students, independent scholars, and others without institutional or grant funding.

For editors, "one page" always equals 250 words (the length of one standard manuscript page in the publishing industry).

For new clients, I typically request a sample of the manuscript before completing an editorial agreement, so that we can agree on the depth of editing necessary and desired. For longer texts, I am happy to provide a free sample edit (~5 pages) on this excerpt to demonstrate my services.

My rates depend on the length, complexity, and specialized knowledge required for the project. (Longer projects are charged at a lower per-word rate.) In general, I prefer to quote a total project cost based on these factors, though some clients prefer to pay me by the hour. All my rates are discounted for graduate students, independent scholars, and others without departmental, institutional, or grant funding.

For new clients or large projects (meaning hundreds of pages), I may require either advance payment of half of the project fee, or else both editing and payments in multiple smaller installments (e.g. one chapter at a time).

For extremely quick turnarounds (in the magnitude of days), I may charge an additional 20-100%, depending on the details of the job. Please inquire to ask whether I am available for immediate turnaround.

All of my editorial work is private. Under normal circumstances, I will only discuss my involvement in your text with your express written permission.

Style and Approach

[What I appreciated most about Stephen was] his ability to distill and summarize the key concepts, provide extremely valuable feedback and give practical advice. Amazed at how Stephen could suggest great improvements in very technical texts. Also, he was always available for questions.
Mathematician/Computer Scientist, 2022

Stephen was absolutely fantastic. He was diligent and extremely knowledgeable. What I really appreciated was how attentive he was… You could tell how much he worked with me on my specific strengths and weaknesses.
Ecologist, 2021

Stephen is excellent at breaking down [your] strengths and weaknesses. He's also very good at providing positive and constructive feedback in a way that helps you gain confidence and grow as a writer. Overall, I feel so lucky to have [worked with] Stephen… because his comments and support have helped me grow leaps and bounds.
Graduate Student, 2021

Stephen is great at explaining and clarifying concepts... Additionally, he answered all questions really well. His feedback is also specific and actionable, and has helped me improve my writing immensely.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2024

Stephen made me more confident in my writing and made me actually want to write instead of dreading it!
Biologist, 2021

Stephen is responsive and enthusiastic. … I feel respected and involved.
Computational Sociologist, 2023

Quality of Editing

This is the most thorough editing assistance I have ever received. ... With much better word choices, the paper now sounds more formal, precise, and vivid.
Anthropologist, 2024

Stephen was incredibly thorough and helpful in his comments. His solutions and suggestions were always very clear and easy to implement. I really couldn't ask for better comments on a paper.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2017

The feedback was very thorough and... tailored to the goals I wanted to achieve in my own writing.
Anthropologist, 2021

The inline comments were great, and I could see that every revision suggested made the paper tangibly better.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2024

Clear and right on the point.
Mathematician, 2022

I have worked with Stephen for over two years. He excels at designing strong and effective sentences and paragraphs, and in simplifying and clarifying complex ideas while preserving your style. I am very pleased with his work.
Spanish Literature Scholar, 2024

It was very helpful that Stephen had such a diverse base of familiarity with a number of disciplines; I don't often get to get feedback on my work from people familiar with my methodologies.
Philosopher, 2021

I think Stephen gives really great critical feedback. He is great at helping give thoughtful edits and praise. I really enjoyed working with Stephen… he made me into a better writer.
Scientist, 2021

I appreciated how detailed Stephen's feedback was. He gave a good summary of what to work on, but he always took each topic… one at a time and explained his thinking.
Psychologist, 2021

Stephen provides generous written feedback… and a clear analysis on how [to] improve [one’s] writing.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2024

[Stephen’s commentary] was detailed and took into account the nature of my text, which made it very helpful.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2022

Stephen wrote the most detailed critiques I have ever received. I appreciate everything about them.
English Literature Scholar, 2017

I really appreciated how detailed and thoughtful the feedback was. Instead of [simply] giving edits or saying this area could use work, Stephen went above and beyond and tried to explain his thinking behind his edits and ways to improve in a certain area.
Historian, 2021

Stephen's detailed written feedback on my work has [been] extremely helpful.
Sociologist, 2021

Very detailed and gave feedback in a way that made me understand why some things would not work with certain readers, and why... sentences should be written [in] certain ways.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2024

Always succinct and to the point.
Economist, 2021

[I most appreciated] his suggestions about how small tweaks and edits in sentences can go a long way.
Ph.D. Candidate, 2024

His feedback is so detailed and insightful.
Graduate Student, 2024

I am available to produce written work for hire. My rate varies depending on the nature of the work, but typically falls into the following ranges:

• Fiction: 8-25¢ per word
• Nonfiction and ghostwriting: 20-40¢ per word
• Comics/graphic narrative: $60-70 per page

Samples of my written work are available upon request. Please contact me to discuss whether my style and experience might be a good fit for your project.

I have years of experience successfully guiding faculty and graduate students through the writing and publishing process. Clients whom I have worked with in the past have praised my collaborative, expert approach to coaching. Please contact me if you are interested in discussing ongoing coaching!

I am available for consultation regarding topics within humanities education, editing, publishing, teaching, and related topics. Please contact me to find out whether my expertise may be of help to you and to inquire about rates!