Over the course of my career as an editor I have edited hundreds of stories on just as many subjects and worked with dozens of writers. A few things remain constant: the inviolability of the writer’s voice, the magic of language, the power of story, the way structure—when it’s right—can sweep readers up and carry them along as forcefully as a rip tide. All good editors must earn their writers’ trust and to do that they must be patient and encouraging, imaginative and insightful, direct and honest. I love to work with writers and help them grow ever better at the craft. If you are in need of a good editor, feel free to contact me. Below I've included thoughts from a number of writers who have worked with me over the years.
“Working with Julia presented an endless master class in professionalism and journalistic integrity. As an editor Julia has the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a poet and the soul of a philosopher. She approaches every sentence the way she approaches every subject, with the attention and precision of a diamond cutter.”
“Julia is a deft and discerning editor who brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her craft. She doesn’t tolerate mediocrity. Once I proved a worthy investment as a writer, she became a champion of my work and ideas. I’ve worked with her on numerous large stories over the years and her edits and suggestions have greatly improved my storytelling. ”
“Julia was my editor on a lengthy magazine profile. I was writing about a prolific twentieth-century artist who’d led a long and intriguing life, and the article required a ton of research and reporting. Then I had to synthesize all of that material (no easy task!) and turn it into a narrative. There were times I couldn’t see the forest for the trees, and it was then that Julia stepped in and helped me to bring the artist alive on the page and move the narrative forward. When I turned in my final revision it was over the word count, and she trimmed the piece in an elegant way, leaving intact not just my favorite sections but also my voice. I always say that the best editors improve your pieces immeasurably without leaving their fingerprints. That’s just what she did.”
“Julia and I worked together for over a decade. Out of that collaboration came many award-winning pieces and some of the most memorable research experiences of my career. We did clash. But I will admit to my bull-headedness. Even when my stories got bent and dinged (in my mind), I always knew that I would be proud of them in the final printing. She is a very skillful editor. In my experience, her editorial precision and clarity are rare.”
“I love working with Julia as my editor. She’s an excellent communicator and when she briefs me on a story idea she offers clear, very helpful direction. She is intelligent, fun, playful and wise. ”
“I’m a curator emeritus in the division of birds in the Smithsonian Institution who seldom chooses to write for general interest publications, so when Julia contacted me about writing an article I was pretty skeptical. But the subject—the nineteenth-century race to identify every last one of Hawai‘i’s birds—was one with which I was intimately familiar and Julia’s enthusiasm for the project provided extra incentive, so I agreed. We hammered out an outline and after just the right amount of coaxing, I came up with a draft. Julia made very reasonable edits and suggested the story needed a better ending. I agreed and the alternative was much better. Then she suggested that the beginning could be improved too, by making direct reference to the collectors’ fieldwork. I looked through the literature and came up with a dynamic passage that vastly improved the article. After some final massaging of the text by both of us, the piece was published. I was extremely pleased with it, and it received much praise from friends, colleagues and strangers. Julia’s skill and encouragement made the whole process productive and agreeable.”
“Julia has a deft hand and a sharp mind born in part from living on several Pacific islands and getting to know some of their people. She uses her editor’s red pen with enormous sensitivity, caring and creativity. I am grateful beyond measure for her skillful editing.”
“About twenty years ago Julia hired me to write a series of food columns. Working with her was enormously rewarding for me as an author. She could be at once fiercely critical and gently encouraging, ever able to discuss both the largest issues and smallest details. Her razor-sharp intelligence and critical acumen are well tempered by genuine warmth and wit. She is keenly committed to fine writing, never allowing a text to be trivial or banal, always working to make the written word dazzling, seductive, and significant. Subsequently she worked with me on various essays, and I came to trust her literary judgments so wholeheartedly that I have turned to her for responses to the novels I’ve written since undertaking that first column so long ago.”
“Julia genuinely delights in great writing, and she won’t let you off the hook until you get there.”