All Roads Lead to Editing: My Story CV
I’ve spent my life as a professional shapeshifter. From IT cybersecurity newsletters to the bright lights of a New York City stage, I’ve navigated every kind of story imaginable, from almost every angle imaginable.
But looking back, I realize I wasn't just “working jobs,” I was slowly being initiated into “the art of the edit.” Every road I’ve walked has been a training ground for the intuitive yet technical eye I bring to your book today.
Every newsletter, news script, and character study I’ve ever done was an entry in establishing what I now call the Editorial Records Exchange. I was building the database of human expression that I use today to help you refine your truest message.
Now, I apply that same archival depth to your work, ensuring every edit is a sacred transmission that brings your story to its highest and best form.
The Records Behind My Editing Career
These are the records that led to the establishment of my book editing business.
As an IT assistant during college...
This is where I cut my teeth in breaking down complex technical stories into actionable ways to protect yourself in the cybersphere.
One of the executives at this oil/hotel conglomerate once told me that I had a gift for breaking down technical jargon into something the everyday person could understand—that’s probably why they kept me doing the newsletter for so long!
I took over the helm of that monthly newsletter from 2011 until 2024, sharing important cyber news stories and tips for a 10,000+ organization to bolster cybersecurity awareness and to protect their employees and company assets.
At my university’s sports media office...
This is where I learned that the red pen isn't just for corrections—it's a tool for creative surgery. The skeleton of a story became clearer to me, and I started recognizing exactly which words and phrases were blocking the heart of the athlete's journey.
I learned that the red pen can be wielded for good—to create more powerful language choices for compelling stories.
My speedy keyboarding skills were also put to the test in transcribing interviews for sporting news updates (85+ WPM, thank you very much).
Not only that, but my first official publishing byline came through this internship as the Editor of the sports & media guide for the swim team.
In the newsroom...
This is where I learned how to curate and edit punchy news stories and learn which stories were important to tell through curating stories from the endless influx of news submissions.
But my favorite part of that job was proofreading broadcast lower-third headlines (the ones at the bottom of the screen), as well as cleaning up and improving the flow of the scripts, so the anchors wouldn't stumble over their words or mispronounce names. Basically, I helped the broadcasts flow flawlessly without errors, spoken or on-screen.
Although not entirely PC, I did earn the moniker among colleagues as the "AP Nazi" for keeping the station's web & broadcast content aligned with the Associated Press guidelines. I even remember a producer saying, "Did Mikael take her pass yet? Then, we're good to go."
Give me a good style guide—or let me establish one—and I will keep you coherent with it!
As a communications coordinator for a state business association...
This is where I learned how to communicate, write, and edit across multimedia channels, from blogs, social media, radio, email marketing, video, press releases, website content, graphic design, and beyond.
As the go-to proofreader among the staff, I was fondly known as “The Machine” for punching out efficient proofreads in a pinch for almost all of the departments.
This is also where I earned my first significant editing byline!
I took tremendous pride in being the head curator and editor for their annual magazine, Life in Utah, for the two years I was there before taking the leap to move to New York City to explore performance opportunities. They even trusted me enough to keep me on as a contract editor for subsequent issues and important documents after my departure.
(And colleagues from that office still call me on occasion for quick proofreads!)
As an actor & performer...
This is where I learned how a character would move, breathe, and speak.
I literally got to put on a show, telling all kinds of stories and tapping into characters, their motivations, how they change through a story, and emotionally dive into what it takes to make their story seem real and relatable on stage. And this is critical to understanding characters and story arcs in books!
Now, when I read your manuscript, I’m not just looking for typos; I’m listening for the character's truth.
If a line of dialogue feels off-key, either for the character or for the story, I can help you find the right note and offer suggestions to bring it back into harmony.
As a freelance writer & editor in the Big Apple...
This is where I got to translate a variety of businesses’ and entrepreneurs’ messages and stories into about pages, blog posts and articles, press releases, and other web copy and content.
This is also where I learned how to offer gentle, kind, and clear feedback to students preparing for their SATs/ACTs, as well as helping them shape and edit their college acceptance letters for their next stage of life.
This is where I learned copywriting and writing on the fly (Fiverr is a whole thing, my friends). My quick typing and ability to break down complex concepts into relatable and understandable stories really came in handy!
As a copyeditor turned book editor...
One day, a welcome invitation came my way…
Before this, editing and proofreading seemed to always be one-off jobs.
But then a good friend—who happened to edit my debut novel, Crimson Oppression— asked me to be a book editor for her growing editorial firm. Editing for her would light a fire deep within me that just couldn't be squelched.
From here, my passion and experience converged into a career I utterly adore!
Enter… The Intuitive Editor
Now, I take your manuscript and tune it until it vibrates with clarity. I don’t just “polish” dialogue or arcs; I ensure the heartbeat of your story stays consistent from the first page to the last.
And as The Intuitive Editor, I am here to bridge the gap between your blank page downloads and a finished, professional publication. By refining the architecture of your characters and the rhythm of your prose, I make sure your audience never loses the thread. I scrub away the static in your dialogue and narrative arcs, leaving behind a story that feels both effortless and inevitable.
My goal is for your reader to put the book down and think, “I don't know how she knew I needed this, but I did.”
That’s the power of an aligned edit with me.
Your story is a unique frequency,
and it deserves to be heard in its full glory.
I know it can be nerve-wracking to put your words into the world, but you don't have to do it with the fear of looking "inexperienced."
My storytelling and editing expertise is here to instill the confidence that your message is both professional and profound.
This isn't just work for me; it’s a lifelong initiation.
Refining a message until it makes its most impactful statement? That’s my version of Turkish delight. I love getting lost in the architecture of a story because I know what’s at stake:
Your voice being truly seen and heard.
If you’ve been feeling like your manuscript is a series of disjointed roads, let’s find the one that leads to your reader’s heart. I invite you to submit your project to the Editorial Records Exchange with me for an Enchanted Edit—where we make your words work for you, not against you.
Let’s elevate your book to its highest and best form… together. <3