Hello! My name is Ren and I'm a freelance editor and proofreader. I line edit, copyedit, and proofread for individuals, publishers, digital publications, game developers, businesses, and agencies, and I have worked on a variety of texts including articles, manuals, marketing copy, web content, video game scripts, book manuscripts, and more.I am also a localization editor for light novels and manga translated from Japanese to English. Currently, I edit for J-Novel Club and Kadokawa World Entertainment in this capacity.Before I started freelancing, I worked in both non-profit and for-profit sectors of the fine arts industry for over ten years. After becoming disabled in 2021, I decided to pursue a new career in editing that would let me combine my love for books with the professional skills I developed in my previous career and the flexibility to accommodate my physical limitations.I live in the Pacific Northwest with my cat Bartleby and enjoy reading, studying languages, and playing video games.
Skills
Line Editing and Copyediting
As a line editor, I evaluate and offer suggestions for improving word choice, phrasing, flow, and other elements of style. As a copyeditor, I focus on applying the Chicago Manual of Style and any house style guides to a written work while focusing on language mechanics like spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and usage. I primarily edit fiction for publishers but also work directly with writers.Localization Editing
I review English translations of Japanese light novels and manga for accuracy, style, tone, and clarity, recasting dialogue and narration into natural-sounding English where necessary. Depending on the project and client, I may work closely with translators to improve translation precision and consistency, with proofreaders to prepare and finalize manuscript or print files for publication, and with localization staff to meet editorial standards and deadlines. For manga, I also review and edit lettered pages in InDesign for publisher approval.Proofreading
I review the final version of a written work to make sure it's ready for publication or distribution by identifying and querying typos, layout or formatting issues, and other errors.Project Management
I have eight years of experience in planning, organizing, and executing projects and initiatives for businesses and nonprofit organizations in the fine arts industry to deliver results that improve operations and production efficiency on time and and within budget.Languages
English (native speaker), Japanese, Mandarin ChineseSoftware and Technical
Office: Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat
Graphics: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
Project management: Asana
Other: HTML, CSS
Clients
Kadokawa World Entertainment, J-Novel Club, BLEND Localization, Salish Magazine, The Observatory, businesses, and individuals
Education
Professional development coursework Editorial Freelancers Association, Poynter Institute, and The Publishing Training Centre
Project Management Professional Certificate Google
MA Museology (museum studies) University of Washington
BA Music & BA Art History University of Maryland
Professional Memberships
Northwest Editors Guild, Editorial Freelancers Association
Light Novels
Manga
Indie Games
As your editor or proofreader, I'll dig into every sentence of your writing to suggest improvements and correct errors while working with you to make sure readers have the best possible experience with your article, short story, novel, game, or other project.Copyediting: This service is a thorough review of mechanics such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and usage. I will also compile an editorial style sheet to help everyone working on your project keep track of important plot or character details, special terms, unique spellings, and style guidelines.Line editing: This is a more intensive level of editing that includes copyediting plus in-depth sentence-level stylistic suggestions for clarity, tone, voice, rhythm, and flow. Line editing fine-tunes word choice and sentence structure to support your story or message. This service also includes an editorial style sheet for your project.Proofreading: This is a final check and polish for your project. I identify spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, format and layout problems, and inconsistencies with the editorial style sheet. Please note that I only proofread projects that have already been edited at least once; for book manuscripts, I require a project style sheet to perform this service.If you're interested in any of these services, please contact me by email or Discord with a short description of your project, word count, and a timeline or deadline. I look forward to hearing from you!
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Discord: sarensaysSocials
Bluesky
LinkedIn