Reading The Grapes of Wrath motivated me to pen a novel. I submitted it to publishers. A slew of rejections ensued. Ugh! My magnum opus ended up a phantom opus.

A shakeup was required. Something drastic. I hiked the Appalachian Trail—a five month slog from Georgia to Maine. What followed was a second novel, based on that adventure. The book was self-published.

While creating those novels, I attended critique groups for writers. Those sessions piqued my interest—and revealed an aptitude—for editing the works of authors.

But aptitude does not result in proficiency. I therefore enrolled in a manuscript editing program at the University of Chicago. The coursework emphasized grammar and copy editing. My certificate of completion was issued during April, 2024.

I am now editing works at no charge—and gaining real world experience. Monetary compensation can wait a few months. Are you a writer with a manuscript that needs professional editing? I am happy to serve you.

Final summit on the Appalachian Trail.