susan paterson

Freelance

I edit and write for a living – and have done so for a varied clutch of print and digital clients over the last decade-plus as a freelancer. Previously, I worked in-house as an editor and senior editor for six years.

I’ve worked with trade publishers, government, not-for-profits, literary journals, magazines and individual authors. My particular interests include travel, social justice, literature, history, culture, education and the arts.

Capitoline Museums, Rome

I am a trained editor

Mostly I work as a copyeditor and proofreader, but I also provide developmental feedback and manuscript assessments on occasion.

I’ve edited and proofread various books, from novels and general nonfiction to travel guides and cookbooks; web copy and content; and high-level, fully referenced research reports in the area of preventing violence against women. I also work directly with authors to help polish full-length manuscripts for submission to agents or publishers.

I am a writer

I write for digital and print clients – often the same clients for whom I edit  – and have produced web editorial content, campaign copy, features and interview-based articles, program and brochure copy, SEO and UX copy, eDMs and branding master copy. I’m handy in a CMS when it comes to content production.

I also wrote a novel, Where Light Meets Water (Simon & Schuster, 2023), and am at work on another. 

Interested in my quals?

I have a Diploma of Arts in Professional Writing & Editing and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.

Clients I’ve worked with include ANROWS, Our Watch, Visit Victoria, Deakin University, Lonely Planet, Coretext, A&U, Text, Echo, Hardie Grant, Meanjin, BBC Travel, NT Tourism, One and Eight and Slow Travel Berlin.

Contact me for examples of my work.