Persuasive Nonfiction

If your book or paper makes an argument, you should look for an editor who can examine that argument and help you strengthen it. That’s me: By training, I’m not just an editor; I’m a lawyer and a philosopher.

This background, of course, makes me especially suitable if your project is in law or philosophy. But it’s helpful beyond those fields, too: Lawyers and philosophers are specialists in the art of arguing. When editing persuasive writing, I can apply that expertise to identify weak points in your argument — and help you strengthen them.

Of course, there’s more to persuasive writing than the logical force of the argument. Mistakes of a technical nature, such as grammar or spelling errors, can undermine your credibility and your argument; I can catch them before you publish them. And if you like, I can help give your piece more rhetorical power.

Depending on the nature of your project, citations may be an essential element. Formatting citations can be tricky and tedious; you can offload that to me. I can also check whether you’ve made statements of fact or law that ought to be backed by citations and are not. Law reviews are famous for demanding heavy citation, so if that’s where you want to publish, having me edit your article may smooth the process considerably.

While studying law at the University of Pennsylvania, I spent two years on the Law Review, checking citations and helping other editors with difficult questions of grammar. After graduation, I enrolled in the doctoral program in philosophy at the City University of New York. I earned my master’s and transferred to the University of Virginia, but I did not complete the PhD.

Tell me about your project.