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Copy Editor and Proofreader Amy Holm

Copy editor and proofreader Amy Holm, a stellar new addition to Allegory Editing.

As many readers know, in addition to working as a novelist, I’m also a developmental editor with Allegory Editing. We love to work with both experienced and debut writers on fiction, narrative nonfiction & memoir. We are thrilled to announce that we have added a copy editor and proofreader to our team. If you’re looking for that extra pair of eyes and professional attention to detail before you hit the query process, or want to self-publish a polished manuscript, Amy can help you achieve success.

Copy Editor Interview + Editor Pet Corner!


Copy Editor and Proofreader Amy Holm

Copy EditorWhen did you discover you were in love with words and storytelling?

My parents read to me a lot when I was little, and I always enjoyed reading and writing in school, so I suppose it started there.

A favorite summer activity when I was a kid was checking out a big stack of books from the public library, which I read in between visits to the local swimming pool.

I grew up in a newspaper family – my dad owned several weekly newspapers in eastern South Dakota, and I worked for him for quite a few years. He is an accomplished author, and I have always been his favorite copy editor! I followed in his footsteps as a journalist and writer.

Working with a client as a copy editor and proofreader, how do you approach a manuscript?

I approach each manuscript with a great deal of respect. I know it is challenging to share one’s work, and I respect the discipline and passion that writers have.

I also keep an open mind about each manuscript and try to be as helpful and supportive as I can.

What can a writer expect working with you as a copy editor?

Writers can expect support, not harsh judgment. I am a teacher at heart, so I want writers to understand my suggestions and to know that they are, in fact, suggestions – not directives.

Their work is their own, and my role is to help and support them. I pride myself on being able to see the potential in every manuscript.

What’s your favorite part of copy editing and proofreading a writer’s work?

I love learning about people! I also love puzzling over word choice, sentence structure, and grammar. It’s one of my favorite things to do – and a lot of people think I’m crazy for feeling that way!

How did you become a college professor?

I never planned to be a teacher. I wanted to be a magazine editor and novelist. During graduate school, I worked as a teaching assistant and realized I loved teaching. I was sold! (I’d still like to be a best-selling novelist, of course!)

What do you love about teaching?

I love working with college students because they keep me young, and they keep me from taking myself too seriously. I also love to help students gain confidence in their reading and writing.

Tell us some of your other hobbies:

I love to read! I also like to be outdoors, especially walking along a beach, which I don’t get to do often because I live in South Dakota. I enjoy music and spending time with friends, family, and animals as well.

If you could give new writers one piece of advice to polish their work, what would it be?

Read your work aloud to yourself. It slows you down and allows you to catch and ponder things you might normally miss.

Editor Pet Corner!

Copy Editor
Sammy!

Sammy is 15 years old but acts like a puppy.

We adopted her from the local shelter when she was 1 year old, and the shelter described her as having a “silly personality.”

They were correct! She is a joy to be around.

We had a DNA test done and assumed we would be told she is a Jack Russell Terrier, but no – she has the genes of a Great Dane (wow!) and several terrier types, but not Jack Russell.

This seems fitting for the goofball that she is.

Luna!

Luna is 10 years old and is our second black cat (the first was Sally Pepper, who lived to be 18). She has a little white moon patch on her chest.

We adopted Luna because she was listed at the shelter as having been returned by someone; her adoption fee was decreased and she was in a cage by herself.

Very few people want to adopt adult black cats, especially those who have been returned. We felt she needed us.

We adore her and she has been a wonderful addition to our family.

Amy Holm

Copy EditorAs a copy editor and proofreader, Amy draws upon decades of teaching college English to help authors polish their prose. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in creative writing and has worked as a journalist, technical writer, and educator.

Over her nearly thirty-year career, Amy has taught courses in English composition, literature, creative writing, journalistic writing, business writing, and developmental reading, among others.

She has a keen understanding of grammar, punctuation, and diction and uses her careful attention to detail to help prepare manuscripts for submission and publication.


If you’d like to work with Amy as a copy editor or proofreader or find out more about our services, contact Andrea Karin Nelson at [email protected] 

You can follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook & Twitter

And don’t miss Amy’s upcoming workshop in March on her top tips for self-editing your manuscript! To find out more, visit our Workshops page on our website by clicking the link here. We will be offering a 2-for-1, so keep an eye out for the announcement!


Elena Taylor is the author of All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio book format at all your favorite bookstores and on-line retailers.

For more information on All We Buriedclick on the link here to visit the home page.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator 2020

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery 2020

Header photo by Wokingham Libraries on Pixabay.

Book stack by Hermann on Pixabay.

Elena Hartwell

Author and developmental editor.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Mary Angela

    Love this interview! Amy is a great copy editor. She reads all my work, and I highly recommend her services.

    1. Elena Hartwell

      Thank you Mary! That means a lot to us!

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