Editorial Freelancers Association
Member Profile
Debra Teachout DVM
Teachout Editing
I’m a copyeditor, proofreader, writer, and veterinarian who is passionate about animal journalism and its power to promote respect for all animals.
I specialize in editing nonfiction animal-centric writing. If you’re looking to craft excellent prose that advocates for the ethical treatment of animals, I’m the editor for you. Your project can focus on pets, wildlife, wildlife rehabilitation, farmed animals, animals in science, animals in zoos, animal rights, animal welfare, animal studies, or animal advocacy. Your project’s audience might be veterinarians, scientists, students, or the general public.
I created the term animal-sensitive editing to describe my approach to language written about nonhuman animals. The mission of animal-sensitive editing is to help authors represent animals thoughtfully and truthfully. My ability and passion for this type of editing are supported by my strong academic credentials (UC Berkeley Professional Sequence in Editing Certificate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree) and significant amounts of experience in editing, proofreading, writing, animal advocacy, and veterinary practice.
I’m inspired by Jane Goodall’s words: “The way we write about other animals shapes the way we see them — we must recognize that every individual nonhuman animal is a ‘who,’ not a ‘what.’ I hope that we can advance our standards in this regard globally to refer to animals as individuals, and no longer refer to them as objects, so that the stories we tell spark compassion and action for these fellow beings.”
Email: deb@teachoutediting.com
https://www.teachoutediting.com/
More information: View PDF file
Years in the field: 10
Years freelancing: 5
Debra Teachout DVM
I’m a copyeditor, proofreader, writer, and veterinarian who is passionate about animal journalism and its power to promote respect for all animals.
I specialize in editing nonfiction animal-centric writing. If you’re looking to craft excellent prose that advocates for the ethical treatment of animals, I’m the editor for you. Your project can focus on pets, wildlife, wildlife rehabilitation, farmed animals, animals in science, animals in zoos, animal rights, animal welfare, animal studies, or animal advocacy. Your project’s audience might be veterinarians, scientists, students, or the general public.
I created the term animal-sensitive editing to describe my approach to language written about nonhuman animals. The mission of animal-sensitive editing is to help authors represent animals thoughtfully and truthfully. My ability and passion for this type of editing are supported by my strong academic credentials (UC Berkeley Professional Sequence in Editing Certificate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree) and significant amounts of experience in editing, proofreading, writing, animal advocacy, and veterinary practice.
I’m inspired by Jane Goodall’s words: “The way we write about other animals shapes the way we see them — we must recognize that every individual nonhuman animal is a ‘who,’ not a ‘what.’ I hope that we can advance our standards in this regard globally to refer to animals as individuals, and no longer refer to them as objects, so that the stories we tell spark compassion and action for these fellow beings.”
