Editorial Freelancers Association
Member Profile
Candida Hadley
I have been an academic/nonfiction editor for 15 years. I specialize in works that engage critically with the world around us and am particularly interested in works that offer a critical analysis of social and political issues, such as racism, anti-Black racism, colonialism, white supremacy, gender and sexuality, poverty, and the like.
Many of the projects I work on are written by academics and students, and I enjoy working with students who are writing their thesis or revising their thesis into a book, but I also work on narrative nonfiction projects, including memoirs. Whether it’s an article, book chapter, thesis, book, proposal, web content, or grant application, I focus on helping you build strong, convincing arguments that are expressed clearly and passionately.
I offer a variety of editing services, including developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, and fact-checking.
Work History:
I worked as an acquistions and development editor with the academic/social justice publisher Fernwood Publishing for more than a decade. I acquired and developed manuscripts, evaluated proposals, consulted with authors about their work, and did the developmental and line editing of manuscripts. I also wrote marketing materials and numerous (successful) grant applications. Over these years I also worked as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader.
Prior to working as an editor, I spent nine years working as a researcher in the university sector. Working largely as a qualitative researcher, though sometimes we employed mixed methods, I managed a variety of research projects in disciplines such as anthopology, labour, social work, nursing, health studies, and law. I conducted interviews and focus groups, analyzed and coded data, did literature reviews, wrote final reports, and trained and mentored research assistants.
Education:
I have graduate degrees in the social sciences, and have taken copyediting and substantive editing courses through Ryerson University.
Current Work:
In addition to working with individuals and academic presses, I’m employed on a freelance basis with Ideas on Fire, a US-based academic/social justice editing service, Treatment Action Group, an HIV research institute, and International Development and Research Canada, a development agency.
Testimonials:
“Candida is an amazing editor. She suggested many, many changes that immediately and powerfully clarified what I had been trying to say. In her comments to me, she challenged me to do better, to be more critical, and more intellectually rigorous while she somehow simultaneously made me feel very much capable of those things. She deeply challenged me to do better while encouraging me and boosting my confidence, helping me feel capable of meeting the challenges she set. Both direct and gentle, she helped distill my muddy thoughts and messy ideas into something I feel very proud of. She encouraged me to put more of myself into the pages, to tell the story I want to tell, to let my own voice emerge. She guided me in ways that have made me a better writer, communicator, storyteller going forward. The book will have my name on it, but it was a collaborative endeavour with Candida through and through. I am really, really grateful to her and excited for any writers out there who get the chance to work with her!”
Jen Gobby is a scholar-activist currently doing a postdoc at Concordia University and the author of More Powerful Together: Conversations with Climate Activists and Indigenous Land Defenders
“Candida Hadley is an outstanding editor. I had the pleasure of working with Candida on my first book, and I can say without a doubt that the book was improved many times over through her thoughtful and intelligent editorial guidance. Her editorial work was rigorous in a way that pushed me to sharpen and deepen my analysis of the material, while also being supportive and encouraging. This included help with the overall crafting of the arguments, the tone of the writing, the use of evidence, and the more technical aspects of the style and writing. I would work with Candida again without any hesitation, and recommend her to anyone looking for professional editorial assistance.”
David Thomas is an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Mount Allison University and the author of Bombardier Abroad: Patterns of Dispossession
“I was most fortunate to work with Candida, a gentle, skilful, and wise editor. She provided solid guidance and direction and raised insightful questions and comments that helped sharpen my points. She offered helpful understanding, empathy, and support whenever I indulged in sharing some of those ‘writer’s obsessions’!”
David Forbes recently retired from Brooklyn College, CUNY and is the author of Mindfulness and Its Discontents: Education, Self, and Social Transformation
“I doubt my book would have ever made it into the world without Candida’s superb editing. Although rigorous and exacting, she is also an incredibly generous and supportive editor who helps the author realize and communicate their vision. I always had a sense she had my back and every stage of the process went smoothly and professionally. She has particularly acute skills at helping to pitch the manuscript to its intended audience. I have worked with other excellent editors, but can say unconditionally that Candida is the best!”
Eva Mackey is a Professor in the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies, Carleton University and the author of Unsettled Expectations: Uncertainty, Land and Settler Decolonization
“I am deeply indebted to Candida Hadley for her clear and insightful comments on the manuscript. Her editorial feedback was truly invaluable in terms of clarifying the book’s core arguments and presenting the work in a coherent and compelling fashion.”
Ian Reilly is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and the author of Media Hoaxing
“Candida Hadley is an excellent editor, the best I have ever experienced. She is timely, professional, and effective in her work. Candida is an outstanding editor, and it was such an honour to work with her. I most highly recommend her.”
Ranjan Datta is a researcher at the University of Calgary and editor of Reconciliation in Practice: A Cross-cultural Perspective.
“Working with Candida Hadley was a terrific experience. Candida is an insightful, keen-eyed and highly skilled editor whose input improves a manuscript both structurally and at the level of small-but-important details. Candida always makes great suggestions, and communicates them with clarity and sensitivity. She is, in short, an excellent editor.”
Stephen Dale is the author of several books including Noble Illusions: Young Canada Goes to War
For More:
For more information about me and the services I offer, visit my website www.candidahadley.com or contact me directly at candidahadley at gmail.com
More information: View PDF file
Years in the field: 15
Years freelancing: 4
Candida Hadley
I have been an academic/nonfiction editor for 15 years. I specialize in works that engage critically with the world around us and am particularly interested in works that offer a critical analysis of social and political issues, such as racism, anti-Black racism, colonialism, white supremacy, gender and sexuality, poverty, and the like.
Many of the projects I work on are written by academics and students, and I enjoy working with students who are writing their thesis or revising their thesis into a book, but I also work on narrative nonfiction projects, including memoirs. Whether it’s an article, book chapter, thesis, book, proposal, web content, or grant application, I focus on helping you build strong, convincing arguments that are expressed clearly and passionately.
I offer a variety of editing services, including developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, and fact-checking.
Work History:
I worked as an acquistions and development editor with the academic/social justice publisher Fernwood Publishing for more than a decade. I acquired and developed manuscripts, evaluated proposals, consulted with authors about their work, and did the developmental and line editing of manuscripts. I also wrote marketing materials and numerous (successful) grant applications. Over these years I also worked as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader.
Prior to working as an editor, I spent nine years working as a researcher in the university sector. Working largely as a qualitative researcher, though sometimes we employed mixed methods, I managed a variety of research projects in disciplines such as anthopology, labour, social work, nursing, health studies, and law. I conducted interviews and focus groups, analyzed and coded data, did literature reviews, wrote final reports, and trained and mentored research assistants.
Education:
I have graduate degrees in the social sciences, and have taken copyediting and substantive editing courses through Ryerson University.
Current Work:
In addition to working with individuals and academic presses, I’m employed on a freelance basis with Ideas on Fire, a US-based academic/social justice editing service, Treatment Action Group, an HIV research institute, and International Development and Research Canada, a development agency.
Testimonials:
“Candida is an amazing editor. She suggested many, many changes that immediately and powerfully clarified what I had been trying to say. In her comments to me, she challenged me to do better, to be more critical, and more intellectually rigorous while she somehow simultaneously made me feel very much capable of those things. She deeply challenged me to do better while encouraging me and boosting my confidence, helping me feel capable of meeting the challenges she set. Both direct and gentle, she helped distill my muddy thoughts and messy ideas into something I feel very proud of. She encouraged me to put more of myself into the pages, to tell the story I want to tell, to let my own voice emerge. She guided me in ways that have made me a better writer, communicator, storyteller going forward. The book will have my name on it, but it was a collaborative endeavour with Candida through and through. I am really, really grateful to her and excited for any writers out there who get the chance to work with her!”
Jen Gobby is a scholar-activist currently doing a postdoc at Concordia University and the author of More Powerful Together: Conversations with Climate Activists and Indigenous Land Defenders
“Candida Hadley is an outstanding editor. I had the pleasure of working with Candida on my first book, and I can say without a doubt that the book was improved many times over through her thoughtful and intelligent editorial guidance. Her editorial work was rigorous in a way that pushed me to sharpen and deepen my analysis of the material, while also being supportive and encouraging. This included help with the overall crafting of the arguments, the tone of the writing, the use of evidence, and the more technical aspects of the style and writing. I would work with Candida again without any hesitation, and recommend her to anyone looking for professional editorial assistance.”
David Thomas is an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Mount Allison University and the author of Bombardier Abroad: Patterns of Dispossession
“I was most fortunate to work with Candida, a gentle, skilful, and wise editor. She provided solid guidance and direction and raised insightful questions and comments that helped sharpen my points. She offered helpful understanding, empathy, and support whenever I indulged in sharing some of those ‘writer’s obsessions’!”
David Forbes recently retired from Brooklyn College, CUNY and is the author of Mindfulness and Its Discontents: Education, Self, and Social Transformation
“I doubt my book would have ever made it into the world without Candida’s superb editing. Although rigorous and exacting, she is also an incredibly generous and supportive editor who helps the author realize and communicate their vision. I always had a sense she had my back and every stage of the process went smoothly and professionally. She has particularly acute skills at helping to pitch the manuscript to its intended audience. I have worked with other excellent editors, but can say unconditionally that Candida is the best!”
Eva Mackey is a Professor in the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies, Carleton University and the author of Unsettled Expectations: Uncertainty, Land and Settler Decolonization
“I am deeply indebted to Candida Hadley for her clear and insightful comments on the manuscript. Her editorial feedback was truly invaluable in terms of clarifying the book’s core arguments and presenting the work in a coherent and compelling fashion.”
Ian Reilly is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and the author of Media Hoaxing
“Candida Hadley is an excellent editor, the best I have ever experienced. She is timely, professional, and effective in her work. Candida is an outstanding editor, and it was such an honour to work with her. I most highly recommend her.”
Ranjan Datta is a researcher at the University of Calgary and editor of Reconciliation in Practice: A Cross-cultural Perspective.
“Working with Candida Hadley was a terrific experience. Candida is an insightful, keen-eyed and highly skilled editor whose input improves a manuscript both structurally and at the level of small-but-important details. Candida always makes great suggestions, and communicates them with clarity and sensitivity. She is, in short, an excellent editor.”
Stephen Dale is the author of several books including Noble Illusions: Young Canada Goes to War
For More:
For more information about me and the services I offer, visit my website www.candidahadley.com or contact me directly at candidahadley at gmail.com
