Editorial Freelancers Association
Member Profile
Des Hewson
I am an editor and literary consultant with a Master of Arts in Writing & Book Publishing and nine years of industry experience both freelance and in-house. I am based in Portland, OR, where I most recently served as acquisitions editor for trade publisher Ooligan Press. I offer editorial services in developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, query review, and proposal development; design services in cover design and interior layout; and ebook production services. I complete freelance and contract work for both publishers and writers.
I consider editing to be an endeavor of empathy and collaboration as much as of analytical and stylistic dexterity. I aim to thoroughly understand author and publisher goals before embarking on edits and to incorporate a well-researched understanding of audience, genre conventions, and market trends into my process to give a book the strongest chance possible at success on the shelf. I consider myself a kind of advocate and mediator between author and reader—it’s my job to help writers communicate effectively with their intended audience, and to provide guidance and support during the strenuous process of revision. I want to help authors achieve what they envision their book achieving, both in the internal space of the reader’s experience and in the world.
I have a strong background in copyediting and line editing, and I am fluent in the 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (the style guide preferred by trade publishers). As a developmental editor, I’ll kindly tell it to you straight and provide actionable solutions and generative exercises. I particularly love refining structure and digging deep into character development and worldbuilding, so if you find you struggle with those aspects of your storytelling, I might be the editor for you. Whether you’re looking to tighten up your narrative or polish your prose, together we can make your book the best possible version of itself it can be.
In my personal life, I am an avid reader of horror, weird fiction, and speculative fiction, especially works with a distinctive narrative voice. My favorite writers include Kathe Koja, China Mieville, Peter Watts, Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Tamasyn Muir. I’d especially love to hear from authors looking for editorial assistance in these genres—the weirder, the better!
Editorial Proficiency
Copyediting, developmental editing, line editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluation, query and proposal development, pitch writing and review, XML coding, Chicago and AP style, digital markup in Word and InCopy, and standard proofreaders’ hand markup.
Design Proficiency
Book covers and interior layout, magazine and document design, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
Digital Proficiency
Custom ebook production, WordPress, CSS/HTML, and metadata management with ONIX.
Editorial Specialties
Literary fiction, speculative fiction and SFF, horror and weird fiction, YA, and memoir.
Email: des.hewson@gmail.com
More information: View PDF file
Years in the field: 9
Years freelancing: 4
Des Hewson
I am an editor and literary consultant with a Master of Arts in Writing & Book Publishing and nine years of industry experience both freelance and in-house. I am based in Portland, OR, where I most recently served as acquisitions editor for trade publisher Ooligan Press. I offer editorial services in developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, query review, and proposal development; design services in cover design and interior layout; and ebook production services. I complete freelance and contract work for both publishers and writers.
I consider editing to be an endeavor of empathy and collaboration as much as of analytical and stylistic dexterity. I aim to thoroughly understand author and publisher goals before embarking on edits and to incorporate a well-researched understanding of audience, genre conventions, and market trends into my process to give a book the strongest chance possible at success on the shelf. I consider myself a kind of advocate and mediator between author and reader—it’s my job to help writers communicate effectively with their intended audience, and to provide guidance and support during the strenuous process of revision. I want to help authors achieve what they envision their book achieving, both in the internal space of the reader’s experience and in the world.
I have a strong background in copyediting and line editing, and I am fluent in the 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (the style guide preferred by trade publishers). As a developmental editor, I’ll kindly tell it to you straight and provide actionable solutions and generative exercises. I particularly love refining structure and digging deep into character development and worldbuilding, so if you find you struggle with those aspects of your storytelling, I might be the editor for you. Whether you’re looking to tighten up your narrative or polish your prose, together we can make your book the best possible version of itself it can be.
In my personal life, I am an avid reader of horror, weird fiction, and speculative fiction, especially works with a distinctive narrative voice. My favorite writers include Kathe Koja, China Mieville, Peter Watts, Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Tamasyn Muir. I’d especially love to hear from authors looking for editorial assistance in these genres—the weirder, the better!
Editorial Proficiency
Copyediting, developmental editing, line editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluation, query and proposal development, pitch writing and review, XML coding, Chicago and AP style, digital markup in Word and InCopy, and standard proofreaders’ hand markup.
Design Proficiency
Book covers and interior layout, magazine and document design, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
Digital Proficiency
Custom ebook production, WordPress, CSS/HTML, and metadata management with ONIX.
Editorial Specialties
Literary fiction, speculative fiction and SFF, horror and weird fiction, YA, and memoir.
