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Specializing in line editing, improving style, fluency, accuracy, clarity, grammar, usage & word choice, and eliminating redundancies, stilted or archaic usage, run-on sentences, confusing or awkward phrasing, and superfluous writing.
Also offering:
• book cover design
• website design
• transcriptions from longhand or audio recordings
• programs & posters (design and editing)
• advertisem*nts & brochures (design and editing)
• musical composition, arrangements & scoring
• script writing
• assistance with publishing on Amazon
Email: Steve@TheEditAuthority.com
Website: https://www.TheEditAuthority.com
Voice Mail 703-680-0591
Book Editing projects include:
• Flying Monks a memoir/adventure book, by Peter Dimiatrius
• With Clear Eyes & Full Hearts a book of wisdom for family, by Gregory A. Elrod
• The Fine Art of Seeing Past the Obvious a self-help book by Richard Hight
• Rink, a non-fiction book on ice skating by Michael Sheehan
• Raquil Rabbit and Mepy Mouse, a children’s book by Autumn Kay
• Heroes Wanted, a non-fiction book by Jamil L. Maroun
• I Made It Off the Block, an autobiography by Guillermo Eiland
• Open Arms, a novel by Drake Gaetano
• The Legacies of Judge A.D. Sayre and Zelda Fitzgerald, a non-fiction book by
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s grandson, Samuel Lanahan, III.
• Until the Full Moon, a novel by Charlet Wang
• Kilie the Dreamer, a novel for young adults by Humera Ansari
• The Maiden Voyage of Soñador, a novel by Mark Overturff
• The Divine Fiat: Black Excellence in Herbalism, a non-fiction book by Kwame M. Vaughn
• Lucky Dog, a memoir by Dallas White
Other Editing Projects include:
• scripts for websites, podcasts, radio plays, advertisem*nts…
• business proposals for hydroelectric power in Africa, for waste disposal and recycling for the Congo
• engineering reports incl. one for the federal government on soil contamination
• personal statements for dental school, med school, and law school
• magazine articles on topics ranging from violence against women in India to personality disorders in children.
• dissertations and master’s theses on electric cars, Airbus, computer servers, nursing management, patient litigation, social geography, diabetes, privacy concerns arising from technological advancements, autism …
• letters to court regarding custody matters, lawsuits, fines
Other experiences include work as publisher, journalist, textbook author, lyricist, composer, playwright, essayist, graphic artist:
• Revolutionary Gentleman (rock opera), Washington, D.C., writer, composer, lyricist
• What’s That Word (vocabulary textbook), author
• Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia student newspaper), Charlottesville, Virginia, columnist
• The Will to Get Married (comedy play), Hudson Theatre, New York City, playwright
(Ozark Writers’ League Award for Best Play of the Year)
• Northern Lights (Ernst Community Cultural Center Newsletter), publisher, writer
• All Write Already (writing/grammar textbook), author
• 100s of letters, lyrics, poems, and press releases, writer/editor/formatter
• Dead Lovers (comedy play), Nat Horne Theatre, New York City, playwright
• 100s of songs & instrumentals performed live and streamed on dozens of sites, including songs performed by Ashley Park (Mean Girls, Emily in Paris), composer, lyricist, arranger
• Peter the Great (musical), composer, co-lyricist, co-librettist
• For the Love of Mr. Paradise (comedy play), Auburn, New York, playwright
• Zolushka: The Russian Cinderella, Arlington Children’s Theatre, composer, additional lyrics
Plus soundtrack, including the voice of Mike Shiflett (Netflix’s House of Cards,
Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln) as The King.
• College proficiency exam (created entrance exam used by over 10,000 students for college English program)
• Created dozens of book covers
Reviews
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Steve, and came to know him as a truly valuable asset. He is honest, dependable, and incredibly hardworking. Beyond that, his skills are impressive and he goes the extra mile to ensure he delivers exactly what is expected and needed. He is not satisfied until his client is more than satisfied. Along with his undeniable talent, Steve was an absolute joy to work with. He always fostered positive discussions and was able to bring out the best out in my manuscripts. With a fresh perspective and keen ability, he was able to refine my work and take it to the next level adding greater value in the process.”
April 14, 2024, Richard Hight, Looking Beyond the Obvious
“Steven Rodgers is one of the most professional, kind, and talented people I have ever worked with. I used his services while applying to post-graduate education programs and I am so glad I have found him. He's always on the other side of my email messages, responding in a timely manner, providing constructive feedback, and most often gives me a better perspective on my writing. I strongly recommend hiring him -- for a small or large task -- he's simply the best!”
February 2021, Y.P., M.D.
“As an author, I believe that the editor is the most valuable asset I have. Without that special relationship with your editor, your reader will never be led to hear your true voice, or that of the characters you want to be brought alive and remembered forever. For me, Steven Rodgers is, and shall always be, the man who understands my style of writing and has made me a better writer. He is a sweet, loving, and caring man who you can trust, and delivers on time. An editor who is a joy and a privilege to know and work with. He is a treasure among all editors.”
August 4, 2022, Drake A. Gaetano, Open Arms, Purple Violets
“Steve is a well-educated man who knows how to write. He knows what works and what doesn’t. But what separates him from the rest is he is one of those guys that goes the extra mile. He said he would not abandon me after the initial edit, and he didn’t. Steve is not a 9-to-5 guy; he does whatever it takes to get the job done. He kept me informed every step of the way. I think he always did his best to satisfy my requests far beyond our original agreement to edit my first novel. He gained my trust and kept it. With his help, my first novel was successfully published. I will never be able to thank him enough. Read my book and you will see. It’s my story and I wrote it the way I saw it, however, Steve put the polish on it, and he went through everything it took to put it in print, far beyond our original agreement.”
December 14, 2020, Mark Overturff, The Maiden Voyage of Soñador
“Steve Rodgers did a very splendid job of editing my book: Kilie the Dreamer. He is very extremely professional and has a vast knowledge in his subject. He went above and beyond as an editor to assist me with my work. I will highly recommend him to anyone with full confidence and trust. He is extremely nice and helpful.”
December 14, 2020, Humera Ansari, Kilie the Dreamer
“I chose Steven to be my editor for a graduate program thesis paper and am really happy with the decision. His suggestions for grammar and word choices put a beautiful polish on my work. I enjoyed and benefited from the collaborative, back and forth, environment; and learned a bit about writing as well! I highly recommend Steven and plan to hire him for some business projects as well!”
Apr 24, 2020, Michael G. (also posted on Thumbtack.com, 3rd party site)
“Steven was exemplary on every level. He is experienced, critical, and intuitive in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of key story elements such as premise, flow, and structure. He returned my work quickly and provided as much feedback and interaction as I needed. He was very thoughtful in his comments, and revisions or additions he suggested were always right on target. Thanks for ensuring that my project reaches its fullest potential.”
Apr 25, 2020, Kwame V. (also posted on Thumbtack.com, 3rd party site)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q What is the difference between line editing and proofreading?
A Proofreading is primarily error correction, finding mistakes in grammar, spelling and punctuation that computer programs can’t pick up). A line editor emulates the writer’s ‘voice,’ improving sentences, enhancing style, verifying correct usage and vocabulary, making the writing more succinct, improving word choice, word form & word order, and finding better phrasing to make it all flow.
Q How much does it cost?
A Line editing, scholarly writing 4 cents a word
Line editing (up to 10,000 words) fiction 3.5 cents a word
Line editing (over 10,000 words) fiction 3 cents a word
Proofreading, scholarly writing 3 cents a word
Proofreading, fiction (up to 10,000 words) 2.5 cents a word
Proofreading, fiction (over 10,000 words) 2 cents a word
Cover Design $95 flat fee
Once I see your work, I can give you an exact quote. For books, I am happy to edit a few sample pages, at no obligation.
Q How do I pay?
A Zelle or Venmo money requests are best, and are free. If you have neither of these, you may request a PayPal invoice, but please be aware, they charge an additional 3.49% + 49 cents per transaction. Payment is in advance, but for large amounts, you can pay in smaller increments if you wish.
Q What’s the turnaround?
A The turnaround time depends on several factors: how many projects I am working on at the time, the length and difficulty of your project, your deadline, and if it’s something I would need to do personally, or if it could be done by a colleague. If you let me know when you need it, I will do my best to get it to you by the deadline you request.
Q Do I have to pay extra for “rush” jobs?
A No. I don't charge extra for rush jobs. If you have an emergency and I am able to meet your deadline, I will try to make it work. If I think it will be difficult to finish on time, I will let you know before starting the project. Small projects can often be done within 24 hours of receipt of payment. I work most weekends and holidays, too.
Q What if I have questions about my project after I have already paid?
A I do not abandon my clients just because the job is finished. If there are questions or concerns, I’m happy to assist if possible. The only thing I cannot do is to “re-edit” the entire manuscript after the client has adjusted it and added more materials, etc., which essentially constitutes another job. However, if you highlight specific sentences that you want me to take a second look at, I’ll certainly be happy to help.
Q Will you write my paper for me?
A I do ghost writing and script writing on occasion (or I can recommend a colleague), but we don’t do students’ assignments for them. We ask that you at least write a rough copy, including all necessary content and then have us edit it for you. For non-academic work, we can write anything from scripts and advertisem*nts to letters and press releases. However, please be advised that you would need to provide all relevant content. We cannot write in a vacuum.
EDITING EXCERPTS
ORIGINAL: The same principle whether or not I could lead others for the better was applied when I was choosing my first job.
EDITED: Likewise, when I chose my first job, I considered first whether or not I would have the opportunity to lead others and enrich lives.
***************
ORIGINAL: I did not feel motivated to apply to those companies because I did not find such work meaningful.
EDITED: I did not feel motivated to apply to those companies because it would not have been as fulfilling to me.
***************
ORIGINAL: As illustrated in these two examples, a bigger picture of what I am doing and where my life is heading is very important to me. Likewise, as a person, I try to be resourceful and helpful.
EDITED: You might not need to say “as a person” ... we know you’re a human being!
***************
ORIGINAL: I was a mentor. I visited middle and high schools to make a presentation about majoring Education in college, helping students decide what to study in college
EDITED: “ … lives in Korea, mentoring high school students about their college majors.”
***************
ORIGINAL: I like the way my values have thus far led my decisions and my life, and I assume that they will keep my life on the right track like a lighthouse.
EDITED: This is what we call mixing metaphors (right track and lighthouse). Also, ‘assume’ is a weak word here. Another option is ... “I trust that they will act as a beacon of light, drawing me ever closer to my ultimate goals.”
***************
ORIGINAL: Many of his questions are the things regarding the text books, and at the same time, those were related with advanced concepts that is already had written in another advanced books. He made such his own original thinking at the very time after my lectures end without any help.
EDITED: Many of his questions pertained to advanced concepts that students were not yet expected to understand, but his curiosity and passion for learning prompted him to go above and beyond what we were studying at the time.
***************
ORIGINAL: It has been three years when he talked me that he wants study more but he couldn’t for his circ*mstance.
EDITED: I was not surprised with his decision because it was something that I had encouraged him to do for years.
WRITING SAMPLES
SYNOPSIS—Revolutionary Gentleman: The Rock Opera
JULY 1801. LONDON, ENGLAND. THE HOME OF BENEDICT ARNOLD. Benedict Arnold, once the greatest general of the American Revolution, is now a feeble, broken man. Ghosts from his nottoo-distant past wander through his room during his inglorious final moments on earth, and he is now convinced he will go down in history as the most infamous traitor the world would ever know. A chill wind blows ominously through his room and it begins to snow. In his mind, he is now back in Colonial America, in the early years of the Revolution, where seemingly against all odds, General Arnold— resolute and patriotic—would strive at any cost, to bring freedom to a young, struggling nation. Benedict Arnold is so revered that George Washington is about to name him second-in-command of the Continental Army—his fervent dream—when Arnold is wounded in battle. Thus, instead, Washington temporarily appoints him military governor of Pennsylvania. This, however, puts him on a collision course with the civil leader of the colony, Joseph Reed, the sniveling, peevish President of the Philadelphia Council, and his sassy sidekick, Josephine. Intensely jealous of Arnold, the two plot against him at every turn. The Reeds try to convince Washington that Arnold is a traitor, entertaining the British in his home and marrying Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a loyalist judge. What’s more, they add, during the British occupation, Peggy had had an affair with the young, dashing, British Intelligence officer, John Andre. Washington will have none of the scandal, and Reed is forced to drum up charges on General Arnold so trivial as that he had used an old army wagon to bring home some new furniture, accusing him of “theft of government property.” Incredibly, General Arnold is found guilty, forcing Washington to re-think his plans to promote Arnold—now fully recovered from his injuries—to second-in-command. Arnold is devastated, and wonders why he should continue risking his life on the field of battle for the very people who are conspiring to defeat him. Peggy and John are happy to see Ben’s change of heart, and they urge him, not to resign, but to accept the new position that Washington has offered—commander of the federal arsenal at West Point. That way, when the British “attack,” Ben can claim to be outnumbered, surrender the fort and turn Washington over to the British for trial, thereby effectively ending the war. Ben reluctantly agrees to go along with the scheme. While John is secretly meeting with General Arnold, Americans attack John’s ship, and he is left to his own devices, traveling on foot through enemy territory—there he is captured, and signed papers implicate General Arnold in the plot as well. Arnold discovers that Washington’s men are on their way to get him, but when he runs to tell his wife, she promptly faints in his arms. With seconds to spare, General Arnold lays her on the bed, and escapes through an open window. Only when he is safely aboard a British ship bound for New York, does he write Washington a letter, pleading on Peggy’s behalf, and asking Washington to send him the two-and-a-half weeks’ back pay he has coming. When Washington arrives at the Arnolds’ home, Peggy is relieved to discover that he views her merely as an unwitting pawn in her husband’s conspiracy with the British. Her happiness is short-lived, however, when she discovers that John Andre has been captured, and is soon to be executed as a spy. Arnold meanwhile, discovers that he is not to receive a fraction of the money that he had been promised. Even more devastating is the fact that none of the British soldiers will serve under his command. He is a traitor, after all, they tell him. No one knows who he might turn his back on next. As the realization of his fate creeps ominously over him, the ghosts of his past return, and General Arnold comes to realize at last that no one will remember his as the greatest hero of the American Revolution
Satirical Essay: Everyone's a Doctor!
Everyone is a doctor today … at least that is the impression one might get by the number of people introducing themselves as such. In fact, about the only ones I know who DON’T call themselves doctors, are some doctors … doctors with real credentials and enough confidence to know that titles are a superfluous means of elevating one’s self-esteem. But doctors who are not doctors are crawling out of the woodwork! Dentists call themselves “doctors.” They’re not doctors. A chiropractor calls himself “doctor.” He’s not one, either! I went to the optometrist the other day and the first thing she said was, “Hello, I’m Doctor Hahn.” Doctor? Mmm, sorry. An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor. An optometrist is a person who checks people’s vision for glasses. Even a basketball player, with a Ph.D. in physical education, calls himself a doctor! One of my best friends is a real doctor who works as a research scientist, curing diseases. When his graduate students call him “Dr. Smith,” he always corrects them. “Just call me ‘John,’” he tells them. Why does he need a title? He doesn’t depend on meaningless titles to gain respect. He is respected. Now there are even Ph.D. programs for nurses. Imagine the fun trying to sort out that at the hospital before surgery!
“The doctor will be with you in a moment.”
“The doctor? Oh, but … I thought the nurse was going to prep me for surgery!”
“Yes, the nurse will be here.”
“Oh, not the doctor?”
“Yes, the doctor. The nurse IS a doctor. Dr. Wang has a Ph.D. in nursing.”
“So … if both the doctor—the real doctor—and the nurse, who calls herself a doctor but is not one, were both in the room at the same time, and I called out 'doctor,' who would answer?”
“Both of them. It would be elitist of the doctor to think such a title is his exclusive domain! He’s not the only one who worked hard to get where he is!”
“Well, for that matter, the janitor probably works harder than anyone in the hospital! Should I call him a doctor, too?”
“No of course not. That would be silly.”
“Thank God.”
“Refer to him as the resident expert in anti-microbial engineering.”
Skin Tone, and Other Misplaced Priorities
I'm sure you've all heard someone say “I'm going to work on my tan!” I can't help but wonder what “work” is actually required. It seems to me that such labor generally consists of lying on the beach, and, perhaps less often, sitting or squatting, but it all pretty much amounts to the same inactivity. It's always amazed me, anyway, how society places such importance on skin color.
Over the years, it has changed, of course. A century ago, young white women in polite society, carried around parasols in sunny weather, to prevent their skin from becoming dark or freckled. These days, much to their detriment, it has become fashionable to soak up the rays and acquire a darker complexion.
In the movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley," the very tanned Jude Law, upon seeing the very UNtanned Matt Damon, remarked disparagingly ..."You are sooooo white!"
It was not a compliment.
Unfortunately, the societal pendulum which has swung in a decidedly darker direction does not bode well for tan seekers. Note to sun worshippers everywhere: skin becomes dark under the sun's rays as a negative reaction to being poisoned by the ultraviolet rays of the sun!
People! This is not a good thing!
One of the supreme ironies of life is that many of those things that we need to survive (oxygen, the sun) also shorten our lives! It's not particularly wise to expose your skin to the very thing that is trying to kill you. It can lead to all kinds of radiation poisoning that wrinkles the skin, causes cancer, and decreases longevity.
The next time you are tempted to lie in the sun and get a tan, instead, spend eight bucks, get an umbrella, and shade yourself from the celestial orb which is doing its utmost to shorten your time on planet Earth.
When Words Can Mean Anything
(essay)
I don’t know what anyone is talking about anymore!
I hear people referring to a good friend as “bad,” a thin girl as “phat,” a great movie as a “bomb.” Any time I lament the decline of the English language, however, and complain about the confusion that results from people using language incorrectly, someone will invariably chime in with the obvious cliché: “language changes!”
Well of COURSE language changes! That’s obvious, but saying this is a little like cutting off your nose, and when asked why you did it, you respond by saying, “Hey, people change!”
Not only DOES language change, it MUST change, but there is a real difference between stupid change and smart change. Smart change is modifying the language to help express things that could not have been expressed before, such as 'email,' 'cyberspace' and 'software.' There were no terms for these just a few decades ago, and they had to be invented … which is a bad thing. (and by 'bad' I really mean 'good')
Stupid change, on the other hand, is using words to mean the opposite of their known meaning, or taking words that already have a meaning but changing them to the point where everyone and his dog is beyond all hope of understanding.
The word ‘literally’ has gone to hell in a handbasket (That’s metaphorical, not literal). Someone hears a joke and is on the floor laughing. He says “Stop! Stop! You are literally killing me.” Ah, if only that were true, but again, no…he’s speaking metaphorically. Or take, for example, the word 'vegetarian.' A perfectly good word (here I really do mean 'good'), meaning one who eats only plant-based food: no fish, beef, milk, eggs, or cheese. Tragically, this perfectly fine word has been misused so often that it has come to mean a non-meat eater, although since most people don’t consider fish to be meat, they can actually eat animals and still feel as if they are morally superior to those who eat poultry, pork and beef. The ugly word 'vegan' has now come to mean what vegetarian has always meant to begin with: one who doesn’t eat animals or anything that comes from an animal. Now I have no idea what someone means when she says she’s a vegetarian because I don’t know if she is using it in its original context, the modified and incorrect modern use, or some kind of pathetic hybrid. This has not enhanced communication; it has obfuscated it.
'Decimated' is another fine word that is falling by the wayside. From the root meaning 'ten,' the word 'decimated' means to destroy 10% of something. If a tornado wiped out 100 houses out of 1000, you could correctly say that the neighborhood or village was decimated. Today, however, so many people use decimated to mean 'destroyed' or 'obliterated' that the real meaning has gone by the wayside. Stupid change.
A few weeks ago I had a conversation in a bar with a young man on the subject of rap. I don’t have anything against rap, and I even like some of it, I just don’t call it 'music' because it’s not. There is no music there. There is no tune. They are words recited to a beat; it is poetry, however; not music. My young friend posited that rap is music because they call it music, which reminded me of the Abraham Lincoln quotation: “If you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have? 5? No ... 4 ... because calling a tail a leg does not it make it one.”
“Yes,” the young man insisted. “‘High’ is ‘low’ and ‘low’ is ‘high’…. words can mean anything you want them to mean.” Unfortunately, he doesn’t get it. When words can mean “anything,” they cease to have any meaning at all.
You’re Getting Warmer!
(essay)
We’re not in the ice age anymore my friends. The evidence is overwhelming. The ice caps and glaciers are melting, the oceans are rising, average temperatures of the air and water continue to increase, and bizarre weather patterns have become the norm.
And still, there are detractors.
Of course, that is part of what makes the world go around. Someone is going to always disagree with what seems obvious to most. There are those who still believe the earth is flat, that men never walked on the moon, that the pyramids were constructed by aliens from outer space, and that Donald Trump is a good choice for president. And, of course, there are those who say that global warming is just another liberal scheme to get citizens dependent on the government. They say that temperatures have always gone in cycles, and even if the earth is getting warmer, we had nothing to do with it, and cannot change it anyway.
Never mind the fact that 90% of all scientists affirm that global warming is a fact. And let’s ignore for a moment a still more obvious fact, that humans can and have contributed to the phenomenon. Still ... are the proposed solutions really that unpalatable? Would it cause anyone great harm if we were to comply with the very logical recommendations set forth by the scientific community? What exactly would it take to help slow the rate of global warming? ... cutting down factory emissions, creating increasingly fuel-efficient cars, encouraging the use of alternative modes of transportation (including bicycles and electric vehicles), reducing the use of electricity, using alternative, cleaner forms of fuel and energy such as tidal and wind power, reducing coal emissions ... and the list goes on.
The way I see it, the question of whether global warming is a fact ... doesn’t matter in the end. The solutions that will help slow the process are good for us all and ought to be embraced.
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