Service

I provide a highly professional service and I do so with absolute kindness and enthusiasm. I am unfailingly honest—in the end, it is my job to help you improve your work in the best way possible—but I always provide constructive feedback that takes your writing to the next level. I take deadlines seriously, respond to emails promptly, and value clear communication.

Quality

I have several years’ professional experience as an editor and translator of fiction, non-fiction, and academic writing, having worked on anything from trilogies and short stories to dissertations and theses, and from handbooks and blog posts to restaurant menus. As a writing coach, I have mentored fiction and non-fiction authors, academic researchers, and students.

Integrity

Being a writer myself, I understand the worries writers have regarding the intellectual property of their work. Keeping your work confidential and secure is a top priority for me; I treat your work with as much respect and care as I do my own. It goes without saying that everything discussed during any calls or coaching sessions is entirely confidential as well.

Passion

As an editor, a writing coach, a translator, a writer, and an avid reader with a degree in English literature, it is safe to say I am absolutely in love with language and what it can do. There is nothing I enjoy more than getting untold stories out of writers; helping writers find the right voice for their projects; and making sure they use their words in the best possible way.

On critiquing

Mariëlle did a pass on a short story I wrote. I was floored by the extent and depth of her feedback. I'd add a list of positive adverbs and adjectives to describe her excellent work, but I know she'd just tell me to cut them. (She'd also make me cut that 'just' from the last sentence but since this is my review it stays.)

She has a great eye for both the high level developmental needs of a story that can be hard to pin down and the line by line details that we tend to overlook even after multiple rewrites. I look forward to Mariëlle whipping my novels into shape and know that her insight and feedback will be invaluable. Thanks Mariëlle. - Rob

Rob Laman, Canada

2017-09-26T08:46:14+02:00

Rob Laman, Canada

On critiquing Mariëlle did a pass on a short story I wrote. I was floored by the extent and depth of her feedback. I'd add a list of positive adverbs and adjectives to describe her excellent work, but I know she'd just tell me to cut them. (She'd also make me cut that 'just' from the last sentence but since this is my review it stays.) She has a great eye for both the high level developmental needs of a story that can be hard to pin down and the line by line details that we tend to overlook even after multiple rewrites. I look forward to Mariëlle whipping my novels into shape and know that her insight and feedback will be invaluable. Thanks Mariëlle. - Rob
On academic language coaching

Mariëlle worked on my Research Master Thesis for the University of Utrecht. She was amazing to work with because she explained, in an accessible and efficient way, how to be aware of errors that are made throughout the writing process. She has formulated a custom-made editing system for my specific needs. This has proven to be an incredibly valuable and useful system for getting my thesis to a required master level. Her interdisciplinary experience in several academic fields make her contributions and feedback very valuable. I am proud of the work I have delivered by implementing Mariëlle’s editing advise. I have enjoyed working with Mariëlle and I will definitely consult her in the future.

Emilie van Heydoorn, the Netherlands

2017-09-23T14:36:16+02:00

Emilie van Heydoorn, the Netherlands

On academic language coaching Mariëlle worked on my Research Master Thesis for the University of Utrecht. She was amazing to work with because she explained, in an accessible and efficient way, how to be aware of errors that are made throughout the writing process. She has formulated a custom-made editing system for my specific needs. This has proven to be an incredibly valuable and useful system for getting my thesis to a required master level. Her interdisciplinary experience in several academic fields make her contributions and feedback very valuable. I am proud of the work I have delivered by implementing Mariëlle’s editing advise. I have enjoyed working with Mariëlle and I will definitely consult her in the future.
On developmental editing

I won Marielle’s services through a blog contest she ran for camp nanowrimo. This was my first time using editing services of any kind so I came into the process with wide eyes and an open mind. While I wasn’t quite sure of what to expect, I was not disappointed.

It was a joy to work with Marielle. Her pleasant personality and professionalism put me at ease right away, helping me to really enjoy my editing experience. I found her critique of my novel to be honest and insightful. She picked out the strengths as well as the weaknesses which gave me a more focused direction to tighten my plot and character developments. Her inline edits pointed out where I was heading in the right direction as well as highlighting areas of question.

All in all, I found her services to be concise, fair, and extremely helpful. I absolutely have plans to use her services again in the future.

 

Desiree Donohue, the United States

Author of: The Dragons Mark, YA novel

2017-11-28T20:26:02+01:00

Desiree Donohue, the United States

Author of: The Dragons Mark, YA novel

On developmental editing I won Marielle’s services through a blog contest she ran for camp nanowrimo. This was my first time using editing services of any kind so I came into the process with wide eyes and an open mind. While I wasn’t quite sure of what to expect, I was not disappointed. It was a joy to work with Marielle. Her pleasant personality and professionalism put me at ease right away, helping me to really enjoy my editing experience. I found her critique of my novel to be honest and insightful. She picked out the strengths as well as the weaknesses which gave me a more focused direction to tighten my plot and character developments. Her inline edits pointed out where I was heading in the right direction as well as highlighting areas of question. All in all, I found her services to be concise, fair, and extremely helpful. I absolutely have plans to use her services again in the future.  
On translating

Mariëlle translated our website text and we're very happy with the results. She was fast, precise and very helpful: even when we wanted to make some changes in her text (due to our own creative process), she was very supportive.

André Weenink, Being A Designer, The Netherlands  

2018-02-22T11:07:55+01:00

André Weenink, Being A Designer, The Netherlands  

On translating Mariëlle translated our website text and we're very happy with the results. She was fast, precise and very helpful: even when we wanted to make some changes in her text (due to our own creative process), she was very supportive.
On academic language coaching

Mariëlle worked fast and her language editing was thorough and careful. Her knowledge of my academic field (gender studies) was an added benefit, as she was able to spot the misspelling of an author's name. I really appreciate that, next to correcting mistakes in the text itself, she provided an overview of repeated spelling mistakes and explained the rules behind them. This approach allows you to actually 'learn from your mistakes' and hopefully avoid them in the future.

Katrine Smiet, the Netherlands

2016-08-17T18:37:41+02:00

Katrine Smiet, the Netherlands

On academic language coaching Mariëlle worked fast and her language editing was thorough and careful. Her knowledge of my academic field (gender studies) was an added benefit, as she was able to spot the misspelling of an author's name. I really appreciate that, next to correcting mistakes in the text itself, she provided an overview of repeated spelling mistakes and explained the rules behind them. This approach allows you to actually 'learn from your mistakes' and hopefully avoid them in the future.
On developmental editing

Highly recommend Mariëlle! Her notes were so helpful, confirming many of my own concerns but it was the Skype session where I was really able to brainstorm with her and 'fix' some of the issues. She is so thoughtful and is WELL worth the investment for any writer.

Tiffany Tripson, the United States

2018-05-19T14:01:21+02:00

Tiffany Tripson, the United States

On developmental editing Highly recommend Mariëlle! Her notes were so helpful, confirming many of my own concerns but it was the Skype session where I was really able to brainstorm with her and 'fix' some of the issues. She is so thoughtful and is WELL worth the investment for any writer.
On academic editing

Mariëlle is very quick and accurate in checking academic work. Although she, at first, was only going to do a spelling check, Mariëlle also looked at the structure of my thesis and, where necessary, gave feedback on the content from a scientific perspective. When writing your own thesis, sooner or later you have to deal with the 'tunnel vision' syndrome. Mariëlle, from her own perspective, has provided a fresh look on my own written work. Her constructive criticism gave me new insights, and she always explained why her small improvements to my work were relevant and would add value. Mariëlle's scientific insights and knowledge are a quality that helped me enormously to reach a good end result.

Jeroen Walraven, the Netherlands

2016-07-08T17:36:16+02:00

Jeroen Walraven, the Netherlands

On academic editing Mariëlle is very quick and accurate in checking academic work. Although she, at first, was only going to do a spelling check, Mariëlle also looked at the structure of my thesis and, where necessary, gave feedback on the content from a scientific perspective. When writing your own thesis, sooner or later you have to deal with the 'tunnel vision' syndrome. Mariëlle, from her own perspective, has provided a fresh look on my own written work. Her constructive criticism gave me new insights, and she always explained why her small improvements to my work were relevant and would add value. Mariëlle's scientific insights and knowledge are a quality that helped me enormously to reach a good end result.
On academic editing

The editing work of Mariëlle was swift, to the point and accurate. Exactly what you need when a journal deadline is racing towards you in full speed.

Kobe de Keer, the Netherlands

2018-05-19T13:50:48+02:00

Kobe de Keer, the Netherlands

On academic editing The editing work of Mariëlle was swift, to the point and accurate. Exactly what you need when a journal deadline is racing towards you in full speed.
On academic editing

I am also very much indebted to Mariëlle Smith, who edited the entire manuscript (except for this paragraph!) in the space of a few weeks. The quality of the English prose has been significantly enhanced through her meticulous work. Furthermore, as a native Dutch speaker, she found many great solutions for translations of my respondents' often idiosyncratic phrasing.

Marcel van den Haak, the Netherlands, in the Acknowledgements section of his dissertation

2016-07-08T17:29:19+02:00

Marcel van den Haak, the Netherlands, in the Acknowledgements section of his dissertation

On academic editing I am also very much indebted to Mariëlle Smith, who edited the entire manuscript (except for this paragraph!) in the space of a few weeks. The quality of the English prose has been significantly enhanced through her meticulous work. Furthermore, as a native Dutch speaker, she found many great solutions for translations of my respondents' often idiosyncratic phrasing.
On developmental editing

Mariëlle delivered a full developmental edit on my cozy mystery MURDER ON LOAN this past winter. When I sent it to her, I knew it had problems— there were places in the manuscript that didn’t work. I probably could have fiddled with it by myself for another year, but I’d have lost a year and still not articulated the problems as well as Mariëlle did. Her evaluation clarified my next steps, and it helped me understand why some things weren’t working in the novel. She asked thoughtful questions throughout the manuscript which guided my revisions. I have been overwhelmed in revision in the past, but this time, in just a few months of revision I am almost finished with a third draft and moving forward in the process much faster than ever before. I am so thankful to have found a strong, responsive, and invaluable developmental editor in Mariëlle. I will definitely be hiring her again.

Sue Larkins Weems, the United States

 

2017-06-04T21:26:17+02:00

Sue Larkins Weems, the United States

 

On developmental editing Mariëlle delivered a full developmental edit on my cozy mystery MURDER ON LOAN this past winter. When I sent it to her, I knew it had problems— there were places in the manuscript that didn’t work. I probably could have fiddled with it by myself for another year, but I’d have lost a year and still not articulated the problems as well as Mariëlle did. Her evaluation clarified my next steps, and it helped me understand why some things weren’t working in the novel. She asked thoughtful questions throughout the manuscript which guided my revisions. I have been overwhelmed in revision in the past, but this time, in just a few months of revision I am almost finished with a third draft and moving forward in the process much faster than ever before. I am so thankful to have found a strong, responsive, and invaluable developmental editor in Mariëlle. I will definitely be hiring her again.