I'm an editor with academic literacy and a dedication to clear communication. I also have a science degree.
Bai, Maxie and Ted Goosen. "Crow's Eye View." Monkey Business, No. 3, 2013, pp. 93-96.
Martin, Shane and Maxie Bai. "Gender and the Emergence of Plain Mennonite Parochial School Teachers." Ontario Mennonite History, Vol. 30, No. 1, 2012, pp. 3-9.
Substantive editing, or structural editing, is the first step in the editing process and focuses on the argument, narrative, content, organization, and structure of the text. (Description adapted from the EAC website.)
Stylistic editing, or line editing, focuses on readability and clarity of your language. Here, I attend to the non-mechanical aspects of your writing like how smoothly it reads. I would also highlight run-on sentences, word choice issues, shifts in tone, repetition, problematic phrasing, eliminate jargon, etc.
This step is particularly useful for writers and translators just getting comfortable writing in English.
Copy editing corrects syntax, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and other mechanical aspects of writing. This step cleans up your writing and ensures that it adheres to style expectations. (Rules of spelling and punctuation, for example, can differ between British, Canadian, and American styles.)
all types of copy edits: fiction, non-fiction, articles, monographs/books, essays, conference papers, dissertations, and theses for print, online, and self-publication.
archaeology, ancient history, biography, biology, business, Canadian literature, chemistry, children’s literature, criticism, critical race studies, communications, cultural studies, Dalit literature, development, East Asian studies, ecology, education, English as a second language, environmental studies, evolution, experimental writing, fiction, film studies, gender, genetics, geography, health, healthcare, history, humanities, identity, intersectionality, Indigenous studies, Japanese studies, journalism, Korean studies, literature, literary theory, medicine, memoir, Mennonite history, mental health, natural sciences, non-fiction, nursing, nutrition, physiology, poetry, psychology, religious studies, representation, sex (and gender), science fiction and fantasy, small business, social and political thought, South Asian literature (in English), Sufism, translations, young adult literature.
To get things started, please send a request for quote. All estimates are calculated on a by-project basis and are determined by an hour edit of your work. The sample edit will then be returned to you with the estimate. Quotes may be hourly or based on the project.
Send five to ten pages in a Word document to maxie@kwcopyeditor.ca. (Ten pages is ideal.)
Include the following information in the email:
MA Humanities/York University
Politics of Writing and Translation, Literary Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Identity and Language, North American and Asian Literature
(MRP incomplete)
Honours Bachelor of Arts, English Literature/McMaster University
Diploma of East Asian Studies/Korea University
Bachelor of Science/McMaster University
"I have known Maxie for years and working with her is always a pleasure. From reviewing and proofing my term papers during my MA at York University (Toronto), to editing and revising my résumé and cover letters when I moved from Germany to the U.S., I could always rely on her sharp mind and thorough eye to help me structure my thoughts and refine my work. Her guidance in setting up my skillset was invaluable and successful—she helped me immensely during my job search.
Her honest feedback has always been extremely helpful. She is truly invested in making her clients shine."
Ursula Robinson is a senior associate in Weber Shandwick’s Dallas office. In her role, Ursula supports media relations, executive visibility, thought leadership, and event management for business-to-business, technology, and health care clients. Ursula hails from Munich, Germany, and has previously worked at MW Office, the health care agency of Dentsu Aegis Network Germany. She graduated from the University of Bonn with a master’s degree in North American Studies and speaks several languages.
"I have worked with Maxie on several projects including the development of a comprehensive white paper and a new 20+ page website development. Both projects required Maxie to write about topics she did not have previous experience with, one being technical and one being clinical—in both cases Maxie exceeded my expectations.
She is extremely thorough in her project methodology, her research, and her end product. In the case of the white paper Maxie was tasked with interviewing four industry experts, where she was able to succinctly translate technical information and acted in a professional manner, impressing the interviewees.
Working with Maxie is a stress-free experience. She meets deadlines and communicates well during projects; she’s a team player, and has exceptional writing and editing skills. I would not hesitate to work with her again."
Christine Costa
Marketing Director
Blue Zebra Marketing
"It really was a pleasure working with Maxie Bai Martin. The exchange and communication was always very pleasant and timely. Her expertise in editing texts has greatly enriched my work. I can recommend Maxie Bai Martin with full confidence and look forward to the next opportunity to work with her."
Philippe is a research associate and PhD student
Department of Sociology
University of Lucerne, Switzerland