Writers' challenges
Writers need a supportive team and effective feedback to hone their craft and engage actively with their growth and development. Much of the angst involved in the analysis of our writing could be overcome with a supportive editor, coach, or mentor.
“The best view comes after the hardest climb” - Unknown
Writing is a complicated process as well as a final product. Most people not only make mistakes in their writing, but their brains process information so quickly that writers are unable to even notice these mistakes (see source). There are inevitably issues and areas for growth with our writing.
Who I help:
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Everyday audiences (Small Businesses, Non-Profits, Companies, Educational Institutions, and Individual Writers)
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Faculty (Assistant and Associate Professors, Adjunct or Sessional Lecturers)
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Graduate students (Master’s and Doctoral students in the Social Sciences, Humanities, Leadership, and Education fields)
Proofreading and copywriting for writers
I offer in-depth feedback on flow, organization, and structure of documents as well as supportive critique to move the writer forward in their process and meet their writing goals. I also offer proofreading and copyediting services, and I bring a deep level of care and attention to detail to your writing.
Academic coaching for graduate students
I offer targeted support to address the many difficulties clients may be facing; personal or professional, conflicts with professors, understanding feedback, finding valuable resources, developing academic reading and writing skills, dealing with academic politics, negotiating the research process, and helping to hold clients accountable for making progress and succeeding. Academic coaching meetings can help you move forward towards your goals. I offer a series of 3 or 6 sessions to help you in your academic endeavors. I am here to help you achieve your dreams. I am here to help you climb that mountain.
Client testimonials
Graduate students'challenges
Graduate students’ dreams often do not survive the quirks, rigors, and intensities of the Ph.D. process. According to Young and colleagues (2019), there is a significant rate of attrition for individuals pursuing their Ph.D.s. This includes a variety of disciplines (sciences and the humanities) and involves anywhere from 36%-51% of students who fail to complete their programs of study (para. 1). Many become stuck somewhere in the dissertation proposal or dissertation writing phases. See source.
These rates of attrition are often higher for online doctoral programs. Rigler et al. (2017) argued that online doctoral programs face even more serious issues, with attrition rates between 50-70%.
This is a costly game both in terms of time as well as energy and of course money. On a personal level, I know that blood, sweat, and tears went into my own PhD, and I am sure that other students and candidates have noticed something similar. There were obstacles to overcome, and many unexpected mountains to climb.
Editing and coaching for faculty
As an experienced mentor, educator, and academic editor, I bring a unique perspective to academic writing. I can assist you in developing the structure, flow, or narrative as well as addressing the minor issues like grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This is particularly important for individuals writing in English who are speakers of other languages. For example, there is often no good reason for the use of certain prepositions (which differ in Canadian, British, and American English!).
Here are some examples of different forms of writing which I can assist you with: Grant applications, conference proposals, literature reviews, book chapters, and research dissemination (both theoretical and empirical pieces).
My specialty is in APA formatting, and I love a good list of references and bringing it into alignment with the 7th edition manual. I provide supportive and constructive feedback with the goal of getting your manuscript as close to perfect as I can.
Faculty challenges
Faculty are under increased pressure to achieve in all arenas of service, scholarship, and teaching. The expectations are high, and the support is often low. Many junior faculty are left to decipher the expectations and publication process on their own.
Deadlines: There are multiple demands on busy professionals and faculty members (and never enough time in the day). Additionally, there are high levels of expectations for publication. Reviewers judge writing on the larger overarching aspects (narrative, flow, structure) BUT also on the smaller elements like punctuation, grammar, and verb tense agreement. Many of us will miss those minor errors in our writing due to the ways that our brains process meaning and language. This can cost us our credibility or even sabotage our publications.
Companies'/Non-profits' challenges
Companies and non-profits must produce well-written and insightful pieces such as reports, grant applications, and proposals. Minor (or major) mistakes will compromise the meaning as well as the effectiveness of the written product. It also reflects poorly on the company when unclear organization or typos impede the reader’s understanding.
Reports, grant applications, and proposals for
companies and NPOs/NGOs
Companies/Non-Profits: I offer over 15 years’ experience assisting people with a wide variety of texts, an expert eye for detail, and extensive training in writing, adult learning theory, and education. A core element of my approach involves relationship-based work with individuals, organizations, NGOs/NPOs and authors to assist them in meeting their goals and empowering their writing voices to shine clearly. I can provide constructive feedback on reports, grants, applications for funding, articles, or website copy. Let me help you put your best content forward.
“I am pleased to report that I have been the beneficiary of Dr. Emily Daniels’ outstanding Academic Consulting Practice. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Santa Barbara, for example, I called upon Emily's expertise to edit my article entitled, Reimagining Leadership through Lessons from the Life of Aurelia Erskine Brazeal. I am pleased to note that it was successfully published in a peer-reviewed journal. I was so pleased with the quality of Emily's editing support that I also sought her career counseling services. I found her judgment sound, observations insightful and willingness to share from her lived experience encouraging. I have been so impressed by her leadership of Wise Women Writing, an online community of practice which she convenes on a monthly basis. Always well-prepared, Emily provides excellent resources for the members' use as we are all writers (i.e., fiction, memoir, academic writing and even a columnist). Moreover, she provides a comprehensive summary so that even if you miss a session, you are able to glean the resources she so carefully curates. Dr. Emily Daniels comes with my highest recommendation.” - Dr. G.
“Emily is truly an extraordinary mentor, coach, and editor! She goes the extra mile to provide relevant and substantive feedback! Her professionalism and enthusiasm are truly motivational! I am so thankful for having worked with her and am looking forward to the next collaboration!” - Dr. A.
“I greatly enjoyed our chats a few months ago and, as promised, I am reaching out with an update. A few weeks ago, I committed to the Informatics PhD program at UIUC for which I received a total of three fellowships. I am very excited and look forward to getting started in the fall. Particularly, I wanted to say thank you for your guidance and help. This was instrumental in helping me determine my academic path going forward, as well as better conceptualize my own research interests. For this, I am very grateful.” - ET
"Dr. Daniels worked with me patiently and thoroughly from the beginning to the end of an unexpectedly long dissertation editing journey. Due to some life circumstances and then roadblocks with ProQuest ETD, I found myself having to submit my edits within rigid deadlines. Months after having worked with Dr. Daniels on my dissertation, I contacted her to request her services once again, but this time with a restricted time frame. She did not once hesitate to assist me and worked with me diligently. I live in California, and regardless of the different time zone, Dr. Daniels was always flexible. I truly appreciate Dr. Daniels' genuine and kind attributes. I am blessed to have had Dr. Daniels' unconditional support and guidance" - Dr. V.