How I Can Help You
Are you looking for a trained, experienced, professional copyeditor for the nonfiction manuscript you’re going to self-publish?
I’m John Vias (it rhymes with bias), and I help nonfiction indie authors look their best. I offer copyediting and proofreading for both printed books and e-books written in American English.
Areas of Interest
I have broad interests. Here are just a few:
- Health, public health
- Science, environment
- Computers, technology
- Arts, culture, humanities
- Current events, politics
- Humor
Kudos if you can combine politics and humor!
Okay, I’m an all-around nerd. The upside for you is that I may already know something about your book’s topic or at least am interested in it.
Who Am I?
I earned an English degree, specializing in nonfiction writing. Later, I was selected to receive copyediting training through Sage Publications’ Copy Editor Outreach Program.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, I’ve garnered many years of copyediting and proofreading experience.
I keep up with the never-ending changes in American English and my profession through self-study, by actively participating in professional editor groups, and by attending conferences and webinars. I’m a proud member of ACES (the Society for Editing), the Bay Area Editors’ Forum, and the Northwest Editors Guild.
There is beauty in order, and I help bring that beauty to my clients’ work and into the world.
A Bit More About Me
I worked in the computer industry and as a technical writer. Footnotes don’t scare me. As a visual artist, I have created award-winning night photography. In my spare time, I try to keep in shape and (perhaps not surprisingly) enjoy reading.
On the Services page, read more about how I can help you.
A masterful copyeditor.
—William Spear, bestselling author
John is a wonderfully conscientious and meticulous copyeditor who has an unusual talent for untangling twisted syntax in a way that both clarifies an author's intended meaning and sharpens its impact. He is able to take the flab out of a meandering, disorganized piece of prose and recast it into something lean and muscular, without substituting his own voice. John also has a deep familiarity with the mechanics of copyediting and marks up manuscripts in a manner that is clean, clear, and easy to navigate. I recommend him highly.
—Tom Schmitz, writer