Book Editing and Me

Something about words and their use has inspired me for as long as I can remember. Language is the great invoker and shaper of the life force that urges itself through us. As important as any meaning conveyed is the accompanying feeling. This synergistic realm of wholeness is where I live with words. While I use and respect the accepted rules of grammar, syntax, and the like, rigid pedantry makes me cringe. 

I grew up in an artistically and literarily inclined family of modest means. Although I eschewed academia, I have developed an innate sense of proportion and flow along with a general appreciation of art in its many forms. I also enjoy working with my hands and heart, creating objets d’art, and in the building trades. I love to take the rough and derelict and make it bright, new, and crisp, celebrating its uniqueness. So, whether it’s a raw manuscript or a building that leans to one side, my joy lies in lifting it up and bringing out its best.

Book editing is a spiritual art and a sacred trust. Beyond meaning, words are a means to transmit an energy that arises within one soul with the intent to impact another. I first want to understand the author’s intent and motivation for writing their book. Getting to know them and what makes them tick is foundational to my serving them well. A broader, unbiased view of the project within that context can sometimes unlock an unexpected and more exciting direction of expression that is ultimately more fulfilling for both the author and the reader. 

I prefer to work with authors who somehow wish to elevate the human condition toward greater unity—to help usher in a new humanity. In my experience, we all exist in unity across many dimensions. Authors who may fear the slings and arrows of mundane opinion will find an appreciative and encouraging presence here. Having traveled widely in this world and realms within, I have learned to celebrate others’ ideas, cultures, experiences, and perspectives alongside my own. Book editing is a lovely eddy within a larger stream. Perhaps we can row our boats gently down that stream merrily together.    With Love, Daye