— ACADEMIC EDITOR & WRITING COACH —
TIGHTER PROSE.
CLEARER THINKING.
Forthright feedback and actionable recommendations for dissertations, journal articles, admission essays, and fiction manuscripts — from a scholar who has spent more than 20 years at the editor’s desk.
Welcome
Life, just like a reader’s attention span, is too short to waste, so I prioritise honesty and accuracy.
I started teaching English writing as a part-time job at Champlain St. Lambert College’s Writing Centre in 2001. I’ve been helping researchers, business professionals, and novelists craft tighter, clearer prose since 2015.
My academic background is in Renaissance and medieval history and Great Books (Ph.D., Johns Hopkins; M.A., University of Toronto; B.A., Concordia University).
Whether you’re a doctoral candidate in Seoul shaping your first English-language article, a newly-minted Ph.D. in Dubai revamping your dissertation into a book people will actually read, or a novelist wrestling with world-building, I’ll work with you until every sentence earns its place.
Services
What I do is guided by one principle:
Your prose should sound like you, but sharper.
Editing &
Layout
Details matter. Get a publication-ready text that’s polished and precise.
Beta-Reading & Critique
No sugar, no shortcuts. Get targeted feedback on your manuscript.
Applications & Proposals
Dare to stand out. Get an original pitch that’s clear and memorable.
Coaching & Workshops
Small steps add up. Get support to find your footing and reach goals.
What clients are saying
A. Mwami (fiverr)“It was a great great pleasure to work with Dr Stein who is extremely disability conscious and confident.”
Daniel Decker (Upwork)“Heather did a great job beta reading my novel and providing me with specific feedback! Very helpful!”
Maksym Shylov (Upwork)“Heather was genuinely committed to this project. She was open to discussing every detail that was important to me and always took my comments seriously. ”
Amanda Smith (fiverr)“Dr. Stein, I can not thank you enough. Your academic literacy is amazing, but your analytical skills and ability to understand what is critical is astonishing. I’m so happy I’ve found you!”
Jean-Olivier Richard (Uni of Toronto)“Dependable, flexible, very smart: She’s helped me with my own writing and with the design of writing tools for undergraduate students. I’ve also had several students hire her to help improve job and graduate school applications, with very positive outcomes.”
Toussaint Williams (Strayer University)“What sets Heather apart is her approachability. She treated my project as if it were her own. Heather helped create and maintain deadlines that kept the project on track without ever feeling overwhelming. If you’re seeking an editor with a heart, look no further.”
Let’s Work Together
Pricing
Fiverr
- Choose a basic, standard, or premium package, your word length, and your delivery speed. The total appears before you commit.
- Fiverr holds your payment until you approve the delivery.
- Over 1,000 verified reviews.
- A short intake form replaces the back-and-forth.
Best for
- Admission essays and manuscripts between 10,000 and 50,000 words.
- First-time clients who want a clear scope and a clear cost.
Starting from
- $20 for beta reads
- $25 for editing
Upwork
- Fixed-price milestones or hourly billing at $30 per hour, whichever suits the project.
- Upwork protects fixed-price payments and keeps the contract, messages, and invoices in one place.
- A 100% Job Success score and Top Rated status.
- Book a 30-minute consultation to scope the project together.
Best for
- Longer or less defined projects.
- Clients who want to talk before they commit.
Starting from
- $20 for beta reads
- $30/hr for editing
Direct Billing
- I quote your project after reading a sample, so the price fits the work.
- You write to me directly, and I answer directly.
- Pay by Interac e-Transfer, Wise, or PayPal.
- No escrow service, so I ask for a deposit (10–25%) before I start. Everything else is paid on delivery.
Best for
- Returning clients, dissertations and book-length manuscripts.
- Anyone who prefers not to pay fees to a third-party platform.
Starting from
- $20/hr for research
- $24.50/hr for editing