Bringing Stories to Life: Gerda’s Travelogue

“Yoanna immersed herself in my non-fiction story. I could feel that she liked my story. She did exactly the edit I wanted her to do, and at the same time adhered to my style of writing. I see her as a down-to-earth, compassionate person who takes her trade seriously.”

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🌍 Who They Are:

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Gerda, a German-speaking author, was working on her first non-fiction travel narrative. She wanted to share her journey in a simple yet engaging way, ensuring her voice remained authentic while improving the overall readability of the book. She was worried that English not being her native language might have impacted the prose.

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💡 The Challenge:

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Although Gerda’s manuscript beautifully captured the essence of travel, she needed developmental editing, line editing, and proofreading to ensure the story flowed naturally in English. The goal was to refine sentence structure, enhance clarity, and maintain a consistent tone—without losing her unique storytelling style.

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🔍 The Solution:

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I started by assessing her manuscript and discussing her priorities. She wanted a thorough edit without altering her distinct voice. My approach focused on:

✔ Maintaining authenticity – Keeping her personal storytelling style intact (what lovely humour she had!)

✔ Improving readability – Adjusting structure and flow for a smoother experience

✔ Refining language – Ensuring clarity while respecting her natural phrasing

✔ Technical polishing – Correcting grammar, punctuation, and formatting

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🛠 The Editing Process:

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✔ Developmental Editing:

• Smoothed out transitions for a more cohesive narrative
• Ensured a natural flow between scenes and reflections
• Removed redundant details while preserving the depth of her experience

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✔ Line Editing:

• Adjusted sentence structure for clarity and ease of reading
• Simplified overly complex phrasing without losing meaning
• Strengthened descriptions for a more immersive travel experience

✔ Proofreading:

• Ensured grammar, punctuation, and formatting were polished
• Double-checked consistency in spelling and stylistic choices
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📑 Deliverables:

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After completing the edits, I provided Gerda with:

• A fully edited manuscript with clear, thoughtful revisions
• A detailed editorial report explaining key changes and suggestions
• Preserved voice and tone while improving clarity and impact

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📞 Final Steps & Results:

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Once she reviewed the edits, we had a final discussion to ensure everything aligned with her vision. The result? A refined, engaging travel narrative that maintained her personal voice while being more fluid and reader-friendly, and we ended up having a lovely chat about Scotland (spoiler alert: we both love it greatly!).

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✨ The Outcome:

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With a polished manuscript in hand, Gerda was able to confidently share her travel story—one that now resonated even more with her readers, all while staying true to her unique style and perspective, and I got to learn more about their adventures.

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🎯 Takeaway:

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Writing in a second language shouldn’t hold you back. With thoughtful editing, your voice can shine while ensuring your book is clear, engaging, and impactful (I got you!).