From clean, publication-ready copy to deep structural guidance — I help writers, businesses, and creators make every word count.
Hi, I'm Toni! Many years ago I taught middle school and high school English and while I was sad to leave the classroom, editing turned out to be a much better fit for me. I've spent over fifteen years doing what I love — copy editing research publications, working on fiction manuscripts, earning formal training through the Editorial Freelancers Association, and reading more books than I can count.
Whether it's cleaning up grammar and style, giving your prose some sentence-level attention, or digging into the big-picture stuff like character arcs and story structure — I want your writing to feel like you, just sharper. That's always the goal.
In 2018 I started @readwithtoni and honestly, it became one of the most meaningful parts of my life. What began as a place to chat about books grew into a community of nearly 4,000 amazing readers and over 2,000 posts about the books I love (and the ones I don't). I host Read With Toni, a twice-monthly buddy read that's been going strong for over seven years, and Read to Learn, a monthly nonfiction group I started in 2020 to explore the stories and histories we didn't learn in school — because nonfiction is powerful, and so are those who read it.
Books are woven into every part of my life. I read with my kids, I read with my husband John, and I read with my community. I also sell books at Folklore & Fable, a woman-owned independent bookstore in Colchester, CT — so yeah, I spend my days surrounded by books and the people who love them. That's what I bring to editing: someone who lives inside words every single day.
For authors working toward publication. For businesses that need their words to work harder. For anyone who cares about getting it right.
Your website is often the first impression — and first impressions are edited, not drafted. I go through your site page by page, fixing errors and tightening copy so it reads clearly, consistently, and like a professional wrote it.
Social content moves fast, but sloppy copy still sticks. I clean up captions, bios, and posts so your brand sounds intentional and polished — without losing the voice that makes you recognizable.
You wrote it with AI. I'll make it sound like you. AI-generated copy is fast — but it's also flat and nobody's voice in particular. I edit AI drafts for tone, personality, and flow so the final product sounds like a human wrote it.
Precise, detail-oriented editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency, and adherence to style. Whether it's a manuscript, article, or report — I make sure your writing is clean, correct, and ready for its audience.
A detailed, honest reader response to your manuscript before it goes out into the world. I track my experience chapter by chapter — where I'm hooked, where I drift, where I'm confused, where I'm moved — and deliver structured feedback you can act on.
Sentence-level attention to your prose — rhythm, word choice, tone, dialogue, and voice. This isn't about fixing errors; it's about making every line feel intentional and alive. Your writing should sound more like you after a line edit, not less.
A deep, big-picture evaluation of your manuscript — story structure, character development, pacing, plot coherence, point of view, dialogue, and emotional arc. Includes a detailed editorial assessment letter with actionable recommendations to guide your revision.
A focus on the substance of your writing — clarity, organization, argument, flow, and whether your ideas are landing the way you intend. Ideal for nonfiction, essays, articles, and narrative work where the structure needs to serve the message.
Ongoing collaboration through multiple drafts. I use visual tools like story maps and flow charts to help you see your narrative from new angles — so you're never stuck staring at the same page wondering where the engine went.
Good editing doesn’t change your voice — it clears away everything standing between your words and your reader.
Your writing should feel more like you after we work together, not less. I’m not here to rewrite — I’m here to bring out what’s already there.
I’ll tell you what’s working and what isn’t — but always with care, and always with a way forward. You’ll never get vague feedback from me.
Whether it’s a comma, a character arc, or the flow of an argument — I pay attention to the small things because they add up to everything.
Before I put on my editor hat, I read your work the way your audience will. I track where I’m hooked, where I drift, and where something doesn’t land. Then we talk about why.
Teaching, editing, reading, selling books — it's all been about words and the people who love them.
Built and lead an engaged literary community on Instagram. Host Read With Toni, a twice-monthly virtual buddy read running for 7+ years. Founded Read to Learn in 2020, a monthly nonfiction reading group exploring undertold histories, social issues, and current events.
Sell and recommend books at a woman-owned, author-owned independent bookstore, working directly with readers and the local literary community.
Developmental and line-level editing for fiction manuscripts. Created visual aids and story flow charts to help authors see their narrative structure from new perspectives.
Edited research publications, industry reports, and professional education and training materials for the largest global trade association serving the insurance and financial services industry — 700+ member companies across 71 countries.
Taught five English courses, deconstructing approximately 15 novels with students and guiding them through the writing process.
Whether you're writing a novel, running a business, or somewhere in between — if words matter to your work, I'd love to hear from you.
"Good editing doesn't change your voice — it makes sure every word earns its place."