About Tara Foss
The editor behind every project
I’m Tara, a copy editor and proofreader. When you send me your work, I’m the one who reads every line of it. There’s no team behind me and no junior editor you’ll never meet. It’s just me, giving your writing the same close attention from the first page to the last.
I’ve edited professionally for 25+ years, and I was the managing editor of two peer-reviewed journals before I set up on my own in 2007.
Where I learned to edit
I learned to edit at publishing houses. I worked at medical and nursing publishers in the United States and the United Kingdom for several years. I prepared manuscripts and journals for production, then I moved on to commissioning and editing clinical articles myself.
Later I became the managing editor of two peer-reviewed clinical journals: the British Journal of Nursing and Gastrointestinal Nursing. My job was to hold every article to high standards. That meant keeping many authors consistent, issue after issue. I became a freelance editor in 2007, and I still edit to those same high standards today.
I’m formally qualified, too. I have a:
Degree in journalism and communications from American University
Postgraduate Certificate in Copy Editing from Temple University
The range of work I take on
I’ve edited across hundreds of subjects. The work itself takes many forms. Some of it is peer-reviewed research and clinical documentation. Some is doctoral and master’s work. Some is business and marketing material, and some is full-length books. Whatever your field, there’s a good chance I’ve edited something close to it.
Some of that work has been for established publishers, including Lippincott, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and Routledge.
The fields I work across
These are the fields I work in most. If yours is here, I've almost certainly edited something like it.
How I approach your work
Before I change a word, I read your work the way your reader will. I want to understand what you’re saying and who it’s for. Only then do I start to edit.
My job is to make your writing clearer while keeping it yours. I work within your voice, and if an edit might change your meaning, I won’t guess. I’ll leave a comment and check with you first.
You get my thinking as well as my marks. Where something could read better, I’ll explain why and suggest a way to fix it. And once your edited work comes back to you, I’m still here. After you’ve made your changes, I’ll recheck them, so nothing slips at the last step.
See how my editing process works, step by step.
“Thank you for copyediting the reports again this year. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have a go-to copy editor who understands our voice and knows our style guide. I am so proud of how these turned out, and I hope you are too, since we could not have done it without you.”
What my clients say
“Tara has worked for our business for over 10 years. She is always kind and helpful providing the highest quality editing with a fast and reliable approach, that can be trusted to be on time. She has met some very tight deadlines for us.”
“Tara provides an efficient, accurate editing service. She is responsive and turns work around quickly, even going the extra mile to research our questions and provide informed suggestions. I would recommend her for editing projects both large and small.”
I’m also a named editor in the Good Food Institute’s annual State of the Industry reports.
More than a careful read
There’s more to my work than catching typos. Every project includes copy editing and proofreading together, treated as one job. I edit your writing to your chosen style and reference guide and keep it consistent all the way through. Where something could be clearer or stronger, I’ll show you, with notes and suggestions you’re free to use or set aside. You’ll get back a tracked version that shows every change, alongside a clean copy that's ready to go.
Through all of it, the ideas stay yours. I work with the words you’ve already written and make them the best version of themselves. I won’t add content of my own or check your facts for you, because your authority over your subject is what makes the writing yours in the first place.
And whatever you share with me stays between us. If you’d like a non-disclosure agreement in place before you send your work, I’m always glad to sign one.
Where I’ve worked
If you’d like the fuller record, here’s where I have worked over the years:
Managing Editor, British Journal of Nursing, and Managing Editor, Gastrointestinal Nursing (Mark Allen Healthcare)
Senior Editor, Occupational Health Review (LexisNexis)
Associate Editor, Medical Broadcasting Company (now Publicis Healthcare Communications Group)
Publishing Associate, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Proposal Manager, Hill International
Let's work together
If you’ve read this far, you already know how I work and what I care about. I’d be glad to do the same for you. Tell me a little about your project and what you're hoping for, and I'll let you know how I can help.
When I’m not editing, you’ll usually find me out with my dogs or volunteering at the local humane society.