Carolina VonKampen đź“š Freelance Editor

@carolinavonkampen.com

1710 Followers 796 Following

Editor: Books, poetry, query letters, content marketing Host: #StetChat @stetchat.com Member: @acesediting.bsky.social, @authorsguild.org Former history major. Writer? Reader Fan: #Survivor #JetLagTheGame #DragRace đźš« AI đź“Ť STL she/her carolinavonkampen.com

A Word of Caution About Running Your Manuscript Through Spellcheck and AI Tools After It’s Been Professionally Edited: When you receive your edited manuscript back from me, please note the manuscript has been edited by a human editor with extensive training and over a decade of experience editing professionally (that’s me!). If you run the edited manuscript through Microsoft’s Editor, Google Doc’s spellcheck, Grammarly, or any other automated or AI program that promises to check spelling, grammar, or writing style, it will likely show numerous “suggestions” or “issues.” However, these programs are not always accurate. In fact, they sometimes suggest edits that would actually introduce errors into the manuscript. Recently, Microsoft’s Editor has been very bad about suggesting things that are flat-out wrong, like adding commas in nonsensical places or suggesting that words be changed to completely different words for no reason. I’ve personally seen these issues with Google Doc’s checker and Grammarly as well. So, please take any suggestions from automated/AI spellcheckers or grammar checkers with a grain of salt, if you use them at all. I suggest not using them after the manuscript has been copyedited by a professional editor since the risk of inserting errors is so high. And, of course, if you have any questions about my suggested edits, please email me and ask! I’m always happy to talk through edits and revisions to help you understand why I suggested changing certain things.
The first copy on my homepage: Hi, I’m Carolina. As a St. Louis-based freelance book editor, I help authors polish their manuscripts for self-publishing or querying literary agents. I can help you refine your manuscript so that: You make a good first impression with your readers. Grammatical, stylistic, and punctuation errors don’t make your readers put your book down. Your unique voice shines through and sticks with readers
My two tuxedo cats hugging.
My ACES Evolve tote on a pool chair with a book titled Passport on top of it. My goggles are in the photo too.
Kane Parsons and the interviewer sit at opposite corners of a room on the Backrooms set.
The under-monitor area of my desk includes: 2 Mincing Mockingbird stickers that read "My only crime: I was down to clown" and "The risk I took was calculated, but man am I bad at math." On top of a floral Kleenex box is a little bookshelf I got in Italy. Next are a tile from Granada Spain, a sticker that reads "Big Deck Energy," a postcard of Chihuly's beautiful glass ceiling from his museum in Seattle, and a magnet of the Roman Forum. On the right side, a purple merge Survivor 47 buff hangs over a box I keep cords and stuff in.
My cat Lou standing above the comic novel Spent by Alison Bechdel.
"Carolina has edited several fiction manuscripts for me and I have been so impressed by her work! I was a volunteer reader for Capsule Stories, and then reached out to Carolina when I had a novel I wanted to query. She has edited two of my manuscripts and both times, l've been pleased with her work. She was communicative, prompt, and courteous. She provided a detailed style sheet along with the edited manuscript and editorial letter. Her thoroughness is not to be underestimated! She polished both manuscripts in a way that I couldn't have done by myself, which allowed me to self-publish one and helped the other get accepted by a publisher. The editor I worked with subsequently praised the "crazy clean" manuscript—which was in no small part due to Carolina's edits! I highly recommend her services to aspiring authors. She's been an important partner on my writing journey.”
My cats Les and Lou!
Forest Park at sunset.
Sticker that has a hand-drawn bird and the text "Birds Can't Vote But You Can!"
"Today, words are sprouting through cracks in my daily life in unexpected places. I journal constantly. I write letters to friends. The fact that there’s a pen in my pocket right now makes me happy. My writing, back when I read little, was bumbling in the dark hoping I’d touch something valuable by accident; a writer who doesn’t read now strikes me as absurd. How does a bee make honey without visiting the flowers?"
A tree
ALT TEXT My AI policy reads “If You Used AI on Your Manuscript, Let Me Know. Please let me know if you used generative AI to write or edit your manuscript so that I have the full context of your manuscript and revision process. I prioritize working with writers who use their own creativity and imagination to write and edit their work, and I’m not interested in editing content primarily generated by an AI model given the copyright concerns as outlined by the Authors Guild. If you’ve used AI on your manuscript, it’s not an automatic dealbreaker for me, but I’d like to know exactly how it was used so I can better determine if I’m the right editor for you. That’s why I ask about the rounds of revision your project has been through on my contact form. That answer box on my contact form is the place to tell me if you’ve used AI to help you write or edit your manuscript—the more details, the better! Let me know what programs you used (Grammarly, AutoCrit, ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, etc.) at what stage of writing and revising and how you used it.”
Alt text: My contact form, which reads: “Tell me about the rounds of revision this project has been through (self-edits, beta readers, critique partners, AI feedback, professional editors, etc.) A note at the bottom says: Note: I don’t use AI tools or programs in my editing process or business, and I’d like to know if you used a generative AI tool to write or edit your manuscript. Read my full AI policy under my About menu (also linked in my website footer).”
There’s a fine line between subverting a stereotype and satirizing it versus accidentally playing into it so much that it becomes uncomfortable for some readers. The concern is heightened when multiple characters of the same type are characterized very similarly by the same stereotypes. You want to make sure that readers know you’re satirizing the stereotype rather than playing into it so they feel comfortable laughing along. Below are some stereotypes that stuck out in the novel. Please consider them and whether they’re successfully subverting the stereotypes or if there’s another place to find humor other than playing into potentially triggering/harmful stereotypes that may make some readers put the book down.
Now! To be real: Do not spend your money on this until you’ve secured a job and are financially stable after graduating college. View this novel as a fun project/hobby, but do not spend a bunch of money on editing this summer thinking that you’ll get a book deal or be a professional writer from it. Once you’re financially stable and can afford editing, then I’d love to work together! :) Or ask for money toward it as a graduation gift or something. But absolutely do not spend all your savings on this—I would not feel good about that!
My cats looking at a printer.
The man had killed the thing he loved, And so he had to die. Yet each man kills the thing he loves, By each let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword! Some kill their love when they are young, And some when they are old; Some strangle with the hands of Lust, Some with the hands of Gold: The kindest use a knife, because The dead so soon grow cold. Some love too little, some too long, Some sell, and others buy; Some do the deed with many tears, And some without a sigh: For each man kills the thing he loves, Yet each man does not die. He does not die a death of shame On a day of dark disgrace, Nor have a noose about his neck, Nor a cloth upon his face, Nor drop feet foremost through the floor Into an empty space.
My contact form with fields for Name, Pronouns, and email.
The EFA Con schedule for June 26, 2026. The schedule reads: 9:30 AM Better Together Pavilion opens 10:30 AM Welcome + Housekeeping 10:55 - 11:45 AM Concurrent Sessions 1 11:50 AM - 12:40 PM Concurrent Sessions 2 12:40 PM Lunch Keynote 1:10 Break and “Drabble Contest”??? 1:15 - 2:45 PM Deep Dive 1 3:00 Break 3:20 - 4:15 PM Concurrent Sessions 3 4:15 PM Deep Dive 2 5:40 Game 1 (Drabble vote) 6:15 Fireside Chat 7 p.m. Adjourn
The Andy Parks & Rec meme that’s modified to say: I don’t know what’s up with the LEGO situation and at this point I’m too afraid to ask.
Screenshot of EFA email that reads: Coming July 1: Member Verification There have been some concerns, both from members and from potential clients, about the need to vet editors and provide some sort of guarantee of quality for clients to rely on. Other editing orgs already do this. We’ve decided we’re not qualified to decide outright who is or isn’t an editorial freelancer. But we will be introducing a member verification process in July designed to indicate that we have confirmed a member is a real, working editor who has worked with clients and demonstrated a commitment to growing their expertise through continuing education. You’ll be able to opt in (or not) to verification beginning July 1. There will be a nominal fee ($25 in year one and $15/year for renewal), which is entirely intended to offset the costs of administration. More details on this coming soon.
3.Yogurt: While yogurt contains valuable microscopic organisms that can assist with processing lactose, it actually contains lactose. Certain individuals with lactose bigotry can endure yogurt better than other dairy items. 4.Frozen yogurt: Frozen yogurt is produced using milk, so it contains lactose. Some sans dairy frozen yogurt options are accessible in the event that you actually need a frozen treat. 5.Spread: Margarine is low in lactose, however it’s actually present in modest quantities. Certain individuals with lactose bigotry can endure spread without encountering side effects, yet others might have to keep away from it. 6.Cream-based soups and sauces: Cream-based soups and sauces, for example, mollusk chowder and Alfredo sauce, are frequently made with milk or cream, which contains lactose. 7.Handled food varieties: Many handled food sources contain stowed away wellsprings of lactose, like bread, cereal, salad dressings, and heated merchandise. Continuously check the fixing marks for milk, lactose, whey, curds, and milk side-effects. Keep in mind, the seriousness of lactose prejudice changes from one individual to another, so you might have the option to endure modest quantities of lactose-containing food varieties while others might have to totally stay away from them. Trial and error and keeping a food journal can assist you with deciding your resilience level. Also, lactase protein supplements are available without a prescription and can assist certain individuals with processing lactose all the more without any problem.
Lactose intolerance is a stomach related jumble described by the failure to process lactose, a sugar tracked down in milk and dairy items. This prejudice happens because of a lack of lactase, the chemical liable for separating lactose in the small digestive system. At the point when lactose isn’t as expected separated, it stays in the stomach related framework and can cause awkward side effects, for example, bulging, gas, the runs, and stomach torment. These side effects regularly happen in somewhere around 30 minutes to two hours in the wake of devouring lactose-containing food sources or drinks. Lactose prejudice can create at whatever stage in life and is more normal in specific ethnic gatherings, including individuals of African, Asian, Hispanic, and Local American drop. The seriousness of side effects fluctuates from one individual to another, for certain people having the option to endure modest quantities of lactose while others need to totally stay away from it. It’s vital to take note of that lactose bigotry is not the same as a milk sensitivity, which is a resistant reaction to the proteins tracked down in milk and dairy items. Lactose bigotry is an intestinal problem brought about by the absence of lactase chemical action. Assuming you have lactose narrow mindedness, you might need to keep away from or limit food sources that are high in lactose. Here is a rundown of normal food varieties to look out for: 1.Milk: Cow’s milk contains a lot of lactose. This incorporates entire milk, skim milk, and low-fat milk. 2.Cheddar: A few cheeses contain less lactose than others, yet many actually contain to the point of causing side effects. Hard cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan by and large have lower lactose content contrasted with delicate cheeses like ricotta and cream cheddar.
An apostrophe in the word "didn't" looks smaller and is in Arabic (Saudi Arabia) language.
Screenshot of the audiobook Mood Machine by Liz Pelly playing in the Libby app.
Page 181 of The Ersatz Elevator when Esme pushes the Baudelaires "into the darkness of the elevator shaft."
Page 181 of The Ersatz Elevator when Esme pushes the Baudelaires "into the darkness of the elevator shaft."
A book open to the poem "The Fall of the Redskin" in front of my computer screen.
A page of a book where the words in the middle of the paragraph are falling off the page.
Comment to author: Is this joke at the expense of trans people necessary for the story and characterization? Author: No, it's not. It's a cheap, petty joke. I can do better than that.
See “Parent, parenting, caregiving vs. mothering” section in https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/inclusive-gender-neutral-language, which reads: “Avoid language that assumes the mother is the primary parent or caregiver. Use parenting instead of mothering unless referring specifically to a mother-child relationship. You can also use caregivers and caregiving to be inclusive of non-parents in caregiving roles. Many practices recommended in pregnancy to women/pregnant people can also be directed to fathers/non-pregnant partners. Too often, the burden of prenatal care and establishing healthy habits are directed only at the pregnant person, when a partner can also play an important role.”
Gay men stereotypes: The gay men in the novel (John) seem to appear very stereotypically hyperfeminine, talking a certain way (singsongy and high-pitched), and flamboyant. For example, John is described as doing a “gay jester pose” and screeching, waving his hands in the air, and talking in a singsong voice.
My two tuxedo cats Les and Lou sitting on a chair in front of my bookshelves.
North side of the path with a huge downed tree with exposed roots and a smattering of trees.
Graphic that says: Upcoming webcast. Do Readers care about editing? With photos of Dr. Rachael Tin and Madeline Shaughnessy.
A screenshot of a Microsoft Word comment by me that says: This may be too many "daddy"s.
Map of dialectal difference among Cree dialects in Canada.
Pieces of paper with the words Stet Chat written on them in blue marker.
A blended mocha drink outside on a table at a coffee shop.
My EFA profile with probably 200 keywords at the bottom of it.
A blackout poem of the Granta letter that reads: "AI" by Carolina VonKampen. The AI generated us elaborate wealth so we awarded it.
A blackout poem of the Granta letter that reads: "AI" by Carolina VonKampen. The AI generated us elaborate wealth so we awarded it.
Tiffany Nicole Erving on Survivor.
Mission Taco frozen margarita.
A phishing email from a fake email saying they're Mailchimp and that there was an issue with my latest sends.
A printout of Annie Powell Stone’s forthcoming poetry chapbook Jewel Box in a three-ring binder.
A magnet of "found poetry" that reads "I fear being disillusioned and crippled by anxiety has become my brand." with a squawking bird next to it.
One thing for editors to keep in mind is that they need to be aware when machines’ work becomes indistinguishable from humans’ work. And in editorial, that’s copyediting. AI has been really good at copyediting for a while now. When I first started experimenting with AI in copyediting in 2023, already, like immediately, I thought that it was a better copyeditor than I was, and I was, at that time, a copyediting instructor at the University of California San Diego.” — Servais
My hand holding the paperback 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual and the spiral-bound Concise Guide to APA Style 7th Edition in front of my bookshelves.
New and notable fiction displayed at Left Bank Books in St. Louis, MO.
The book Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha.
The Print Run Podcast loon signal being displayed above a dark cityscape.