Caroline Kaiser

Welcome!

Welcome to carolinekaisereditor.com. I’ve been a professional editor since 2006 and live in London, Ontario, Canada. I offer my clients a full range of editing services. My experience is rich and varied, though I specialize in fiction, memoirs, and self-help books. Mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, children’s books, and young adult fiction are particularly my cup of tea.

I’m open to working with new authors, so don’t be shy about approaching me if this is your first book. And if you have a book series, I can help you with that as well, ensuring continuity and consistency across the series. Whether you’re self-publishing (as I’ve done myself) or planning to submit your manuscript to agents or publishers, I will happily assist you on your path to publication. I can even write or edit your query letters, synopses, and back-cover blurbs. Please browse around my website to discover more about how I can help you. Together, we’ll turn your publishing dream into reality.

If you have any questions, send me an email at the following address:

[email protected].

I blog about topics of interest to writers, such as the craft of writing. See my latest blog post here. And check out the blog posts under Writing and Editing.

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About Me

I began my editing career in 2006. Currently, I edit fiction, memoirs, and self-help books, finding great satisfaction in helping authors refine their writing. I work in several fiction genres including mysteries and thrillers, historical fiction, children’s books, young adult novels, fantasy, and science fiction. As well, I’ve edited auction catalogues, museum exhibition guides, and university-level textbooks. Past clients include the Royal Ontario Museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Pearson Education Canada, and Scholastic Canada.

I earned an Editing Certificate from George Brown College in 2008 and am a member of Editors Canada . You can access my profile here. In 2015, I contributed the “Editing children’s and young adult fiction” section to an Editors Canada publication, Editorial Niches, A Companion to Editing Canadian English, 3rd edition.

Before working as a freelance editor, I was an antiques appraiser and cataloguer of glass, ceramics, and silver at a Toronto auction house for nearly fourteen years. I channelled my expertise in the antiques field into editing and ghostwriting for appraisers. I also wrote a number of feature articles on nineteenth-century pottery that were published in Antiques and Collectibles Trader magazine.

When not editing, I write fiction. I’m the author of the Virginia Blythe Mysteries series, which consists of Virginia’s Ghost and The Spirits of South Drive. The novels are set in an auction house and feature ghosts from the 1920s. My short story, “Scruggy’s Shining Moment,” a tale of a disruptive dog, was published in Canadian Imprints, Volume II. I also published another short story, “Dorcas in the Dark,” in Out of the Woods: Voices from the Forest City. This story centres on an awkward young woman whose life changes dramatically in just one day.

In October 2020, I moved to London, Ontario, from Toronto, the city I’d lived in my entire life. I’m a member of the London Writers Society.

An Interview with Caroline

How did you get into editing?

I fell into editing at the auction house where I worked. We regularly produced catalogues, and I was the only one in my department who seemed to care about embarrassing errors, so I started proofreading the catalogues, and then other things like advertising and press releases. A colleague who knew I was thinking about a career change suggested I pursue editing, and I realized she was right–it was an excellent fit. I then signed up for night courses at a local college.

What do you like and dislike about editing?

I love helping people achieve their dreams of publishing a book, and it’s fun polishing sentences to make them sound more elegant; stylistic editing is really my favourite type of editing. I find tinkering with language very satisfying. On the less positive side, freelance editing can be very isolating. I’m not an extrovert, but I do need to get out and talk to people. And all that sitting at a computer isn’t healthy–I keep hearing it’s “the new smoking.”

What sorts of things do you like to tell your self-publishing clients?

First of all, there’s no hurry. Slow down and do this self-publishing thing right. Don’t blow it when you’re at the end stage of the process. Yes, you hired an editor, but you’ll need a proofreader too after the book’s been designed. As well, don’t keep writing the book when you’re in the proofreading stage. It will result in a lot of expensive changes, and you’ll likely introduce errors. Then some pesky reviewer on Amazon is going to say you should have hired an editor!

What do you like to do when you’re not editing or writing?

I used to draw or paint constantly, but life eventually took me away from that. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself wanting to get back to my art again, and in my spare time, I’m often happily absorbed in drawing. Some of my recent efforts are below. I also love movies, particularly glamorous ones from Hollywood’s golden age. This might sound strange, but few things delight me more than watching Busby Berkeley dance numbers from the 1930s showcasing scores of dancers moving in kaleidoscopic formations. It’s dazzling. As well, I enjoy baking, but because of dietary sensitivities, it’s got to be dairy-free and gluten-free. This is a challenge but not an insurmountable one.

Besides editing, what have you studied?

Graphic design! But that was a hundred years ago, before anyone was doing it on a computer. I also have a B.A. in psychology from York University in Toronto, as I once entertained the idea of going into counselling. Ultimately, I didn’t feel cut out for that sort of work. As well, I once took a course in hypnosis, so I know how to hypnotize people. And I’ve been hypnotized myself, it happens easily when you don’t resist the process, and it’s wonderfully relaxing.

What were your childhood ambitions?

I had a fascination for birds, nurtured by my father, and as a little kid I wanted to be an ornithologist. But I soon realized I had few scientific bones in my body. As I got older, I became more and more drawn to creative pursuits, and in high school I wavered between wanting to be an artist and wanting to be a writer. Both were equally appealing.

What are your ambitions currently?

I’ve written two novels, but lately I’m gravitating toward writing short stories. I’d also like to develop the writing side of my business more, which means writing more query letters, cover blurbs, synopses, and chapter summaries to help my clients find publishers/promote their books. As well, there are certain types of projects I’d like to edit, but the opportunity hasn’t arisen yet. For instance, I hope someone will give me a cookbook to edit. I’ve edited a few recipes in a couple of self-help books, but never an actual cookbook. Editing work gods, are you listening?

What’s your sign?

I’m not just a Virgo, I’m such a Virgo. This is ideal if you’re an editor, as it imparts the necessary nitpicking perfectionism. I’ve learned over the years to confine my perfectionism to my work, but that process wasn’t easy. When I was younger I always felt I had a lot to prove to people on all sorts of levels. That’s less true now. In Chinese astrology, I’m a water rabbit, a sign that likes to sit back and relax. I’ve gotten a little better at doing that when I need to.

Dogs or cats?

Dogs. I’ve had dogs all my life, including a beautiful rescue dog named Trinka. Unfortunately, she passed away on March 8, 2022, at the age of twelve, leaving a huge hole in my heart. In this photo, you can see how sweet she was.

I don’t dislike cats–they’re graceful and beautiful–but dogs tug at my heartstrings in a way cats don’t, and to my mind, a roomful of dogs equals fun. Probably 80 percent of editors prefer cats, so I’m in the minority. I remember being at an editors’ conference where all the dog people sat together in a bar, and it was a very small group. This love of dogs has sometimes nabbed me editing work, and lots of my clients are dog people. I’ve worked on numerous manuscripts that feature dogs.

Oldest, middle, or youngest child?

Youngest of four mostly much-older siblings, which should have made me spoiled, but I never felt that way growing up. I was from a middle-class suburban family in Toronto, and growing up I always worked hard, whether it was at school or part-time jobs. I never expected opportunities to simply be handed to me. My father was a practical man and my mother a dreamer, and I inherited both qualities, so I dream big and work hard.

What’s the dumbest cliché anyone’s ever thrown at you?

As a student I worked for a florist for about two days. He wanted me to run the front of the shop but didn’t provide any training. When he fired me, he said, “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” I still remember his crabby red face and the smoke issuing from his ears. Later I realized he was right, it probably did hurt him more than it hurt me.

You’re of the opinion that living in the early twenty-first century leaves a lot to be desired. Which era would you prefer?

It’s really no wonder I dream of other eras when so often the news is a daily parade of ugly behaviour. Sometimes I just can’t watch. If I had my way, I’d travel back in time to the 1920s and hope they’d let me stay for a while. All eras have had their problems, but the ’20s had grace and extraordinary beauty on its side. Design reached an apex of elegance during the art deco era that to me has never been equalled. And many women began to experience a thrilling sort of freedom then and to make choices that weren’t possible for their mothers. It was truly the beginning of the modern age.

How old are you?

A lovely friend of mine, who has on occasion called herself the Greta Garbo of editors, refuses to divulge her age. I too prefer to be a woman of mystery, so you’ll have to guess.

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Testimonials

“Caroline professionally edited my memoir, and it was a pleasure working with her. She was prompt to reply to all my inquiries. She provided detailed information about the process, as this was my first project, and set realistic deadlines and expectations. I had scoured my manuscript dozens of times and she still found things I had overlooked. She provided insight to help the story expand and progress. She also caught a key component I included that infringed on copyright laws, and that alone was worth the professional editing in itself. She is talented at her craft, and I am ecstatic with the results of her hard work. I intend to work with her again in the future, and I encourage others to do the same!”

-Jenn Charlebois, author of The Grand Delusion

“What can I say that hasn’t already been said in the previous comments? Working with Caroline was a pleasure. She made what can be a highly stressful ordeal for many writers into a positive learning experience. I worked with Caroline on my second self-published mystery novel, and I am looking forward to working with her on my WIP. Her eye for detail boggles my mind, how does she keep track of the characters, scenes, and action of not only my manuscript, but that of others she is working on? She helped me pull together character and plot development, while assuring that the story continued to move forward at a reasonable pace that would hold the reader’s interest.

“Caroline is friendly, approachable, an encourager while being honest, and very thorough. As others have stated, she will fact check and research to make sure that the details are accurate. In my case, she looked up a map of the UPEI campus in Charlottetown and discovered that I had altered a great deal of the campus layout, including building names. I did that on purpose, but if my editor is going to look up the campus specs, readers might too. An important tidbit to remember. I don’t want to turn off my readers because of purposeful inaccuracies.”

-Karen Cullen, author of A Body in the Paddock

“Caroline is a deeply committed, sensitive, and versatile editor. She can commute between line editing and story editing, often all in the same pass. She has a great memory; even after months go by between edits, she’s right on top of the manuscript and can talk freely about it. You never get the impression that she takes you for granted; on the contrary, you feel she’s committed to your story and to you. She’s also responsible on time commitments and sticks to them; she makes no commitments she can’t keep. I unreservedly recommend her.”

-Stuart Brody, author of Humphrey and Me

“Caroline Kaiser took my writing from an acceptable manuscript to a polished novel, completing what she said she would do in the time frame she promised. Her technique of combining a developmental edit with a line edit in one round resulted in a reduced time frame for my finished product. Caroline’s attention to detail regarding historical fact and dialogue of the time, a check on the timeline that I presented in the novel, a consistency check on my previous works in a series that she edited, and then line edits polished my work of fiction to completion in time for my publication deadline. I would highly recommend Caroline Kaiser for any editing, but specifically for historical fiction.”

-Kimberly Nixon, author of Rock Bottom, Tennessee and Rock Bottom Rising

“I had the pleasure to work with Caroline Kaiser in regards to my book, Princeton: A Love Story. I spent several months speaking with numerous editors before choosing Caroline, and now that the project is completed, I have no regrets about my wanting to involve her with the project in any way whatsoever. In addition to her professionalism and obvious eye for detail, what impressed me as well was her approachability. Caroline always took the time to speak to me and answered any questions I may have had.

“I look forward to working with Caroline again, and have no doubt I will be very satisfied with her work.”

-Terry Fong, author of Princeton: A Love Story

“I engaged Caroline as an editor for my novel after a careful search. She conducted a line edit on a draft that had already undergone beta reads and edits. Her work stands out for its thoroughness and attention to detail, catching things ranging from spelling to continuity. My novel is historical fiction aimed at young adults and Caroline catered her work to my audience. She took care to review and make suggestions on what might work better with younger readers. She also took the time to do her own research on some of the content to better comment on historical terms and language. She was very good at catching anachronisms as well. I definitely want to work with Caroline again for future books and would highly recommend her services to other writers.”

-DL Jung, author of Sparrow Squadron, Raven’s Shadow, and Wounded Falcon

“Thank you so much for the review. It’s so refreshing to receive some real constructive feedback. I also found it inspiring and I’ve been itching to get started on making changes to the manuscript.

“You did a thorough job with your review and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. Your insight and suggestions are invaluable to me. I opened the email while at work yesterday and browsed through it. It was all I could do to not take the rest of the day off to come home and get working on my story. Your words truly inspired me to want to edit and create. I believe that the review you provided was exactly what I needed. Thank you!

“As far as your recommendations go, I can see myself incorporating most, if not all of them.” -Dana Millner (email excerpt), novelist

“Working with Caroline was a complete pleasure. After completing my first novel, Lenora’s Germs, I was looking for an editor who would review my work with an impartial eye–someone who would not only do a thorough job of copyediting but would also provide feedback regarding story arc, pace, and plot. I feel very fortunate to have found Caroline Kaiser. Caroline’s work is meticulous. She provided me with valuable feedback that helped identify and correct weaknesses in my storyline, as well as polish my story. She was quick to point out the strengths, highlighting what worked and why, as well as indicating areas she felt needed clarification. Caroline also helped craft a query letter to publishers and assisted in the creation of tight chapter summaries as well as full story summary of my novel. I look forward to working with Caroline again.”

-Deborah Dube, author of Lenora’s Germs

“An editor is critical to the success of any literary project.

“My editor had retired and I needed to find a new one for my novel. After an extensive search, I found Caroline S. Kaiser.

“After receiving back my edited manuscript from Caroline, and seeing the copious edits, my first thought was: had the meaning of my story been altered? Quite the contrary. Every aspect of my original narrative was made more concise, accurate and meaningful, and enjoyable. I was ecstatic with the results.

“I realized Caroline has a passion for her work, it’s a labour of love for her. Her serious and personal interest in her work, and my novel, created the best possible edit, one for which I am very proud. Her knowledge of English grammar is excellent, and her vocabulary is stellar. She also met the completion target.

“Without hesitation, I would recommend Caroline for all your editing assignments, you will be more than satisfied with the results.”

-George A. Anthony, author of Mr. Pearce

“Caroline Kaiser was recommended to me, a debut author, in November 2010, and I am so pleased that she was available to edit my manuscript. Her editing skills are meticulous and her suggestions valid. Caroline’s expertise brought into question areas in my novel that needed clarification on my part as an author–if she didn’t see it or get it, my potential readers wouldn’t either. As I received each edited file, she always had a comment in her email about something in that file that she really liked or found interesting before I opened it and was confronted by all the red. Caroline’s remarks made me pour everything I had into my novel, making a good story great and me a better author. She gave it a final polish and prompted me to add the final pizzazz. Although we have never met face-to-face, I view Caroline as not only a professional associate, but as a friend. I highly recommend Caroline to any author, new or established, and I am looking forward to working with her again on my next book.”

-Lynne Marie, author of The Seahawk’s Sanctuary and The Lion’s Lair

“Caroline Kaiser is a meticulous editor who takes painstaking care in her work, instilling confidence in her expertise and judgment. She is conscientious, completing the job on time and within her cost estimates. I would not hesitate to use her good services again and enthusiastically recommend her without reservation.”

-Chris McGowan, author of Abacus

“Working with Caroline is an absolute pleasure. I know with certainty that when I submit my work to her, she leaves no stone unturned. She meticulously fact checks, effortlessly ‘word sculpts’ and helps make my work more reflective of my true intentions than I am able to myself.”

-Aly Boltman, antiques appraiser and writer

“Caroline was my first try at having an editor look at my manuscript, and I approached the experience with some doubts. They proved unfounded. She is a professional and business-like editor. What she says she will do, she does, and I tried to do the same.The best part of the experience was the in-depth commenting style Caroline used. She dissected all aspects of my novel and did it in a beautiful prose style of her own. Reading that, I was more than persuaded that she knew a thing or two about writing.”

-Elaine Cougler, author of The Loyalist’s Wife

“An exceptional editor. Caroline Kaiser was instrumental in the shaping and the publication of my first book, Mysterious Secrets of Dark Fern Forest. Her professional approach to directing a writer to the successful publication of a book is through gentle guidance and constructive critique. I feel highly confident in recommending Caroline to other writers, and I will certainly seek her advice when I finish my second book.”

-Margaret Dalley, author of Mysterious Secrets of Dark Fern Forest

“Caroline helped me to prepare a manuscript for a short fiction contest. Although the changes she suggested were minor, the impact was substantial, and the story was improved by her contribution. In addition, she was able to provide a super-quick turnaround time, and all at a fair price. I will make use of Caroline’s services again.”

-Grant Carmichael, author of “Otherwise Occupied” (short story)

“Like many other writers, I do not take well to editing. I don’t know what’s good to cut, what’s fine to keep, or what just plain doesn’t make sense. The first time I’d ever handed my story to another for the purpose of editing, a nasty cat fight broke out along the lines of, “This is too much back story!”, “But I like back story!” I was slightly frightened of having another experience with editing. It was neither a calm, sensible transaction, nor an enlightening exposure to adequate problems in my pieces.

“However, I was quite surprised and pleased with Ms. Kaiser’s work. While looking over my edits, I never once had the urge to raise a finger in defiance of her judgment. Every question was posed with very valid reasoning, and every suggestion was given with clear, economical, respectful prose.

“Because I am 14 years old, I found it increasingly difficult to get more than simple grammar and spelling corrections out of my former editors. I felt that they were going easy on me because of my age. But for the first time, it seemed to me as though the real issues of my writing were being addressed, and my abilities were being assessed seriously, and in a professional manner.

“Although I have little experience with controlling my style or handling point of view very well, Ms. Kaiser patiently explained every repeated discrepancy, corrected every awkward sentence, and reworded every unclear phrase. My stories still retain the personality and tone of my writing style, yet improve tremendously in all structural elements. Thanks to the hard, efficient, orderly effort of Ms. Kaiser, I am confident that my pieces are now polished jewels.”

-London Hu, short story author

“Caroline is wonderful to work with. She took great care in polishing my manuscript, and I learned so much from her that I am already applying to my next book. She delivered the edited manuscript to me on time and even under budget, and her feedback was detailed and thoughtful. I appreciated that her edits were more than just corrections , they were alternative suggestions, words of encouragement, and valuable lessons that I will take with me through many books to come.”

-Tiana Warner, author of The Infinite Knowledge of J.T. Badgley

“Caroline was recommended to me as a professional, experienced editor. We scoped the project and based on her estimate I decided to move forward, and I’m very glad that I did. Her work and communication were highly professional, and the editing was completed on time and at the cost we had agreed upon. I would work with Caroline again and also recommend her as an accomplished fiction editor.”

-Matt Lazar, co-author of Warrior Girl

“Wow–this is an intelligent and very thoughtful edit! It improves the original while appreciating its unique “personality” and respecting its integrity–something many editors cannot do.”

-John Ambury, poet and fiction writer

“When I decided to self-publish the first book in my thriller series, I had two main objects. One, to hire a talented book designer and two, a professional editor to polish my manuscript. So I chose three editors and asked each to do a sample edit. From these three, I chose Caroline, because I thought we could work together.

“My expectation was for Caroline to ready my book for publication, but what I received during her edits was much more. She is, in my opinion, not only an editor, but a director playing a similar role as any experienced director does when directing a film. She visualizes how the scenes will play out and nudges you, the author, to give more to the production, i.e., your novel. With her as editor and director, the result is the best book possible.

“Caroline is currently editing the third novel in my thriller series and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with her. I’ve come to see her not only as an editor, but as a friend.”

-Pat Krapf, author of the Darcy McClain thriller series Follow Leave a Reply Cancel reply