About

I am a freelance editor and writing consultant: mentoring writers (emerging and established, including academics); providing assessments for unpublished manuscripts (fiction and non-fiction); proofreading and editing; assisting businesses with their professional writing; reviewing and editing student resources, academic research essays, theses, articles and book projects.

My series, The Art of Writing & Editing, provides tips to improve writing, such as grammar, punctuation and word choice. I also help and encourage writers to self-edit their writing projects before engaging a professional editor. I taught at secondary and tertiary level for many years, and I now teach one-off sessions on writing and art history.

I have two degrees – a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) – and I’ve completed courses in creative writing, proofreading and editing. I was awarded the Dwight Final Assessment Prize (Fine Arts) for academic merit for my thesis from The University of Melbourne.

My Musings on Art series of articles focuses on art and artists, gardens and galleries, usually associated with places I have visited. I call Melbourne (Australia) ‘home’, but travelling is one of my passions. I have indulged in a wide range of cultural experiences and visual delights across many countries, such as the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia, a sunrise and sunset over the Ganges and Mt Everest; Baroque and Renaissance art in Rome; Gothic gargoyles in France; the Taj Mahal in India; Greek and Roman antiquities; Buddhist temples and Zen gardens in Japan; frescoes in Florence; poetry reading in Keats’ London house; the Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh; ancient temples and amphitheatres in Turkey and Sicily; and the sublime fjords of Norway.

If you are a writer and currently tackling a writing project, maybe you need a professional assessment, or you may be ready for editing. If so, why not contact me or send me an email with your specific needs on denise@denisemtaylor.com.au

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be where we started
And know the place for the first time.

(T.S. Eliot, ‘Little Gidding’ from Four Quartets, 1927)

“ I am passionate about words and how they can be formed into a powerful work of art on the page. As a writing consultant and editor I can help you fine-tune your writing project, whether it is fiction or non-fiction, so you can achieve a sense of satisfaction with your finished product. I would love to hear from you via my 'contact' page. ”
Denise was thorough, honest and constructive in everything she did, from assessing my manuscript, to editing it, to reviewing it for submission. She really made me think about every word I’d written and helped me see the story through fresh eyes. Denise kept me motivated all the way along with her support, encouragement and infectious enthusiasm. She brought out the best in me in every way.
Jocelyn Eastway
Denise’s assessment was thorough, considered and she highlighted several important shortcomings in the plot and character development. ‘Red Can Origami’ became a much stronger manuscript for her input!
Madelaine Dickie
Denise was invaluable in getting my novel from a rough 3rd draft to publication ready. I especially liked her capacity to develop a collaborative working relationship so that all the work of editing, polishing, re-writing was held in the spirit of my writing journey.
Denise has well-honed writing skills, of course, but as well she has this unusual capacity to support and encourage. She really tuned in to my direction as a writer which was enormously helpful in moving my novel forward. Beyond the fine-tuning of my last draft, Denise then gave some timely coaching to help me negotiate the new realities of publishing. How great it was to have access to such a well-grounded and experienced mentor! Highly recommended.
Thupten Lekshe
Dear Denise, Many thanks for the way you have prepared and presented my memoir. I could not imagine at the start that it would turn out looking the way you have presented what now seems a very interesting life; in fact, I might live it again. Thank you and congratulations.
Percy Rogers
The Art of Writing & Editing

An ongoing series of articles to not only help you understand the rules of grammar and punctuation, but also to encourage you to become a wordsmith with a writing style that is unique, and a dream to edit.
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Denise M Taylor

Writing Consultant I Editor I Proofreader

About

The Art of Writing & Editing

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