About Me — Empathy Editing

Hi, I'm Kyla Jo. I'm a professional editor specialising in editing content that needs a deeper human touch. Do you write for readers who are tired and stressed, have health issues or speak English as a second language? Do you write content about culture, race, mental illness, trauma, identity, neurodiversity or faith? You can trust me to give your words clarity and accuracy plus the style and tone needed for vulnerable readers and sensitive topics.

I've always had a deep love for language and reading. Growing up with family members who struggled to read due to dyslexia or a mental breakdown has made me ruthlessly passionate about clear and accurate communication that anybody can access. And, through an immersive cultural and language exchange to Japan, I know first-hand how it feels to rely on my non-native language.

Stories are the building blocks of the human experience. People connect with stories. They discover empathy and understanding through stories about the diverse human experience. I share stories as a mental health advocate and as a child of a mixed-race family. And I want to help you share your story with the world.

As a professional editor, I'm committed to quality results, authenticity and respect. I highly value your confidentiality and your work's integrity. Learn more about the Standards of Editing and Code of Ethics from the Institute of Professional Editors for Australia and New Zealand here.

Services

Develop

Your ideas deserve to be heard. Ensure your whole message is logical, complete and language-appropriate with structural editing.

Correct

Readers will trust you when your words are accurate, clear and consistent. Get that professional touch with copyediting.

Style

Make your words look their best. From simple formatting to full typesetting, your print or digital project will look better than ever.

Check

Send or print with confidence after a thorough proofread to prevent any embarrassing typos or oversights.

Learn more about editing from the Institute of Professional Editors.

For authors

I've supported authors through every step of the publishing process, from disorganised notes to a physical book on a shelf. With experience across self-publishing and traditional publishing, I can guide even brand-new authors through the journey.

For organisations

I've helped local and international organisations communicate clearly and accurately with stakeholders and clients. With my experience editing marketing, educational and government documents to be read by a range of ages and circumstances, you know I've got what it takes to get your message clearly and effectively to the right people.

Published projects

Below are some of the publicly published projects I've worked on.

Edited and typeset Walking in Wills’ Shoes (2020), written by David Hillan and Yvonne Hill.
Edited and typeset Zen and the Art of Art: Foundations (2019), written by Jacqueline Hill.
Edited academic and creative entries accepted into The University of Queensland’s Jacaranda journal (2018).
Proofread Discovering Aslan: High King Above All Kings In Narnia edition 2 (2017), written by Dr Geoff Waugh.
Wrote a short memoir piece and a nonfiction article published in Kindle III anthology (2016).
Wrote a nonfiction article published in Kindle II anthology (2015).

Portfolio samples and details of unpublished works are available on request.

Testimonials

Walking in Wills’ Shoes by Yvonne Hill

Working with Kyla was a real pleasure. She is very knowledgeable, pleasant and easy to deal with. She was always quick to respond and worked efficiently. Her thoughtful advice about composition, sequencing and language were all valued. I am more than happy with the outcome. Testament to the quality of her work is the fact that well over a thousand copies have already been sold.

Services

CopyeditingProofreadingStructural EditingTypesetting

Manuscript by Deborah Norrie-Jones

Thank you Kyla Jo, the work you have done looks marvellous, rich and detailed with clear explanations. I can see why writers need editors!

Services

Structural Assessment

Qualifications

Senior editor at Wavelength Learning, working on educational resources for Australia, New Zealand and Solomon Islands
Postgraduate Certificate of Writing, Editing and Publishing from The University of Queensland (2018)
Bachelor of Creative Industries (Creative and Professional Writing) from Queensland University of Technology (2016)
In-house publishing internship with the University of Queensland Press (2015)

Skills

structural/substantive editing
copyediting
proofreading
academic reference editing
editing for plain English conventions
using style guides and style sheets
formatting simple and complex documents
typesetting print books
formatting ebooks
editing Australian, NZ (UK) and UK English
writing HTML and CSS code.

Programs

Microsoft Programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and add-ons such as PerfectIt
Adobe Programs (InDesign, Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro)
other programs, such as IngramSpark, WordPress, Affinity Publisher, Calibre and Kajabi.

Affiliations

member of the Institute of Professional Editors.