Tess Jolly | Copyeditor and proofreader of nonfiction, creative nonfiction, women's narratives and memoir
I am based in West Sussex, UK, but work internationally
- [email protected]
- Website
- www.poemsandproofs.co.uk
- Organisation
- Poems and Proofs
- Job title
- Sensitive and diligent proofreader and copyeditor
- Membership Grade
- Professional Member
About Tess
Contact me: [email protected]
Hi, I'm Tess! I provide copyediting and proofreading services to publishers and independent authors. I am fascinated by the power of words to inspire and change, and I feel passionate about the transformative role of self-expression through language in connecting with both others and ourselves. As a writer myself, I know how nerve-wracking it can be to hand your work over to an editor and I pride myself on my sensitive, kind and supportive approach.
As both an editor and a poet, I have developed the ability to focus on the details of your manuscript while also being attentive to the nuance and lyricism of your language and to how your work will look on the page. I will work with you to build a relationship based on trust to ensure a positive and successful outcome.
Small inconsistencies are often invisible to the writer, who sees what they intended to write rather than what is actually there. I will edit or proofread your document with a fresh and well-trained pair of eyes, making sure your language is clear, your spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate, your document looks tidy and the narrative is watertight so that your message reaches your intended readership in a publication you are proud to put your name to.
I have a master's degree in creative and critical writing, and have published two poetry pamphlets and a full collection, Breakfast at the Origami Café. My second collection, Intimate Architecture, will be published with Blue Diode Press in November 2025.
Areas of experience and expertise
- mental health and psychology
- self-help and self-development
- life stories and memoir
- women's narratives
- entrepreneurship and thought leadership
- children's books
- poetry
Recent publishing clients
- Kevin Anderson & Associates
- Rethink Press
- She Writes Press
- Greenleaf Book Group
- Summersdale Publishers
- StoryTerrace
- TriggerHub
- Digital Theatre+
Testimonials
I have received consistently positive reviews of my work. An independent author recently said:
Thank you so much, Tess. I found your attention to even the smallest details very impressive, as was your ability to work with sensitivity and respect when dealing with emotional or personal aspects of the manuscript. Your insightful comments and suggestions have, on occasion, introduced other perspectives to be considered and sometimes adopted. The professionalism with which you work has made this, my first experience with a copy editor, a smooth and supported venture, especially in the face of my somewhat 'retro' computer skills; improving now, I'm pleased to say! I am very happy with the quality of your work and its improvement to my book and I would most certainly recommend you.
A hybrid publisher I regularly work for wrote:
Tess has a knack for getting to grips with a manuscript quickly and seeing not just the nitty-gritty detail but the big picture. She instinctively understands how to improve the flow for the reader and ensure the text adheres to house style, while retaining the author's unique voice. I've worked with Tess on books in a number of very different genres, and she's approached every job with the same diligence and thoughtfulness.
Relevant training
- Getting to Grips with Grammar and Punctuation – Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders
- Copyediting: Headway – Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders
- Copyediting: Introduction – Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders
- Cadman Training - Introduction to PerfectIt
- Word for Practical Editing - Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders
- Proofreading: Headway, Merit – Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders
- Proofreading: Introduction – Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders
- Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education – University of Chichester
- Master of Arts Degree in Creative and Critical Writing, Merit – University of Sussex
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages – GEOS English Academy
- BA in English Literature, First Class Honours – University of Surrey
Service(s)
Specialisms
Client types
Disclaimer note
The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.