Mimi Hannon
copyediting
Style, grammar, voice, branding, proofing, collateral, transcription, graphic design, idiom, clarity, usage,
Style, grammar, voice, branding, proofing, collateral, transcription, graphic design, idiom, clarity, usage,
WHY ME?
Need a hand with some copy? I’d be delighted.
With more than two decades of book and magazine copyediting experience for elite titles in travel, design, art, and architecture—such as Art Basel, Rizzoli New York, David Zwirner Galleries, Henrybuilt, and Phaidon—I’m familiar with all stages of print and digital publishing.
I've written and maintained several original style guides, using them to help editorial entities find their voices and develop consistent brand identities.
Let’s make your writing shine, together.
on the masthead
aw, shucks…
“Mimi is an eagle-eyed copy editor who catches the most nitpicky of things while also managing to not adversely impact voice and tone—no easy task. She's incredibly reliable and trustworthy, so much so that we've worked together for nearly a dozen years straight on a wide variety of projects. I consider her my go-to advisor on all things copy, grammar, and style.” —Spencer Bailey, co-founder and editor-in-chief, The Slowdown; editor-at-large, Phaidon; former editor-in-chief, Surface magazine
“In a world of falling standards, Mimi still knows the difference. Simply a genius. Prepare to be floored.” —Kathy Roberson, chief of copy and research, Travel + Leisure magazine
“Mimi and I have shipped dozens of magazines together. With her thoughtful and scrupulous eyes on the team, we always felt secure and polished. Easy to work with, reliable, and infinitely knowledgeable.” —Lily Wan, director and producer, The Shed; Here Productions; former managing editor, Watch Journal, Surface magazine
“I have had the privilege of working with Mimi since 2017 on a variety of high-profile editorial projects, including print publications, podcasts, digital stories, books, and marketing copy. In every medium, she works with the highest standards and is a respectful, thoughtful, collaborative member of the team. Everyone she works with benefits from her expertise. Her combination of knowledge, grace, and experience is hard to come by; I trust her completely and feel honored every time we get to work together. With Mimi’s handiwork, I know I can be confident that the final product will be impeccable.” —Tiffany Jow, editor-in-chief, Henrybuilt; Untapped journal
“Mimi’s is the invisible hand that makes a writer’s work emerge in the most authentic, inspiring, and effective way. She is a veteran of language and a much-needed resource, disproving the wrongful assumption that AI could suffice as an editor. We have worked together for more than three years and I consider her dedication to her craft inspiring and her ability to bring out the best in my writing invaluable.” —Rimma Boshernitsan, CEO, futurist, and leadership strategy advisor, DIALOGUE; writer, Forbes; Fast Company; Inc. magazine
Why a Copy Editor?
Every writer makes mistakes, from the regrettable (it’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with an F, Dr Pepper doesn’t take a period, and “close proximity” is redundant) to the mission-critical (“flesh-colored” has got to go, for obvious reasons, and a factoid is a falsehood, not a small fact). Must you memorize all this stuff? Heck, no—that’s what copy editors are for.
What is it that a good copy editor does? I’m glad you asked.…
Gently dissuades you from using misleading, pejorative, or offensive language, and suggests a better alternative.
Eliminates redundancies, tautologies, paradoxes, and other enemies of lucidity that bedevil writers and readers alike. Aims for clarity, precision, and economy, avoiding vague, ill-chosen, and unnecessary words.
Fine-tunes style points such as punctuation, word choice, and orthography (how words are spelled and accented) to match both the writer’s voice and editorial preference—em dashes aren’t for everyone, after all.
Follows and maintains—and creates, if needed—a style guide (everyone should have a house style).
Corrects improper usage of idiom and mixed metaphors (it’s “fill the bill,” not “fit the bill,” and it’s “shoo-in,” not “shoe-in,” for example). These points may seem minor, but they can make the difference between good enough and pitch-perfect.
reach out
Tell me a little bit about your project and we can discuss rates and deadlines.
editwithmimi@gmail.com