I’m Elijah Woodruff, a poet, fiction writer and teacher. I edit for four kinds of writers: people applying to MFA and graduate programs, poets and fiction writers with a chapbook or a story ready for a reader, novelists with a finished manuscript, and graduate students finishing academic work in English.
What I offer
Statement review for MFA and graduate applicants. I read your statement of purpose or personal statement and return written comments and line-level suggestions on one draft, then read one revised draft. Flat fee: $100 for one statement up to 1,000 words; $150 for a statement plus a second short document, or a statement over 1,000 words. One revision round is included.
Poetry chapbook or short-story critique. A full read of a chapbook manuscript or a single story, returned as a critique letter with comments in the manuscript. Flat fee, $150–300: $150 for a story up to 7,500 words; $200 for a chapbook up to 20 pages; $300 for 21–40 pages.
Academic and ESL copyediting. Grammar, mechanics, word choice, consistency and citation format (APA, MLA or Chicago) for theses, dissertations, articles and coursework, with tracked changes in Word. I don’t change your argument or content. 2.5–3.5¢ a word, set after a free 1,000-word sample edit: 2.5¢ light, 3.0¢ standard, 3.5¢ heavy.
Book-length fiction copyediting. Grammar, punctuation, consistency and continuity for novels and novellas, following the Chicago Manual of Style, with tracked changes in Word and a style sheet. I don’t change your story or your voice. 1.2–1.8¢ a word, set after a free 1,000-word sample edit.
How it works
- Write to me with the document, its length, your deadline, and what kind of help you want.
- For copyediting, I do a free sample edit of about 1,000 words. For critiques and statement reviews, I can send an anonymized sample instead.
- I send a quote and the terms. Jobs up to $500 are paid upfront; larger jobs can be paid in instalments.
- I return the edit by the agreed date, once the full fee is paid.
- One round of follow-up questions about the edit is included.
Turnaround and availability
Statement reviews: one week. Critiques: two weeks. Copyediting: about 2,500–5,000 words a week. I take two projects at a time; when I’m full, I’ll give you the next open date.
Background
- MFA candidate in Creative Writing (Poetry), Bowling Green State University, expected May 2027
- Instructor of Record in English at BGSU: Craft of Poetry, and first-year composition
- Six years teaching English in Ohio public schools, including AP English
- M.Ed. (Integrated Language Arts) and B.A. in English, Wright State University
Application work
For application statements I coach and edit; I don’t write any part of anyone’s statement or essay. For graduate theses I copyedit only, and I ask you to confirm that your program allows outside editing and that you have any approval it requires. At BGSU, that means your faculty advisor’s and your graduate coordinator’s.
