I hate writing; I love having written.

-Dorothy Parker


Whether you actually hate writing or not, most of us as writers struggle to take our ideas and express them in words.  For those of us who are academics, writing is a must, but the lack of time, mounting responsibilities and professional pressures add to the challenges and fuel our anxieties. Those challenges are especially fraught for those of us for whom the academy is not always the most welcoming place, such as  first generation students, queer, BIPOC, or neurodiverse scholars. But now more than ever, the academy and the world need our voices and ideas!  

As a writing coach and developmental editor, I am here to support you and your work, regardless of what stage it is in. I have a knack for workshopping embryonic ideas and pulling the arguments out of the draftiest of drafts. I love helping clients convert ideas and drafts into publishable pieces. I can also help you cultivate practices that will enable you to be productive on even the most difficult writing days and, dare I say, can make writing a pleasure. 

 My goal is to help reignite the passion for ideas that inspired you to pursue your intellectual path in the first place and to get your writing out into the world.


"Finally I was able to see that if I had a contribution I wanted to make, I must do it, despite what others said."

- Wangari Maathai


Services I Provide

Are you feeling confused about your piece, anxious about a deadline, or uncertain about a process?

Contact me today to learn how I can help.

Contact Me

As a developmental editor and writing coach my goal is to help you regardless of where you are in the process.  I am skilled at giving concrete advice and feedback that writers can use, helping you craft a narrative appropriate for your audience.

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For many of us the dissertation is the biggest writing project we've undertaken so far and it can be daunting, especially since many programs assume that, as students and writers, we already know how to do this work. As a dissertation coach my goal is to support you in all aspects of the process and to serve as a mentor, cheerleader and thought partner.

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I have thought a lot about how to explain academic work and its significance to those outside one’s specialty.  I can help you do the same in a wide range of fields, including the humanities, social sciences, medicine, law, business, and finance.

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  • Cady Consulting

    “Diane is a rare gem of a consultant who is an amazing editor/writer and a content specialist in her own right. She's also very supportive and thoughtful, and her presence is informed by experience and wisdom that I really appreciate. She kept me on task, delivered revisions and drafts on time, and most importantly, really got the tone and the language of our project spot on.”

  • Cady Consulting

    “Diane is simply an amazing thesis editor. Not only did she point out the errors (both in-text and structural), she would also provide coaching, telling me step-by-step how to perfect my writing craft. I learned a lot about grammar and chapter structure during my time working with her. Thanks so much Diane for your help, I have been able to submit my thesis knowing that it is in a good shape.”

    PHD Thesis

  • Cady Consulting

    “Well, I am speechless! I initially asked for Diane's help in proofreading a cover letter that I had written. I thought I would receive a document with minor changes here and there. To my surprise, Diane suggested that we meet over a video call, and she spent around 2-3 hours studying my letter line by line, discussing ideas with me, and teaching me about academic writing and structuring. I was absolutely thrilled at the end of the chat. Not only did she drastically improve my cover letter, but she also taught me lessons that will stay with me for life! Thank you, Diane, you're a godsend!”

    Grant Application

  • Cady Consulting

    “I am SO grateful to Diane! This year I had to throw together a 70,000 word book in about 6 months and when Diane came onboard I was frazzled, stuck and down in the dumps. She was kind and reassuring but also super on point in her comments and guidance about my work and she patiently worked with me around some bigger structural changes but was also speedy and efficient with some of the simpler tasks I needed help with. Just a lovely person and a professional!!!”

  • Cady Consulting

    “I was looking for a developmental editor to help me with reader reports and my argument was all over the place. Diane immediately identified the problem areas and developed a plan that we implemented to fix my issues. I cannot thank her enough for her skills, her patience, and unlocking so many trouble spots for me in my writing. Diane is really an exceptional editor, who listens, can pinpoint strengths and weakness in your writing and really sees the total picture of a project. If you hire Diane, you will discover quickly that you hired the best. I now have a book contract, and I can clearly give Diane her kudos. Many colleagues were blown away with accounts of the interaction and support she provided my project. I look forward to hiring her again very soon.”

  • Cady Consulting

    “This was my first time working with someone for a mock interview to prepare for a job interview. I was quite nervous about the whole thing - how my answers would come off, and how I would present myself more generally. Diane performed an impressive amount of research before the interview, which I did not explicitly request. That was fantastic. She looked over my cover letter and resume in detail to come up with her own questions. I also gave her possible questions. She played the role of interviewer expertly, and gave me super helpful feedback. I couldn't have asked for a more useful experience. And, the employer asked for my references and other materials after the interview, so I know it went well! Highly recommended.”

  • Cady Consulting

    “Diane was incredibly organized, efficient, and timely in her responses. She accommodated last-minute requests without hesitation and helped me with graduate school applications that led to admission to the top programs in the country. I would highly recommend her.”