About James Hallman
A careful reader.
A candid collaborator.
I founded WriteWorks Editorial Services in 2009. I work with authors to find the shape of a book, question what isn’t working, and make the writing clearer without losing the person behind it.
I received CIPA’s Editor of the Year award in 2016.
Good questions make stronger books.
What do you want your reader to understand? What have you assumed they already know? Where does the argument need evidence, or the story need a scene? Those questions guide my work, from the first discussion of an idea to the details of a sentence.
My background spans writing and editing, teaching, knowledge management, and business and technology work. Across those settings, the challenge is often the same: making something you know well understandable to someone who doesn’t share your experience.
Teaching informs how I explain an editorial recommendation. Knowledge management helps me see how information fits together. Business and technology work helps me ask useful questions about complex subjects, intended audiences, and the practical purpose of a book.
What working with me means
You work directly with me. I’ll tell you when an argument skips a step, a chapter repeats earlier material, or a passage needs a concrete example. I’ll also look for what is distinctive in your writing and worth protecting.
My feedback is candid, with reasons you can consider and act on. Your voice and intentions matter throughout the process; an edit should help a reader hear you more clearly.
I’m particularly interested in nonfiction, memoir, and books by business owners and subject-matter experts. Fiction authors are welcome, too: structure, specificity, and a compelling story matter across genres.
Let’s talk about your book.
Tell me what you’re writing, who it’s for, and where you could use another perspective. You don’t need to know the name of the service you need.
Tell me about your book