Editor

Professional Editor based in Chicago, IL  

There's something truly satisfying about transforming a rough draft into a polished piece of writing. Whether it's your website, blog, newsletter, social media, and beyond, I can shape your words to be clear, engaging, and in-line with your brand. All you do is provide the ideas and the goals, and I’ll take care of the rest.

As an editor, I’m a thought partner for you—someone who can help strengthen your writing by digging deeper into the "why" behind what you write—as well as a reliable editor who can efficiently polish a ready-to-go piece.

I offer:

• Developmental Editing

• Copyediting

• Proofreading

• Copy and content writing

• Communications consulting

I have experience and expertise working in the fields of:

• Healthcare

• Personal Finance

• Food

• Aviation

• Nonprofits

• Education

Communications Consultant with a culturally sensitive, globalized perspective

My perspective is culturally sensitive and globalized. In 2010, I worked for the internationally recognized theatre company, Cardboard Citizens in London, supporting their hostel tours and workshops with the homeless. I was also involved with Gendered Intelligence, an organization for trans-youth, as a marketing and workshop assistant.

In 2016, my partner and I traveled for ten months around the world before settling in Paris, France where I navigated the ins and outs of infamous French bureaucracy and culture. During that time, I wrote and edited over 50 fashion articles for WheretoGet (blog now defunct) a fashion website that targeted millennials in the U.S. and Europe. I also edited the art book, “No Honey, No Money” by international photojournalist Kim Badawi.

My over 15 years of experience as an activist and educator inform how I read, edit, and create work, particularly when being thoughtful and current is key to successful communication in today’s culture. I keep update-to-date on the changing language and conversation of race, gender, disability, and feminism, and work to center marginalized voices and experiences in my work.

I offer services for:

• Organizational transparency

• Crisis management

• Communicating across cultures

• Sensitivity readings

Writing Coach for new writers and non-writers

I work with people who don’t call themselves writers (but want to be). Whether working on your first story, an essay, or memoir, I approach you and your words with the utmost care. I use coaching tools developed from my 15+ years as an educator to guide and support you through brainstorms, outlines, rough drafts, and final drafts. My goal is to help you make strong choices about your writing—so it’s really you on that page.

As a creative nonfiction writer and editor, I'm passionate about helping others tell their stories in the most authentic way possible. I see my role as lifting up your voice, never inserting my own, and polishing your words to be clear, engaging, and reflective of you and your personal experiences. I've worked extensively with writers and non-writers, everyone from incarcerated youth to business executives, and I pride myself on being adaptable to the needs of the writer. I've been called a "super" editor by clients for my scrupulousness when mining their work for clarity and precision. Above all, I'm committed to helping you tell the stories of your life in a way that others may learn from and enjoy them, too.

I specialize in nonfiction writing, including:

• Essays

• Memoir

• Flash work

• Experimental work

• Personal/Artist statements

• Preparation and coaching for retreats

Testimonials

Lys is my go-to developmental editor for all of my cookbooks! Their superb understanding of sentence flow, attention to detail, and sensitivity to representing recipes accurately and respectfully drives their writing and editing work. They bring a proactive and curious attitude to a wide range of subjects, and meet tight deadlines with grace. They are a strong communicator, never shying away from asking clarifying questions and engaging with important discussions on the role of our books in the market and their success in meeting consumer needs. Frequently, they bring their own creative ideas for new content to our projects, and I respect their dedication not only to the editing craft, but also to their readers. They have made my editing role substantially easier over the past year, made me into a more thoughtful and intuitive editor, and earned my trust as my "right-hand" throughout the bookmaking process. - Van Van Cleave, Editor at Callisto Media

Alyssa Sorresso edited and revised a book manuscript for our team of authors that applied theater methods to sexual health education contexts. Their editing skills extended far beyond our authors’ dreams. Alyssa's detailed, thorough eye on copy edits left the book in a polished form. More so, their guidance on consistency of voice helped us clarify moments in our manuscript where our various author contributions did not coalesce, which has been a vital contribution to our work. - Nik Zaleski, Co-author of The Sex Ed Playbook: Participatory Theatre for Health Education

Alyssa is a terrific copy editor and writer. Each time I have a new piece that Alyssa works on, I am always so impressed about how she improves upon it. She really is skilled at getting to the true meaning of my writing, making it clearer and more accessible to my audience. She's also extremely efficient and dependable. I'd recommend Alyssa to anyone seeking out a professional and reliable copy editor/writer. - Jim Marrocco, Founder/CEO of Thinking Big Financial

I've used Alyssa's writing services for a number of different projects, and I am consistently impressed by her professionalism, intelligence, and lively, well-researched content. She makes my job easier by intuitively "getting" what I mean when I describe my content needs, and I plan to send work her way for as long as I can still afford her! - Stephanie Hawkins, Product Marketing Manager at Genesys

Working with Alyssa to develop a personal journaling practice was a terrific experience. Her kind and thoughtful approach to coaching was effective in leading me to insights and supporting me as I worked through personally challenging conversations with myself and colleagues. She helped me to take a reflective view of the personal and professional challenges I was dealing with in my fast-paced work environment. With her guidance and coaching, I've been able to refine my thoughts and cut through the mental noise to focus on the core issues, which has helped me to overcome some of my roadblocks and accelerated my professional development. - Carl Olson, Strategy and Finance Consultant

Alyssa is one the most influential and joyful individuals I have had the pleasure to work alongside. She is reliable, thoughtful and has always been supportive during times for resolution. She is well-spoken, intelligent and one the most creative women I know. Any team would be fortunate to have Alyssa on their side because she will execute nothing but the best. - Christine Alindogan, Business Change Manager at Deutsche Bank