For a time, in between writing songs and singing, I wrote plays
and radio essays. More recently, I’ve written magazine articles,
including some for Canada’s biggest-circulation monthly.
I also work as a freelance writer, proofreader, and copy-editor.

Can a folksinger (albeit one with an English degree) edit?

The short answer: yes. I’ve now been editing for almost thirty years. Note, however, that recently I decided to (mostly) retire, especially from big projects like books by first-time writers. That said, I’m still up for some smaller projects: short stories, magazine articles, song lyrics, 10-minute plays, etc.

My qualifications: Besides that English degree and the years of experience, I’ve taken various editing courses and early on apprenticed myself to one of Toronto’s most respected editors.

My big claim to fame: I copy-edited a terrific novel that won Canada’s biggest literary prize, the Giller, and was shortlisted for three other major literary prizes: the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the Man Booker Prize, and the Governor General’s award. The author, Esi Edugyan, said about me, “Of all the excellent copyedits I’ve received over the years, Marie-Lynn Hammond’s was by far the best. Her work on Half Blood Blues was incredibly sensitive and astute.”

I’ve also taught copy-editing at the university level, and I’ve done presentations and taught seminars for Editors Canada, of which I’m a member emerita. Please email me if you have a small project you think I’d be good for, and I can send a full editing CV.

EMAIL: [email protected]