Candela Potente, PhD

editing services

I work with scholars in the humanities and social sciences, artists, and non-fiction writers at various stages of the writing process, focusing on how ideas are conceptually articulated, organized, and presented. My approach to editing is collaborative, and I specialize in theoretical work and comparative projects across languages, regions, and intellectual traditions. I take on projects in English and Spanish.

If you are interested in working together and would like to book a free consultation, please contact me at cpotente [at] alumni.princeton [dot] edu.

Developmental editing

This work addresses the large-scale aspects of a text, namely, the narrative development of its argument, how it is structured, and its overall style. This type of editing can be useful in the early stages of writing or during specific stages of revision, such as after receiving peer-review comments. I offer developmental work in several formats, which can complement each other:

- Manuscript assessments: I work with book manuscripts or article drafts and provide a comprehensive editorial letter. The letter synthesizes how the text functions in its current form, identifies areas for development, and offers concrete recommendations for revision. Since this letter provides an overarching assessment of the text, I include minimal in-text comments, if any.
- Developmental feedback: I provide detailed developmental comments on shorter pieces, such as articles, book chapters, or conference papers, through in-text comments and questions, along with a summary letter.
- Writing development sessions: I offer online meetings to discuss the development of ideas, work through structural challenges, and organize the writing process.

Line editing

I focus on refining sentence structure, strengthening transitions, making word choice suggestions, and asking questions about conceptual clarity, while respecting the author's voice. I aim to make the rhythm and logical progression of ideas in the prose harmoniously work together with the argument and structure of the text. For multilingual writers, I can provide additional support to make writing more idiomatic and natural if necessary.

Style analysis

A detailed assessment of a text's writing patterns and how they serve (or work against) its argument. The assessment includes recommendations for developing a consistent style, balancing clarity and conceptual complexity, and making the prose support the text's ideas. This analysis can help writers develop their prose in a specific direction and/or address feedback on writing style or lack of clarity.

You can find testimonials on my LinkedIn page.

Credentials and experience:

PhD and MA in Comparative Literature, Princeton University
Postdoctoral fellow at Ruhr University Bochum, International Psychoanalytic University Berlin, and Aalto University
Professional development courses at Manuscript Works, Editorial Freelancers Association, and Princeton Writing Center
Academic writing instructor at Aalto University
Writing fellow at Princeton Writing Center

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