COMPLEX PROJECTS NEED MORE THAN A COPY-EDIT

(Which is why I work with academic authors in the messy middle – turning raw ideas, rough drafts, and reviewer feedback into publication-ready books and journal articles.)

WHO I AM

I’m Cait Hamilton ­– an academic editor, publishing consultant, and accredited coach. I work with academic authors to navigate the messy, demanding, and often overwhelming process of longform scholarly writing.

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of research, writing, and public impact across law, academia, and publishing. I hold a PhD in social sciences, a Master’s in international law and international relations, and I’m admitted as a lawyer in Australia.

Whether you’re reworking a journal article after peer review, turning your dissertation into a book, or deep in a monograph that won’t quite take shape, I offer expert, in-depth editorial support that brings structure, clarity, and momentum to your work.

WHAT I DO

I’m part editor, part thinking partner, and part strategist – here to help you shape your manuscript, navigate the process, and grow as a writer and academic along the way.

In working with hundreds of academic authors, I’ve seen how even the strongest research can stall. The problem is rarely just technical – it’s structural, strategic, and often personal.

The writing becomes tangled.

Reviewer feedback becomes overwhelming.

Time and confidence start to run low.

That’s where I come in – to help untangle the process, bring focus and momentum to your writing process, and shape your work into something clear, coherent, and ready for submission.

  • Turning a dissertation into a book is more than an edit – it’s a transformation process. I work with early career researchers to reframe, restructure, and refine their theses into publishable monographs that speak to broader audiences and meet the expectations of academic publishers.

    What we’ll work on

    This process might involve cutting or combining chapters, clarifying your argument, strengthening your narrative arc, or reworking your introduction and conclusion. We’ll look at what to keep, what to let go of, and how to shape the manuscript into something coherent, compelling, and book-worthy.

    Where I come in

    Whether you're at the very beginning of this transition or partway through, I bring calm, strategic editorial support – helping you rethink your work with clarity, purpose, and forward momentum. The result is a book that reflects your thinking at its best – coherent, compelling, and ready for review.

  • Whether you're working on a journal article or a book manuscript, the revise and resubmit stage can be one of the most challenging parts of the academic publishing process. Reviewer feedback is often vague, contradictory, or overwhelming – and it’s not always clear how to respond without compromising your argument.

    What we’ll work on
    I help you make sense of reviewer comments, clarify what’s being asked, and develop a revision strategy that balances responsiveness with integrity. This might include strengthening your argument, restructuring key sections, rewriting specific passages, or preparing a detailed response letter.

    Where I come in
    I bring clear, steady editorial support to what can feel like a high-pressure process – helping you respond with clarity and confidence while staying true to your scholarly voice. The goal is a stronger, more focused manuscript – and a submission you feel good about.

  • Some projects need more than a quick review or a one-off structural check – they need sustained, strategic editorial support. Whether you’re shaping a book manuscript over time, putting together a multi-author volume, or reworking a project that has lost momentum, I work with academic authors to bring clarity, direction, and consistency to complex writing.

    What we’ll work on
    This kind of support might include ongoing structural feedback, chapter-level development, narrative cohesion, pacing, and guidance on key transitions and arguments. We’ll keep the big picture in view while addressing the finer details that help your work hold together.

    Where I come in
    I offer long-range, steady editorial guidance – helping you shape your manuscript as it evolves, stay connected to your core ideas, and maintain momentum through the inevitable ups and downs of longform academic writing.

THE KIND OF WORK I DO BEST

I work best with academic authors tackling big, complex writing projects – the kind of work that needs careful shaping, thoughtful revision, and meaningful support. If you’re navigating peer review, reshaping a thesis into a book, or wrangling a manuscript that’s grown unwieldy, I’d love to hear from you.

I specialise in longer-term engagements, particularly things like dissertation-to-book transformations, revise and resubmit support, book development and proposal work, and complex or interdisciplinary academic manuscripts.

If you’re looking for basic copyediting, proofreading, or indexing, I may not be quite the right fit – but if you’re after a meaningful and strategic editorial partnership, drop me a message.

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER

My approach is collaborative, structured, and grounded in the realities of academic life. I work with a small number of clients at any one time, which means I can offer flexible, thoughtful, in-depth support ­– from big-picture strategy to careful, line-level work.

I recognise that some projects move quickly… and that others unfold slowly over months or even years. Either way, I’m here to provide calm, steady guidance – asking the right questions, helping you make clear decisions, and keeping the work moving when it feels stuck.

Working together means you’ll have someone in your corner who understands the complexity of what you’re writing – and who knows how to shape it into something coherent, compelling, and ready for publication.

NEXT STEPS 

If you’re interested in working together, the first step is to fill out the short enquiry form below. I’ll be in touch within a few days to let you know if I have availability and whether your project looks like a good fit. If so, we’ll set up a short call to talk through your project and discuss what working together could look like.