Daniel DeRock, Ph.D.

I’m an experienced researcher, educator, and editor

I have over ten years of experience as a researcher and educator in the social sciences. After completing my PhD in political science, I worked for several years as an assistant professor of international relations with a focus on global political economy. I’ve published in top-ranked journals, served as the book reviews editor for a peer-reviewed political science journal, supervised over a hundred theses, and conducted fieldwork on four continents. My research has always spanned disciplines, rooted in political economy but building bridges to sociology, anthropology, political ecology, disability studies, and other fields. As an independent scholar, I’m now turning my research into a book. Whether you're working on a journal article, a book, a dissertation, or something else entirely, I've been there.

Before turning my attention fully to editing, I was often the go-to editor for friends and colleagues. As a native speaker of (U.S.) English living in Europe, I am particularly experienced working with multilingual scholars. I hold a certificate in editing from Poynter ACES and am continually updating my knowledge through various courses and seminars. Among others, I have completed coursework in academic developmental editing and copy editing with Manuscript Works, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and Acadia Editing.

I also have a background in creative writing

Alongside my scientific career, I live a dual life in the literary world. By day, I'm busy with research methodology and social science theory. The rest of the time, I'm embedded in a community of fiction writers, poets, and memoirists. I am an award-winning fiction writer and the co-editor-in-chief of an online literary magazine. As an undergrad, I completed a double major in English literature and political science because I couldn't choose between the two. Working as an editor allows me to bring these two worlds into harmony. If you'd like to know more, feel free to ask!

My approach to academic editing and coaching

A personal rule, which I've often repeated to students, is "clarity before style." The idea behind this advice is that a logical, coherent argument should be prioritized above literary flourishes. But the truth is that clarity and style are complementary, not competing. Flow, syntax, rhythm, word choice: these literary building blocks, if used skillfully, can sharpen your argument rather than obscure it. My editorial approach blends my scientific training with my background in creative writing. As an editor, my intention is to get your manuscript as close to publication-ready as possible. Usually, this requires only a light touch. I will fix grammatical errors, check for consistency, and clean up references. But I can also engage with your writing at a deeper level, either as a coach or developmental editor. In these roles, I will work with you to reconsider the structure of the text, adapt the voice or tone to the desired audience, or simply build habits to make the writing process less overwhelming (and even more fun).

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