Hi. I’m Sonya.

I’m a nonfiction editor and writer helping clients craft cohesive, compelling stories — from first draft to publication.

Let's work together

With a critical care nursing background, I approach every writing and editing project with empathy, insight, and meticulous attention to detail.

I collaborate with organizations and individual authors across a wide range of fields and formats.

This breadth of experience allows me to bring a fresh, objective perspective to every piece of writing and adapt the editorial approach for your unique needs.

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When I worked as a nurse in trauma and critical care, I quickly learned to take in large amounts of information, synthesise it, and make life-saving decisions with clarity and concision.

This ability to think both holistically and critically has proved invaluable as I transitioned my career into writing and editing.

As an editor, my goal is to take a writer’s words and make them stronger. Take your project and make it clearer. I see ideas and dig deeper. I am often a witness to stories and can help shape them into something unforgettable.

As in nursing, I believe editing is more than a skill.

It’s an art.

Areas of Expertise:

  • Copy Editing

  • Developmental edits

  • Ghostwriting

Editing

Teaching

work with me

  • "I've worked with a variety of editors and Sonya stands out to me for her specific feedback that gently guides you to the version of the strongest story."

    Reem Faruqi, Children's Book Author

  • "Working with Sonya on our first book, exceeded our expectations of working with a ghost writer by a hundred times!"

    Meg DeLong + Ea Fuqua, Authors of Tidying Up

  • "Working with Sonya has absolutely made me a better writer, and I hope to continue working with her for the rest of my life. "

    Ashlee Gadd, Founder of Coffee+Crumbs and Author of Create Anyway

  • "Sonya Spillmann is a master at helping writers shape a narrative that is going to resonate with readers."

    Katie Blackburn, Author of Gluing the Cracks, The Very Best Baseball Game, and Grace Will Be There 

  • ""I've worked with Sonya on several projects, and her feedback has been absolutely invaluable."

    Sarah J. Hauser, Author of All Who Are Weary

  • "If you want your work to sound fluid, accessible, and not have to murder your tone to get it that way, go to Sonya. She's not just an editor but a wise caregiver for your work."

    Erik L. Peterson, Professor and Author