About Dakota Nyght

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Writing is a radical act of love.

Writing is a commitment you make to yourself, to the ideas clamoring in your head to escape, and to your future readers. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to sit down, let your words spill out, and then send your precious pages to someone else to look over and mark up.

That act of courage and vulnerability is what informs my personal editing creed:

You deserve to work with an editor who loves your book as much as you do.

I also believe that everyone can benefit from having a thoughtful, thorough editor (I maintain that even an editor can use an editor!), because sometimes it’s hard to untangle whether everything in your head made it to the page—or if you’re mentally filling in a few things when rereading.

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Clear Feedback. Thoughtful Guidance.

I combine the practical writing and organizational skills gleaned from my journalism and technical writing days with kind, insightful editing to make sure that your ideas come across and every sentence is crisp, clear, and conveys your message with impact.

You will never receive vague feedback or surface-level notes. Instead, I focus on helping you understand what’s working, what needs strengthening, and how to move forward with confidence.

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Yellow and black tiger swallowtail butterfly perched on green leaf.
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Experience & Background

I have over 18 years of combined writing and editing experience, and have worked with writers on a range of projects—from romance, fantasy, and magical realism to creative nonfiction pieces and business books and articles for creative entrepreneurs. I get excited about writing that helps readers overcome challenges, relate better to their inner and outer worlds, or realize long-cherished goals. I also love stories that reflect the many ways we exist in our wonderfully diverse world.

When I’m not at my desk, I’m usually absorbed in a good book, lost in the wild undergrowth of my vegetable garden, testing out new recipes in the kitchen, or hiking up the side of a Montana mountainside.

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Professional Background

I am a Developmental and Line/Copy Editor for fiction authors and heart-led entrepreneurs. I help them clarify and untangle their writing to craft compelling stories that engage their readers. With over 18 years of writing and editing experience, I blend my practical journalism and technical writing skills with the soulful understanding of a fellow artist in a sensitive and insightful editing style. I hold a BA in Journalism from the University of Montana, a Certificate in Professional Editing from the University of Washington, and am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing.

  • Dakota helped me edit web copy for the Home and About pages on my brand new website. Since these are high-attention areas, I knew it was important for the copy to represent my brand in the best way. Dakota’s input was awesome! The changes she suggested improved the clarity and sentence structure of the writing for an overall more professional feel. She further strengthened the concepts that I introduced and helped me emphasize the parts that deserved more attention. She did all of this while maintaining the fun and friendly voice that I want to portray in my brand.

    ~Erica James, Chief Sunshine Officer at Avalon Sunshine Co.

  • The process of finding an editor for a writer is one of the most vulnerable and intimate moments of the entire writing process. If you are fortunate enough to find your perfect match, which I have with Dakota, it is truly an incredible experience. She has the innate sense to capture the essence of what I am trying to convey. Additionally, she is timely, professional, competitive, and a beautiful person. My personal experience with Dakota has been nothing but extremely positive and has become someone I trust with my work implicitly.

    ~ Lynn Daley, Author of Secrets of the Wisteria Tree

  • Dakota Nyght is an absolute master at editing. She has an amazing command of the English language and impeccable attention to detail. She knows the Chicago Manual of Style like the back of her hand and, through her editing and writing prowess, can turn an average Word document into a flawless manuscript. Dakota does all this with a natural personal touch. She is easy to talk with and very down to earth. Dakota was always available to help me via email, text, or a phone call. You’ve seen the rest…now go with the best.

    ~ Dr. Dale Weaver, Author of What It Means to Serve: Risk, Rewards, and Sacrifice

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Let’s Talk About Your Manuscript

If you’re working on a manuscript and looking for thoughtful editorial guidance, I’d love to learn more about your project.

Start Your Revision