Tess C. Rankin: Translation and Editing Services

Do you need another set of eyes on your writing?

I offer editing and Spanish-English translation of academic and art texts.

Specialized Experience

I have wide-ranging experience editing scholarly writing, art texts, professional materials, and more. I work directly with authors as well as with publishers, cultural institutions, and the editors of collected volumes. I have worked on everything from early modern cultural studies to ecocritical approaches to contemporary film. I edit and read widely in the humanities, particularly in the areas of Iberian and Latin American literary studies, cultural studies, visual studies, and theory. I edit in accordance with various style guides, including MLA, Chicago, ASA, and APA, and I can follow the guidelines of your publisher or journal. I will provide you with a style sheet tailored to your project.

For tips on writing and publishing or working with an editor, ask me about my presentations “Article Writing 101: From First Draft to Published Piece” and “What Can an Academic Editor Do for You?”—available as webinars or in person in the NYC area.

Flexible Editing

My goal is to produce the most polished version of your writing possible, maintaining your voice and keeping your audience in mind. I do copyediting and more extensive line editing, depending on your needs. I also proofread galleys and can correct your page proofs in PDF form. The revision process can be as collaborative as you’d like, and I welcome projects of any size. For more details on the different kinds of editing I offer, see my services page.

If English is not your first language, I will not only correct grammatical and syntactical errors and typos, I will also address questions of style and content and help you with usage and conventions suited to different contexts. I can explain the connotations and nuances of your word choice and offer various options for revising sentences when appropriate. I am available to answer any questions about edits to your writing, and we will remain in touch until you are satisfied with the final product.

Contact me today about your article, book proposal, dissertation, cover letter, grant application, CV, museum or gallery text, creative nonfiction, or research, teaching, or diversity statement. Ask me about my sliding-scale rates for graduate students or propose a barter.

Translation

I translate academic talks and lectures, book chapters, journal articles, book proposals, and conference abstracts on topics ranging from literature and visual art to politics, sociology, and more. I enjoy researching and becoming acquainted with new topics as part of the translation process.

My translations of nonfiction, poetry, and short fiction have appeared in Exchanges, Huck Magazine, jubilat, Precog Magazine, and Barricade: A Journal of Antifascism & Translation, while my translations of art and cultural texts have appeared as part of a project sponsored by the Tabakalera Cultural Center, in the Argentinian Pavilion’s 2017 Venice Biennale catalogue, in e-misférica, in materials for documenta fifteen (2022), and elsewhere.

My translations of two children’s books, by Mireya Tabuas and by Gerald Espinoza, are out now with Alliteration.

“Proofreading: Precision and Restraint in the Final Stage”

My Clients

My clients include independent scholars, artists, and writers, as well as faculty at Baruch College, Bergen Community College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Brown University, CUNY Graduate Center, Cornell University, Hamilton College, Harvard University, New York University, Pratt Institute, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, Temple University, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, University of California–Riverside, University of Puget Sound, and University of Utah.

I also work with organizations such as the Museo Reina Sofía, Temblores Publicaciones, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, and Alliteration Publishing. I volunteer as a copyeditor for Critical Resistance’s Abolitionist newspaper.

About Me

I have a PhD in Spanish & Portuguese Languages & Literatures from New York University. I received my BA in Comparative Literature at Columbia University where I studied Spanish and Turkish. I have lived in Spain, and, in addition to my wide-ranging editing and translation experience, I have taught numerous Spanish and English classes. I am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and am currently volunteering with the Academic Editing Circle, which connects Black and Indigenous scholars with pro bono editorial services. I served as the Managing Editor of the Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies (2018–2022). While I am based in New York, I can work with you wherever you may be.

Read Me!