Mel Campbell cannot ever switch off her Editing Eyes.
I can’t help spotting typos, tortured syntax and awkward word choices. I itch to fix them. Even when I’m relaxing with a novel, or browsing the weekend papers over brunch.
But my Editing Eyes don’t scan the page or the screen in a robotic way, like I’m a pedantic Terminator wielding a glowing red pen. I care deeply about what words mean. And I love that wonderful spark of insight I get from reading a perfectly phrased idea.
I bring all my technical skills to your writing so every one of your readers feels that spark, too. That’s what makes me one of the best academic editors in Australia.
As an editor, Mel started as a journalist.
Earlier in my career I worked for independent Australian online media outlet Crikey as the subeditor of its flagship daily email newsletter – a high-pressure job that quickly taught me the importance of style guides, fact-checking and deadlines. I’ve since edited for various Australian print and online publications, and I was deputy editor of youth music publication triple j magazine.
I’ve been a freelance copyeditor and proofreader since 2008, and have been editing academic work since 2014. I love the variety of ideas I get to discover, and the unique purpose of each project.
My commercial editing work includes novels, cookbooks, fashion lookbooks, exhibition catalogues, art and architecture books, e-newsletters, magazines, websites, arts festival program copy, industry white papers and custom publications.
Moreover, the magazines I‘ve proofread include bimonthly women’s interest magazine frankie (2019–), quarterly men’s interest magazine Smith Journal (2015–2019), quarterly visual art magazine VAULT (2016–2020) and biannual culture and lifestyle magazine Lindsay (2017–2020).
Mel can edit – and she can also teach.
Most recently, I taught at The University of Melbourne (2019–22), where I coordinated the postgraduate publishing subject ‘Writing and Editing for Digital Media’.
I’ve also lectured and tutored at undergraduate and master‘s level in journalism, media and communication studies, English literature, professional writing, editing and publishing at Monash University, RMIT University and La Trobe University.
Meanwhile, I’ve delivered workshop series and guest lectures on writing and editing for writers’ festivals, secondary schools, TAFE institutes, local governments, and cultural organisations including ACMI, National Gallery of Victoria, Express Media, Writers Victoria and the Wheeler Centre.
I’m particularly passionate about helping students work with and cite sources. Basically, being clear and consistent about where you got your ideas and information is the key academic skill. Citation is what makes your scholarly voice authoritative, but many schools and universities simply don’t teach it. That’s a crying shame (Campbell, 2023)!
Intellectually, Mel’s a Renaissance woman.
One of my past clients absolutely delighted me when she said, “Your ability with language is wonderful, I am sure that you would have been a ‘humanist’ of the Renaissance except that being a woman no one would have given you a job at the time, so sorry.”
Truly, I am a scholar by temperament. My restless brain is always curious: tracing processes, noticing patterns and making connections. Cultural studies is my home discipline: my Master of Arts thesis analysed how media representations of the cultural figure of the ‘bogan’ negotiate Australian national identity.
My research is published widely in scholarly and literary journals. My interests include film and television, Australian media, digital trends and subcultures, fashion, cultural history, popular music, books and writing.
Generally, Mel’s an enthusiastic communicator.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from RMIT University, where my training as a copywriter taught me to write with purpose. Since 2003 I’ve worked as a cultural critic and essayist for general audiences.
My writing has appeared – as authors love to note in their bios – at ScreenHub, Junkee, The Guardian, Metro, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, The Big Issue Australia, Crikey, i-D and many more print and digital outlets.
My first book Out of Shape: Debunking Myths about Fashion and Fit (2013) was a nonfiction investigation using a hybrid methodology of journalism, cultural analysis and memoir. I’ve also co-written two romantic comedy novels with Anthony Morris: Nailed It! (2019) and The Hot Guy (2017).
Further back in the mists of time, I co-hosted The Rereaders podcast (2016–18), was a Melbourne International Film Festival preview panellist (2012–14), was national film editor at The Thousands (2008–13), and co-founded pop-culture website The Enthusiast (2008–14).
I’m also a regular radio reviewer and raconteur on ABC Hobart Mornings, ABC Sydney Drive and ABC Melbourne Evenings.
Now you’ve met Mel, where to next?
Take a peek through my Editing Eyes at my blog, where I write about everything from grammar tips to current issues like AI.
Read more about the premium services I provide, why my clients love my work, and my modular approach to pricing.
Got questions? My FAQ has answers. But everything on this website is general – for specific info about your project, request a quote.
You can also use the quote form to get in touch with me for any reason.