Edwin Zehner

Experience | For more on Zehner's qualifications and background, click here. | For more on Dr. Zehner's background, click here. | Experience | For more on his background and qualifications, click here.
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Edwin Zehner | Marcia Wilson | Contact
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Edwin Zehner, Zehner Editing and Consulting

Edwin Zehner is a Southeast Asia specialist possessing a Ph.D. in anthropology from Cornell University.For several years he headed the Southeast Asia publishing program at Northern Illinois University, in which capacity he also edited The Journal of Burma Studies and Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies.He is an active scholar who has published on religion in Thailand (both on Christians and Buddhists).He also has prior experience working in a variety of business and not-for-profit settings.

Edwin Zehner is a Southeast Asia specialist possessing a Ph.D. in anthropology from Cornell University.For several years he headed the Southeast Asia publishing program at Northern Illinois University, in which capacity he also edited The Journal of Burma Studies and Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies.In addition, he is an active scholar who has published on religion in Thailand (both on Christians and Buddhists).For more on his background and qualifications, click here.
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As an editor, Dr. Zehner's strengths are in content and presentation.He helps authors express their points more effectively, while also helping them overcome inconsistencies, organizational infelicities, and potential errors of fact.He suggests practical solutions to problems, while keeping the author's vision at the fore.In discussing projects, he focuses on helping writers articulate their own visions while also helping them gain confidence in their skills and the courage to continue writing.

As a former recipient of his consulting services put it, Zehner's comments are "very helpful, especially in terms of organizing arguments and maintaining their consistency.
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In these projects, Dr. Zehner:· edited an article being prepared for resubmission to a major anthropological journal.In this case, the author provided both the original and revised drafts, along with information on the readers' comments.Zehner provided pencil edits, which he mailed to the author.He also commented on how well the readers' comments had been addressed, and provided suggestions for doing so more effectively.The author then integrated the suggested changes in her own way, and submitted directly to the journal, which accepted the piece shortly thereafter.

The reader's comments on the edited version said, in part, "This version of the article is much improved; it is editorially tighter, with a clearly focused and well-constructed argument.The author makes a compelling case. . . . The article is superbly written. . . ."

· edited a book on the recent political history of several Asian countries.Zehner provided pencil edits on a copy of the manuscript, paying particular attention to phrasing, organization, consistency, and (where reference sources were available) accuracy. · consulted on a book manuscript dealing with gender and family in northern Vietnam in a way that crosses the boundaries between political science, history, women's studies, and anthropology.Zehner e-mailed comments on the manuscript's organization, and also engaged in two telephone conversations with the author. · edited a book on the history and sociopolitical context of an early twentieth century political movement (editing is still in progress).As this author was a nonnative speaker of English, Zehner entered his changes, comments, and questions directly into a copy of the digital file, which he e-mailed back to the author, who may then make additional changes before submitting to the publisher.In addition to matters of usage and style, the editing paid attention to matters of organization, placement of footnotes, and clarification of theses and arguments, all as a means of shaping the presentation to the expectations of American readers.· edited several chapters for a forthcoming book based on a grant-funded study of Community Based Natural Resources Management in a Southeast Asian country.The remaining chapters will be edited soon.The book will be submitted to a Southeast Asian publisher whose books are often distributed or co-published in North America, and most authors were nonnative (or at least non-American) speakers of English.Zehner entered changes and questions directly into copies of the manuscripts, and then worked with the authors (via e-mail) to resolve remaining issues, providing the volume editor copies of all correspondence.Funding for the editing is coming directly from the grant -- a tip to keep in mind when planning your own grant writing. · at the recommendation of the student's thesis committee chair, consulted on a Ph.D. thesis in political science (dealing comparatively with aspects of human rights policies).As the student is a nonnative speaker of English, Zehner may also be editing the thesis prior to the defense. [The latter service would probably be restricted to nonnative speaker.

Praise for Edwin Zehner of Zehner Editing and Consulting
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Over the years, Edwin has at times played the role of an informal advisor for me on academic matters.His suggestions on my thesis and other academic matters have been helpful.I find he has the ability to listen and then sift through extraneous elements to arrive at suggestions that address core needs in effective ways.

The endorser has since finished his M.A. thesis in Anthropology, has achieved an additional M.A. in another field, and is now working in a key support position at a major research university.

More Endorsements

Butt endorsement

"OK, listen up all you bad academic writers out there!Ed Zehner will take your mushy sentences, half-baked ideas, overly long run-on sentences (such as this one), and turn your work into taut, compelling prose that book and journal editors will love.I gave Ed an article that had gone through a favorable peer-review process, but wasn't accepted by the editor at a prestigious social science journal.I edited the piece, and then sent it to Ed.Ed so improved the article I confess I hardly recognized my own brilliance.The journal editor accepted the revised submission and said it was "a good read"!Here's what the reviewer for the second round said (e.g. after Ed got his hands on it): "this version of the article is much improved; it is editorially tighter, with a clearly focused and well-constructed argument . . . . The article is superbly written."What better endorsement can there be than that?

"So ... if you really want your piece accepted and this is an important journal for you to publish in, I'd strongly recommend using Ed's services.
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"Ed made a significant contribution to improving the quality of all the chapters in our multi-author volume.
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"Edwin is a superb writer and editor.
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"Edwin Zehner is a fine editor.
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"In the course of writing my doctoral dissertation with the University of Melbourne, I asked Ed Zehner to read an early draft of several chapters.His comments and corrections were extremely helpful, especially in rewording my presentation and in correcting the form of the dissertation.His professional skills as an experienced editor saved me a great deal of time and materially contributed to my dissertation as a final product.I wholeheartedly recommend Ed's service to anyone seeking assistance in preparing scholarly work."

EDWIN ZEHNER ACHIEVES HIS COMPETENT TOASTMASTER AWARD

DEKALB (IL) - Edwin Zehner recently achieved his Competent Toastmaster award from Toastmasters International.

Toastmasters awards the CTM to members who have successfully completed 10 project speeches from the standard manual.

Zehner formerly headed the Southeast Asia Publications program at Northern Illinois University, and he is currently nearing completion of a Ph.D. in anthropology at Cornell University.

He has been a member of Toastmasters International for a year and a half.

During his involvement in the group, Zehner competed in numerous speech contests and won trophies at various levels within the Toastmaster organization.

"My involvement in Toastmasters has given me greater confidence and skill in public speaking situations," Zehner said."Many of the payoffs have been entirely unexpected.

Dr. Edwin Zehner brings seven years of experience running scholarly publishing programs, additional experience as a freelance editor, and -- yes -- experience navigating the publishing game himself.

The editorial service is designed for final preparation of books and articles for submission to publishers, or for post-acceptance preparation prior to the publisher's final editing.
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As an anthropologist with experience in business settings, Edwin Zehner is equipped to learn your processes and help get them on paper.Public relations writing is also available, along with technical editing and technical writing.For more on Dr. Zehner's background, click here.

Dr. Ed Zehner has recently mailed out an email circular announcing the start-up of a new editing and consulting service that he will offer to those working on books, theses, articles, and any other written work.Ed has considerable experience as a professional editor.I asked him to be an informal reader for sections of my own dissertation and found his comments very helpful, esp. in terms of organizing arguments and maintaining their consistency.He also picks up on nitty-gritty details that help give a work a more professional tone.Readers who would like further information may be in touch with Ed at zehner1234@aol.com.A further recent email from Ed says that those interested in his services may also consult his website, which is up and running but still under construction; the address is: www.expressitwell.com.

Dr. Edwin Roy Zehner has finished his doctoral studies at Cornell University with the completion of his long-pending dissertation entitled "Unavoidably Hybrid: Thai Buddhist Conversions to Evangelical Christianity" (2003).The body of the text runs to 270 pages, and Ed argues in the dissertation that even such avowedly "anti-syncretistic" faiths as those of evangelical Protestants are still fundamentally and irrevocably influenced by local values and beliefs.He writes, ",the stance of [evangelical] anti-syncretism contains within itself the very seeds of hybridity."(p. 27)