“I have worked closely with freelancers, writers, designers, and agencies for nearly twenty years, and in my experience Shelley has proven herself to be among the best of the best. She is a rare find. … Quality? I am a writer and published author myself, and her work is thorough, engaging, grammatically correct, and exceedingly well researched. (She was required to provide detailed citations.) … Communication? Consistent, focused, and offered with quality input and suggestions. … Timeliness? She met every deadline requested of her. … Speed? Shelley completed a mammoth project in two months. … Exceptionally personable, I will continue to hire Shelley for more work in the future and enthusiastically recommend her to others.”
– T. S., entrepreneur (nonfiction articles and web content, 2018-19)
Shelley is amazingly thorough. Even reading my work multiple times over several days I could never spot the mistakes and improvements that she suggests. It’s all done very nicely and I always feel I have learned something. Keep up the good work! – B. E. (2018)
“You are a true God send. I appreciate the encouragement, advice, prayer, and high level of editing you have provided me. Thank you for being a light source helping to pave the way for first-time authors like myself.”
– B. Scribble (developmental editing and copy editing, July 2023)
“Shelley is a very impressive editor. She works very fast! Not wasting much time at all, gets the job done right the first time, and is reasonably priced. I’m very happy I chose her to edit our website’s content. A great person as well to work with.”
– J.G. (website copy editing, Jan 2020)
“Shelley was an absolute miracle worker and has the patience of a saint. I just finished writing my first book to self-publish. Shelley was able to clearly identify my quirky personality in my writing and was able to read my mind to fill in blank areas. She was diplomatic and professional in dealing with my poor grammar and repetitious thoughts and coached me beautifully in the process of writing, illustrating, and publishing. I do plan to hire her for future projects.”
– Angela Clubb, BBA, RN (nonfiction book developmental and copy editing, formatting, and book cover design; Sept. 2019)
“Shelley was the 3rd blogger I hired via Upwork and by far the best. She understands what she is writing about, is a great communicator and meets deadlines – plus a pleasure to work with. This particular project has ended but I will be working with her again next month. She is the perfect example of why Upwork works!!”
– T. M. (copywriting, Jan 2019)
“Shelley Allen was a pleasure to work with—professional, thorough, prompt . . . and, yes, she wields a ruthless red pen! As a result of her expertise and wise counsel, I now have a book ready to be published. This was the first time I have used Shelley’s services; it most assuredly will not be the last.”
– M. B., PsyD, LPC (dissertation editing for book publishing, 2019)
“Shelley was great. I had a rush project and she jumped right in completing the job very well, on time and on budget. Superior quality work. I will use her again. Thank you very much!”
– project manager (research, 2019)
“Shelley is a PHENOMENAL editor and has passion for what she does. She also has a caring heart and really cares about helping people.”
– K. M., financial adviser (website editing, 2019)
Working with Shelley has been a joy. She really helps me advance my goals through her pen. She is a strong asset to my business. I would recommend her to anyone needed any skill where writing is a must.
– B. C., realtor (copywriting, 2018-2019)
I consider an editor and proofer to be an essential part of the copy writing team. Shelley is responsive, timely, and spot on with her corrections and suggestions. I wish she could have been my English teacher years ago! But since I didn’t, I get the honor of paying her for her expertise. She’s the best!
– S. A., entrepreneur (copy editing, proofreading, 2019)
Shelley was so helpful with giving me direction in becoming a freelance writer/editor. She had so many tips and ideas and even gave me a chart outlining what I already have, what my goals are, and steps to take to reach my goals. I went from feeling like making a living as a full-time freelancer was impossible to excited and energized about all the possibilites.
– L. B. (copy editing, 2019)
I had Shelley edit a draft of my new book. She was prompt and professional and understands the writer’s position because she is a writer herself. I recommend her without reservation.
– M. H. (2019)
Shelley’s dedication to customer service and attention to detail are two reasons why I have used her services for two of my books. Whether you are a student, a business executive, or a published author, The Ruthless Red Pen is a company that you should contact for your editing needs. – L. V. (editing, 2018)
I am grateful Shelley reviews and edits my documents and reports. She checks for comprehension and truly reads over to help make sure they make sense. Glad to have her support! – C. L. engineer (2019-2023)
Shelley helped me with a synopsis for a book submission. She was quick, thorough, and offered great advice. – C. S. (2019)
Ruthless Red Pen 