ABOUT
I’m Ann, and I’m not your typical editor.
Named one of “the best technical editors in the game," I’m not just here to add red lines and tell you what to do. I’m here to listen, ask the right questions, and help you get to the heart of what you want to say and why it matters.
more than good grammar
Over the last decade, Command+Z Content has built its reputation as the place you go when your book needs to be better than good.
Authors come to us when they want their book to be a cornerstone in their work, something they can build on, and they hold their book to the same high standard they hold for themselves. It must represent them well. Their message needs to land. They want to get it right.
Command+Z sits at the intersection of strategy, clarity, and damn good writing.
Our clients are creators—entrepreneurs, leaders, makers—who like to do things their own way. Oh, and they're really, really good at what they do. They believe in their ideas, their work, and want to shine a light on what makes them stand out. And that means their books have a job to do. So does yours.
Draw in new business. Establish your authority. Reach a new audience. Share your big idea. Teach what you learned the hard way. Declare your mission. Challenge the status quo. Improve your industry. Change minds, change careers, change lives.
You deserve to work with someone who wants those things for you too. Command+Z can help you get there.
WHAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR:
Taking a cringe draft and turning it into a book you're proud of. Helping authors feel confident in their ideas and unique voice. Creating a process that is collaborative, fun, and takes the suck out of writing and revising your manuscript.
Okay, wait though…
What kind of editing do you do?
Great question! Type "book editor" into the search bar and you'll turn up all kinds of different results: copyeditors, proofreaders, content editors, developmental editing, substantive editing, line editing… It's overwhelming, right? Especially when no one seems to share the same definition of what any of those things look like. (You'd think an industry centered on getting words right would be able to work out their own semantics, but here we are.)
So here's the quick rundown: Generally, a copyeditor is the person running cleanup. They correct errors, do some fact-checking, and bring your manuscript in line with a specific style guide. A proofreader is the eagle-eye catching any lingering errors in your text and the layout of your book, the final stop before your book goes to print. You won't find those things here.
A content editor (or developmental editor, or substantive editor) looks at the bigger picture stuff: your book's structure, the clarity of your writing, the flow and feel of the read. They tighten, trim, prune, and repurpose. Basically they uplevel your writing from amateur to author.
I'm a little bit of all those things. but i'm mostly my own thing.
I see the big picture of where your book and your goals intersect; restructure and reorganize so your argument feels intuitive and persuasive; identify trouble spots, content gaps, confusing bits and boring parts. I polish and punch up your words so they sound like you but better, instead of sounding like everyone else. Most of all, I see what your book could be and what isn't there yet, and I serve as your partner in getting it done.
Sounds good, right?
SEE What i do →
hey there. I'm...
Ann Maynard
I became a book editor by selling a bottle of wine. Really. It's a story about saying yes without knowing what'll happen next and figuring it out as you go. (Remind me to tell it to you some time.) The words I used to sell a fantastic cabernet sauvignon were the catalyst to my career.
Because my start was a swan dive into the deep end, I learned through trial, error, and evolved the way I work according to what I think editing ought to be. It started that way because I didn’t know any better; it stayed that way because I think it’s right—and it works. It wasn't until later that I realized I was doing something unique from most other editors.
My process is personal, rather than transactional because that’s what you deserve. I care more about what you have to say and how you want to say it, prioritizing your perspective and voice over "how things are done." I won’t make your words subservient to grammar rules. And there is no red pen shredding your work into a heap of white, black, and red. (I use a blue pen—it's friendlier.)
More than anything, my process is collaborative. Together, you and I will work to solve the puzzles your manuscript presents and elevate your writing to its highest potential. We'll make sure your message lands. Because here's the thing: The right words delivered the right way make things happen: surprises unfurl, expectations get subverted, minds change, emotions crack open, books sell, opportunities knock, and writers become authors. So how might your writing make things happen? I can help with that.
All About: Straight talk, sharp wit, wild ideas, good hospitality, empathy, em dashes, a great night's sleep, and really strong coffee.
Not About: over-promising, under-delivering, missed potential, lazy writing, bullshit, band-aid fixes, and playing by someone else's rules.
AGREE? WE'RE PROBABLY A GREAT FIT.
Every day, I have the privilege of working with people who want to share what they love and breathe and believe in—and helping them draw that out onto the page is the best part of my job.
I value
Craftsmanship
Craftsmanship is the intersection of love and effort—the desire to get better, to do good work, to create something that matters because it matters to you. It is rare and it is so valuable. It's commitment and excellence and growth, and the desire to create something that's going to last. Can it be a grind? Sometimes. Does it pulse with joy and creative energy? Absolutely. This is the spirit that I bring to my work and the perspective I'll bring to your writing. Let's create.
Originality
Originality is everything when you're writing a book—and when you work with me, it's an expectation. From the very first page of your draft, I will be looking for YOU. Your ideas. Your perspectives. The stories only you can share in your words. Your originality is where the proverbial magic happens. It's pure freedom and boundless opportunity if you're willing to see it that way. Instead of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," you and I get to ask "What if it can be better?" Nothing is sacred, and everything can be reframed, redefined, and refined through your lens. Playfully picking apart old ideas is not just encouraged—it's necessary. So bring your inner rebel and I'll bring mine.
Let's play.
Honesty
Honesty underpins every facet of our work together. I will give you honest feedback, even if that means telling you an idea is weak or that you need to go back to the drawing board. But that honest relationship is not a one-way street. Let's infuse our conversations with steadfast sincerity, openness, and respect. Tell me if you don't understand. Tell me if you disagree. Tell me if you have a radical idea that you want to explore. (I love those!) Few things are as transformational as telling the truth, and that goes for the words you put on the page as much as the words we speak to each other. Let's hold each other to a high standard.
Did We Just Become Best Friends?
So now that you know about me, I want to know about you. What are you working on? What have you written? Why does it matter to you? How can I help?
SCHEDULE A CALL →