Shabazz Hill

Headline

An experienced, detail-oriented editor informed by the history of writing as a tool for personal and social change.

Biography

As an editor, I specialize in autobiographical books and essays as well as works in the social sciences that deepen our understanding of the human experience. I have done extensive developmental editing for an anthology of personal essays entitled “I Am Where I Come From: Native American College Students and Graduates Tell Their Life Stories.” To prepare this 2017 publication, I collaborated with several essayists who ranged from experienced writers to students seeking publication for the very first time. In each case, it was my job to develop the writer’s story from its nascent drafts all the way to completion. Additionally, I edited a full-length memoir entitled “Strength, Struggle, Faith” which was published in 2019. This book details the author’s spiritual journey through childhood adversity, motherhood, physical illness, wartime military service and romantic relationships.

The personal narrative is one of the most powerful art forms we have to examine our society. I also have experience in academic writing, editing and research in the social sciences. At Dartmouth College and Brooklyn College, my undergraduate work was focused in Gender Studies, Africana Studies and Political Science but also included work in History, Religion and Philosophy. After receiving my B.A. in Women’s & Gender Studies, I spent the next four years conducting archival research on the history of Black women’s political activism.

My experiences as a scholar and researcher have built me into the kind of editor who can see the social impact of every personal narrative and, in turn, the human story at the heart of every piece of social analysis. And it is this awareness that I can offer in developing your writing.

For me, no project has ever been too large or small. Essays, novels, dissertations, speeches, biography, sermons, query letters and more---I've edited just about everything you can imagine! Whether it is helping you to cultivate your memories into a fully-fledged memoir, refine your research findings in the social sciences, complete your self-improvement manifesto or bring your ideas in speculative fiction to visionary life, I am committed to helping you refine your language so that you can make the greatest possible impact on your audience, and the world at large.

It was my mother, a wordsmith, who instilled within me a passion for the written and spoken narrative. I became the editor, writer and man I am today through the stories she shared and lived. She once passed down these words to me, words that inspire my work each day: "Every age develops the language of apathy, and every age attempts to transcend that language in pursuit of enlightenment." Through carefully crafting our stories, we do not only enlighten those around us; we also spark a process of inner transformation.

Whatever narrative you have to share—and whatever change you hope to spark by sharing it—I look forward to working with you.

Previous experience, degrees, and qualifications

DEGREE
-B.A. Women & Gender Studies (CUNY Brooklyn College)
-Coursework in Gender Studies & Political Science (Dartmouth College)

EDITING EXPERIENCE
-Memoir: "Strength, Struggle and Faith" by Joyce Coleman, published in 2020 (Editor)
-Anthology: "I Am Where I Come From: Native American Students and Graduates Tell Their Life Stories", published in 2017 (Editorial Assistant)
-A book of speeches by Shirley Chisholm, to be published in 2022 (Editorial Assistant)
-A book on the political achievements of Shirley Chisholm & Barbara Jordan, to be published in 2023 (Editorial Assistant)

EDITING PROJECTS WITH TUW:
-Self-Help: Men's Development
-Self Help: Women's Empowerment
-Self-Help: Developing Interpersonal Skills
-Health: Gastrointestinal Wellness
-Historical Bio: US Presidential History
-Historical Bio: The life of an LGBTQ+ icon
-Social Analysis: Hip Hop History & Social Impact
-Social Analysis: Internalized Racism
-Self-Help: Anger Management
-And more...

OTHER RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE:
-Program assistant in religion/spirituality program research development
-Current Research Associate/Administrative Assistant at a nonprofit dedicated to historical research in Black women's history.
-Previous experience as a op-ed columnist
-Extensive archival research experience

Interests and hobbies

Gender Studies
African / African-American History
Politics & Political History
Memoirs & Autobiography
Anthropology
Comparative Religion & Spirituality

How I'd describe my personality in two sentences

I have a passion for every aspect of storytelling.

How I'd describe my approach to my work

For me, no project has ever been too large or small. Essays, novels, dissertations, speeches, biography, sermons, query letters and more---I've edited just about everything you can imagine! Whether it is helping you to cultivate your memories into a fully-fledged memoir, refine your research findings in the social sciences, complete your self-improvement manifesto or bring your ideas in speculative fiction to visionary life, I am committed to helping you refine your language so that you can make the greatest possible impact on your audience, and the world at large.

It was my mother, a wordsmith, who instilled within me a passion for the written and spoken narrative. I became the editor, writer and man I am today through the stories she shared and lived. She once passed down these words to me, words that inspire my work each day: "Every age develops the language of apathy, and every age attempts to transcend that language in pursuit of enlightenment." Through carefully crafting our stories, we do not only enlighten those around us; we also spark a process of inner transformation.

Why should you choose me for your project

My experiences as a scholar and researcher have built me into the kind of editor who can see the social impact of every personal narrative and, in turn, the human story at the heart of every piece of social analysis. And it is this awareness that I can offer in developing your writing.

Portfolio

No samples are available to view here.

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