Hi there! I'm a developmental editor and proofreader, specializing in board game rules and components.

Editing Services

I typically perform a combination of developmental editing and copyediting on board game materials after the rules are finalized, but before they are laid out by the graphic designer. This allows me to reorder and rewrite entire sections without requiring costly graphic design updates.

Proofreading

I often perform a proofreading pass on materials after they're laid out. This second iteration allows me to verify that earlier concerns have been resolved, and identify issues that may be introduced during layout.I avoid proofreading-only projects nowadays; my skills and interests focus on more substantive changes.

Component Text

A game's components are its most direct, visceral interface to its players, so their rules text must be clear, concise, and consistent with the rulebook. I generally edit a game's components and rulebook at the same time.

Graphic Design

The best rulebooks blend text and graphics seamlessly, so I try to help in this area despite not being a graphic designer. For example, I can guide the use of emphasis and visual hierarchy, and ensure that diagrams and examples support the rules effectively.If all this sounds like a good match for your needs, let's chat!

Past Work

Over the past 6 years, I've worked on more than 100 published titles. See the full list on Board Game Geek.I've collaborated with publishers big and small, as well as independent designers crowdfunding their own passion projects. Here are some of their testimonials.Great rulebooks provide a smooth, enjoyable learning experience for new players. I've gathered some feedback from players highlighting my efforts in that realm.

Client Testimonials

“You did really fantastic job editing the rules for Skulls of Sedlec, spotting little inconsistencies and issues, coming up with concise terminology and examples, and removing all the extra stuff that wasn't really necessary. I'm really happy with the end result. Thanks so much! Looking forward to the next one 😁”
—Dustin Dobson, designer, Skulls of Sedlec“As a new game designer, I greatly appreciated Mike's patience, insight, and attention to detail. ... In addition to editing the rulebook's wording and grammar, he provided feedback on gameplay diagrams, spotted areas of potential confusion in the card text, and offered practical suggestions to improve clarity and consistency throughout the game and rulebook.”
—Amanda Kastner, designer, Cinderella at Midnight“Mike, I can't thank you enough for turning what are practically scribbles on bar napkins into cohesive rules!”
—Mike Mullins, designer, Trolling for Trouble“I really appreciate Mike's attention to detail for clarity, consistency, and comprehension. When he copyedits or proofreads, he isn't just looking for grammar, spelling, and typos—he provides revisions, organizational changes, and additions to make the entire document as friendly as possible to the end user.”
—Jamey Stegmaier, founder, Stonemaier Games

Player Feedback

“The cards are clear. I had no issue understanding them. Good rulebook. ... It is easy to understand ... and it is very well explained.”
—Zee Garcia, reviewer, Death Valley“Good rulebook, no questions at all. ... Like I said the rulebook is wonderful so it just makes sense.”
—Zee Garcia, reviewer, Skulls of Sedlec“Awesome work on the rules! My non-gamer aunt was able to learn the game without any help. I was afraid the Serf system would trip her up, but she had no problems figuring it out and really enjoyed the game. Huge props to you, keep up the fantastic editing work! 👍”
—Miller Hollinger, designer, Royale“After working on my entry for the upcoming BGG 9 card game design contest, I have a new found respect for whoever does the rules editing for Buttonshy. I’m trying to make my rule book as small and concise as possible and it’s quite a challenge to maintain clarity and precision.”
—Rumple_Frumpkins, player, Button Shy Games

Style Guide

I wrote an editing style guide to document what I've learned as an editor and hopefully serve as a resource to others. It's a living document that currently spans over 13,000 words, none of them written by or adapted from an AI/LLM!It currently covers everything from my philosophy of rulebooks, to word choice and formatting, to communicating with clients and other freelancers.It's free to use, download, quote, and redistribute under a Creative Commons license.Canonical URL: https://cur.by/styleguide

Project Details

Thanks for your interest! It may help to learn about my editing style and tell me the following "five S's" about your project. Scope:  Can you share a prototype rulebook? If not, roughly how long is it? Do you have cards or other components with rules text? Will the game have expansions, sequels, etc.? State:  Have all development and playtesting activities concluded? Aside from editing, what other changes do you anticipate? Where are you in your production workflow? Schedule:  Whether you have specific deadlines or just a general roadmap, let me know so I can work with it. Style:  Do you apply a specific "house style" across all your products? Will this new project need to conform to existing products in a series or family of games? Restrictions:  Do you have specific requirements regarding physical size, printing, or packaging? Let me know so I can help tailor the document to those needs.

Contact

If you're looking for editing services, feel free to reach out and let me know about your project. I'm most active on Discord, but also happy to chat via email or Board Game Geek messaging (GeekMail).

Are you a fellow editor, proofreader, writer, or language nerd? Consider joining the Editors' Hangout, a cozy Discord server I started for like-minded professionals and enthusiasts.