Hello! My name is Ren, and I'm a freelance localization editor for light novels and manga translated from Japanese to English. I'm interested in working on comics, graphic novels, and games as an editor, proofreader, or LQA tester, and I would love to hear from you and talk about your project!To see a selection of books and games I've worked on, check out the Projects section of this website.As a project manager in the fine art industry for nearly a decade before I became an editorial freelancer, I keep every project I work on organized, on schedule, and on track. And as your editor or proofreader, I will work with you to fine-tune and polish your writing while supporting your creative vision.I live in Seattle with my cat Bartleby and enjoy reading, studying languages, and playing video games 🐈📚🎮
Skills
Localization Editing (Japanese to English)
I review English translations of Japanese texts for accuracy, style, tone, and clarity, recasting dialogue and narration into natural-sounding English where necessary. Depending on the project and client, I may work closely with translators to improve translation precision and consistency, with proofreaders to prepare and finalize files for publication, and with localization staff to meet editorial standards and deadlines. For manga, I also review PDF proofs and edit lettered pages in InDesign for publisher approval.Line Editing and Copyediting
As a line editor, I evaluate and offer suggestions for improving word choice, phrasing, flow, and other elements of style. As a copyeditor, I apply the Chicago Manual of Style and any house style guides to a written work while focusing on language mechanics like spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and usage.Proofreading
I review the final version of a written work to make sure it's ready for publication or distribution by identifying and querying typos, layout or formatting issues, and other potential errors. My proofreading experience includes articles from journals and digital publications, marketing copy, and business documents including proposals, forms, and manuals.Project Management
I have eight years of experience in planning, organizing, and executing projects and initiatives for businesses and nonprofit organizations in the fine art industry to deliver results that improve operations and production efficiency on time and and within budget.Languages
English (native speaker), Japanese, Mandarin Chinese (traditional)Software and Technical
Office: Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat
Graphics: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
Project management: Asana
Other: HTML, CSS
Clients
Kadokawa World Entertainment, J-Novel Club, BLEND Localization, Salish Magazine, ARCADE, The Observatory, businesses, and individuals
Education
Professional development coursework Editorial Freelancers Association, Poynter Institute, and The Publishing Training Centre
Project Management Professional Certificate Google
MA Museology University of Washington
BA Music & BA Art History University of Maryland
Professional Memberships
Light Novels (localization editing)
They Don't Know I'm Too Young for the Adventurer's Guild
Author: KAME
Illustrator: ox
Translator: Nikolas Stirling (volume 1) and Sheldon Drzka (volume 2)
Editor: Ren Alea
Publisher: J-Novel Club
This Gyaru's Got a Thing for...Vampire Hunters?!
Author: Wasan Kurata
Illustrator: Kewi Hayashi
Translator: Gwendolyn Warner
Editor: Ren Alea
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Manga (localization editing)
Currently editing six series in production for Kadokawa World Entertainment.
Game Jam Visual Novels (line editing, credited as saren)
Sentence-Level Editing Services
As your editor or proofreader, I'll dig into every sentence of your writing to suggest improvements and correct errors while working with you to make sure your readers have the best possible experience.I can help you with:
Keeping your settings, characters, special terms, and more organized and consistent with a master document that tracks every detail in your world
Crafting character voices that sound natural and match your vision for them by tweaking word choice, tone, rhythm, and flow
Offering suggestions to make sure your sentences clearly and effectively support the mood and pace of the scene they're a part of
Polishing your writing by correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage issues
If you would like to talk about what I can do for you and your project, please contact me by email or Discord with a short description of your work, an approximate word count, and a timeline if you have one in mind. I look forward to hearing from you!
Editing Testimonials
I've had the pleasure of working with Ren Alea for several months across two light novels, and her editing has consistently elevated my translations to a new level. She sharpens the prose with precision, and then asks thoughtful, character-driven questions that help bring out the heart and intent of the original Japanese. Her insight and attention to nuance make her an indispensable collaborator.
—Sheldon Drzka, Japanese-to-English translator
Ren is awesome. She meticulously reviewed every line of dialogue for errors, and her suggestions were on point. Her clear feedback made revisions effortless. I can’t thank her enough for her outstanding work.
—Maple, writer and game developer
Proofreading Testimonials
Ren Alea has done proofreading for us as a volunteer at Salish Magazine for over a year. She responds promptly and has a good understanding of journalistic styles and English grammar. But what is especially helpful is that she has a very good eye for details, and she spots even tiny errors that others miss.
—John Williams, founder of Salish Magazine
Project Management Testimonials
For more than a dozen years, in my capacity as art advisor and principal of Allison & Ross Fine Art Services, I have had the pleasure of working with Ren Alea. Ren joined Allison & Ross while she was a graduate student at the University of Washington. Ren’s projects are well organized, and she consistently meets deadlines. Her attention to detail and strong writing skills ensured that every project she has been involved with is accurate and polished. Ren is a benchmark for professionalism and dedication. I’m grateful for her exemplary work and continue to call upon her services now that she is in business for herself.
—Carey Ross, principal of Allison & Ross Fine Art Services
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Discord: sarensays
Bluesky
LinkedIn