Let’s be honest.

A lot of technical writing is… not fun to read.

(It’s okay. We’ve all been there.)

Whether it’s a dense science explanation, a slightly chaotic maths resource, or a technical document that made perfect sense at 2 am but less so now – sometimes what you need isn’t more content.

You need clarity.

That’s where I come in.

I’m Maryanne from DZ Editing – accredited editor, former mechanical engineer, and someone who genuinely enjoys untangling complicated ideas and making them readable (yes, I know that’s a niche hobby).

I don’t just fix commas.

I mean, I do fix commas. I love a well-placed comma.

But if that’s all you need, I’m probably overqualified.

What I actually do is help make sure your content:

• makes sense
• flows logically
• says what you think it says
• works for the people reading it

Because technical and educational writing has a special challenge: it needs to be correct and understandable. One without the other doesn’t help anyone.

My background in mechanical engineering means I’m comfortable with complex material, and my editing training means I know how to shape it into something clear and usable.

How I Can Help (a.k.a. Choosing Your Own Adventure)

Different projects need different kinds of help. Here’s where I usually come in:

Structural Editing – for when things feel a bit… tangled

If your document is technically correct but hard to follow, this is the fix.

I’ll look at:

• What order things should go in (spoiler: it matters)
• Where readers might get confused
• What needs more explanation – and what needs less

This is my favourite part, by the way. It’s like solving a puzzle, except the pieces are paragraphs.

Copyediting – for when it’s almost there

This is the detail work:

• Grammar, spelling, punctuation
• Consistency (because “Chapter 3” and “chapter three” shouldn’t be fighting each other)
• Smoother, clearer sentences

Think of it as giving your writing a very thorough polish.

Technical Writing – for when the words don’t exist yet

Sometimes you don’t have a draft – you just have a process, a system or a pile of notes.

I can turn that into:

• SOPs
• User guides
• Technical documentation

I’ve worked in engineering, so I understand how these documents are actually used in the real world – not just how they look on paper .

Accessibility Editing – because “readable” should mean for everyone

This is something I care about a lot.

As a contributing author to Books without barriers, I can help make content more accessible by:

• Improving structure and readability
• Making sure it works with assistive tech
• Applying inclusive publishing practices

Because if someone can’t use your content, it doesn’t matter how good it is.

Indexing & Content Design – helping readers find things without rage-scrolling

Ever tried to find one specific thing in a badly organised document?

Exactly.

I can help with:

• Indexing (yes, there is an art to it)
• Creating a logical structure
• Making content easier to navigate

The Kind of Work I Do (and Actually Enjoy)

I’ve worked on:

• Maths and science textbooks
• VCE-level resources
• Practice exams
• Digital learning content (including automatically marked questions)
• Technical documents for engineering projects

I’ve also worked with publishers like Oxford University Press and Pearson, which means I understand how to meet professional publishing standards without making everything sound robotic .

Working With Me

I’m based in Melbourne, but I work with people pretty much anywhere.

When you send me your work, I’m not here to tear it apart for fun (tempting, but no). I’m here to:

• Help you communicate more clearly
• Respect your voice
• Make the end result stronger

Also, I will probably get slightly excited about a well-structured explanation. Just a heads up.

If Your Content Feels Harder Than It Should Be…

…it probably is.

And it doesn’t have to be.

If you’ve got something technical, educational or just plain complicated that needs to be clearer, smoother and easier to use – I’d love to help.