Start the Conversation
Start the Conversation
POINT ACROSS is an independent editorial practice focused on qualitative research and non-fiction projects, especially those grounded in ethnographic work. Clients include academics, researchers, non-profit and private sector organisations, and independent writers working in academic and applied contexts. Typical projects include narrative non-fiction, research design, questionnaires, research reports, design-thinking, and multimodal work.

POINT ACROSS is a one-person studio. You work directly with me, Beata, from start to finish. This keeps the collaboration focused, continuous, and closely tailored to your project.

Services

POINT ACROSS works with a wide range of academic, research, applied, and personal non-fiction projects. Typical engagements include::

  • Books

    Strong books depend on a clear thematic and conceptual spine. I work with you to:
    • define and refine the overall coherence of the project
    • strengthen the structure across chapters or contributions, and
    • ensure the argument develops consistently across the manuscript.

  • Articles

    Successful articles depend on a focused, well-positioned argument. I help:
    • refine the logic of the argument
    • clarify the intervention, and
    • strengthen the overall structure of the text.

  • Memoirs

    Memoirs work when personal experience illuminates larger truths. I work with you to:
    • deepen the analytical and reflective layers of the story
    • clarify its focus, and
    • strengthen the connection between individual experience and broader context.

  • Questionnaires

    Strong questionnaires balance clarity, neutrality, and focus. I help:
    • eliminate ambiguity in wording
    • avoid bias and leading questions
    • improve structure and flow, and
    • ensure the questionnaire yields meaningful, usable data.

  • Research reports

    Reports are only as strong as the connections between their parts. I work with you to:
    • align data, analysis, and recommendations
    • clarify limitations
    • refine overall structure and argument, and
    • highlight what is new and significant.

  • Research design

    Good research design begins with clear objectives and appropriate methods. I help:
    • assess feasibility of your approach
    • identify methodological alternatives, and
    • refine methods and sampling strategy.

  • Multimedia projects

    When words are not enough, images and sound can extend the narrative. I work with you to:
    • integrate different media so they support the argument, and
    • strengthen the overall coherence of the project.

  • Project critique

    Early-stage critique can prevent structural problems later. I review your project’s core elements to:
    • identify what is working
    • flag issues or redundancies, and
    • and outline where further development would strengthen the final outcome.

How it works

Initial Contact

You get in touch to start the conversation. I typically respond within 1–2 working days. We briefly discuss your project, goals, and timeline. We assess our fit.
Sample
Sample review
I review a short sample to assess the scope, level of intervention, and timeline. This review is for assessment purposes only and does not involve editing.

Based on this review, I provide a detailed quote.

Optional sample edit
If helpful, I can provide a paid sample edit to demonstrate my approach. This is optional and agreed in advance.
Agreement & Scheduling
Once we agree on scope, timeline, and type of work (developmental editing, line editing, or both), we sign a contract. A 50% deposit secures your place in my schedule (shorter projects are paid in full upfront).
Editing
I complete the edit according to the agreed scope and timeline. Turnaround time depends on length, complexity, and level of editing required.
Delivery & Follow-up
Once the edit is complete and the remaining fee is paid, you receive the full edited file and a short editorial report. I remain available for questions for one week after delivery.

Optional: Iterative Collaboration
Many projects benefit from an iterative process involving discussion and revision across several stages. In these cases, the format and workflow are agreed in advance.
If the process looks like a good fit, tell me a bit about your project.

Start the conversation
If you have any remaining questions,
FAQs may be of help.
Go to FAQs

Payment

Fees are based on the scope of work, level of intervention, and timeline, and are agreed in advance following an initial assessment. They reflect professional standards of developmental editing.

Payment is made by invoice, either in agreed stages or upfront:

Payment in stages
For larger projects, the fee is usually split into two instalments:
– 50% to secure a place in the schedule
– 50% due before delivery of the completed work

Full payment upfront
Smaller projects and project critiques are paid in full upfront.

I work with international clients. Payment can be made via international bank transfer or other agreed methods.

About

Who you'll be working with

Beata Świtek

Point Across, Founder
I am a socio-cultural anthropologist with over ten years of experience in social research, non-fiction writing and editing, and advisory work on multimedia ethnographic projects. I work across academic and applied contexts, including books, articles, research reports, questionnaires, and multimodal projects.

I hold a PhD in anthropology from UCL and am currently Co-Editor-in-Chief of a multidisciplinary journal on Asia. I have led and contributed to research and writing projects for academic, non-profit, and governmental organisations.

I am based in Tokyo.
See Credentials

BEATA'S APPROACH

I work directly with every project I take on: no teams, no intermediaries. That means I’m with you in the thick of it: asking the hard questions, following the twists in your argument, and helping your ideas find their clearest, most compelling form.

I’m drawn to projects where clarity and cohesion matter, but where the path isn’t always obvious: books, articles, research reports, questionnaires, and multimedia work.

As both a writer and a researcher (and academic editor), I look for the layers beneath the surface: the patterns, gaps, and connections that shape a project’s logic and flow. Much of my own work is grounded in ethnographic thinking paying close attention to context, lived experience, and how meaning is produced across materials, voices, and settings.

My feedback is precise, yes, but also curious: I want to understand how your work wants to grow, and help it develop naturally.

My goal is simple: to help your story, argument, or findings take shape in a way that feels true to you, while keeping the process collaborative and tailored to your project.
Background Story
I have always been drawn to the unknown, curious to explore new topics, places, and ways of thinking. Staying with one subject for years was never my thing.

Developmental editing allows me to continue that broad exploration, far beyond what I could ever research myself, while helping others shape and share their ideas and experiences. It truly does not get any better.

What I love most is watching a piece of writing find its form. I feel a particular excitement when a story or argument begins to emerge and the author’s voice becomes clearer with each round of edits.

The early stages of developmental editing can feel like wading through mud in a dense forest, when progress is slow and the destination uncertain. With each exchange, the path begins to open, the ground firms, light filters in, and the direction becomes clear. That moment of clarity is the magic that keeps me hooked.

Collaborate
If you would like to collaborate on a book, article, or multimedia project, I would be happy to hear from you.

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Credentials

Professional Profile

Beata Świtek holds a PhD in Anthropology from University College London and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of a multidisciplinary journal on Asia. Her work spans academic publishing and applied research with a strong foundation in ethnographic research, including books, peer-reviewed articles, research reports, qualitative and questionnaire-based studies, and multimedia ethnographic projects. She has contributed to research on migration, labour, education, body, youth culture, risk, religion, and wellbeing in Japan, the UK, and Europe.

Articles & Chapters


Ongoing writing projects continue to explore questions of narrative, care, body, dirt, ethics, city, and sustainability.

Selected Research & Applied Work

Research Design: multiple ethnographic, qualitative and mixed-method research projects across migration, labour, education, youth culture, and wellbeing.

Questionnaire Surveys: refugees in London, migrant workers in Japan, low-paid workers in the UK.

Research Reports: detailed reports for non-profit and governmental organisations, including the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Associations & Memberships

Focused, limited workload.
I work with a small number of projects at a time so I can offer thoughtful, deeply considered feedback on every engagement.
Availability is limited, so early inquiry helps secure your place.

Do you have any questions?
Find answers below!

FAQs

Q1. How much will it cost?

Each project is priced individually.

The final cost depends on the type, length and condition of your project, the type and depth of editing, and the complexity of the text.

If you ask for both developmental and line editing, we will work in two rounds, but you will be charged only once.

For a rough guideline of the cost please check out the Editorial Rate Estimator published by the Editorial Freelancers Association (EfA).
EfA Editorial Rates

Q2. What payment methods are available?

Payment can be accepted via international bank transfer or other agreed methods.

I work with international clients and accept international bank transfers, but we can also agree on other methods. I accept payments in US Dollars, Euro, British Pounds, Japanese Yen, and Polish Zloty (PLN).

Please get in touch if you require other arrangements.

Q3. How long will the edit take?

We agree on the timeline based on the condition of the project, the type of editing required, and our schedules, but please use this as a guideline:

  • Short pieces (up to 8,000 words): 1–2 weeks
  • Mid-length projects: 3–4 weeks
  • Book-length projects: 6–8 weeks
  • Research projects and questionnaires: by agreement
  • Project critiques: by agreement

Q4. What if the edit takes more work / time than planned?

I put more work in, but you do not get charged additionally.

If it turns out that I need to do more work on your project than I had assumed based on the sample (it is only an educated guess after all), you will not be charged additionally. I will put in more work and do my best to meet the agreed timeline. If the delay is unavoidable due to unforeseen circumstances, I will let you know as soon as possible. Please make sure that you have a little bit of playroom before any deadline for your project.

Q5. I have a tight deadline. Do you offer speedy edits?

It will depend on my schedule at the time.

If my workload at the time permits it, I will try to find a way to accommodate your request. There will be a 'rush surcharge' of 30%.

Q6. How can I submit my project?

After initial contact, I will share a secure upload link for your project.

Q7. How will I receive my edit?

I usually record my edits as tracked changes in a MSWord file which I send by email. I use a privacy-focused email provider.

I typically work in MSWord and use track changes to mark my suggested edits and include comments. You will see all the suggestions in the file you receive and can freely choose to accept or reject any of them.

Each edit is accompanied by a complimentary report outlining project wide feedback.

Q8. Can we meet online or in person to discuss my project?

The short answer is yes. But it will depend on where you live.

I am based in Tokyo so if you're here as well or if we can set up an online meeting that works for our time zones, then we can meet. For online meetings, I typically offer a 30 min consultation either before the editing to clarify your expectations, or after to respond to any remaining queries you might have regarding my feedback.

Q9. What is the difference between developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proof reading?

They are different stages of project production.

Developmental editing
Helps shape the overall structure, argument, and focus of a project. It looks at the big picture—what the work is trying to say and how effectively it does so.

Line editing
Improves the flow at the sentence and paragraph level. It focuses on clarity, rhythm, tone, and how well the writing communicates.

Copyediting
Checks grammar, syntax, consistency, and accuracy. It ensures the text follows a clear style and reads cleanly.

Proofreading
The final polish. It catches remaining typos, minor errors, and formatting issues before publication.

I recommend that you do them in this order to avoid errors remaining in your project.

Q10. Do you offer copy-editing and proofreading?

No, I do not provide stand-alone copy-editing or proofreading services.

My work focuses on developmental editing and project-level critique.

Upon agreement, I offer line editing as a package with developmental edit.

Q11. Do you offer line editing?

Yes, I offer both, line editing and developmental editing, though typically as separate stages.

Developmental editing shapes the structure, clarity, and logic of your project, while line editing improves clarity, flow, and readability at the sentence and paragraph level.

In practice, these stages often inform each other. Some line-level adjustments may occur during developmental editing to support larger structural changes.

For projects requiring substantial revisions, we focus on developmental editing first, with line editing applied afterward as needed.

If you’d like both stages completed, they can be offered as a combined package at a blended rate. I do not offer line editing as a standalone service.

Q12. What is project critique?

Project critique is an early-stage evaluation of your idea before drafting begins.

Project critique takes place early, at the planning stage—before any developmental editing begins. It offers a structured assessment of your initial concept, identifying strengths, gaps, and potential directions before you commit to a full draft. You will receive a detailed report outlining these points (without in-text comments, which are part of developmental editing).

Q13. Do you work with quantitative or statistical projects?

I do not work on projects based exclusively on quantitative or statistical analysis.

I work on qualitative and mixed-method projects where ethnographic data, interviews, textual material, life stories, or other qualitative data are central.

Start the Conversation

Use the Contact Form below to tell me a little about your project and your timeline.

Start the Conversation
Use this form to get in touch or request an initial assessment.
A detailed quote is provided after initial discussion and sample review.
To protect confidentiality, samples are shared only after initial contact.


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Please shortly describe your project: what is it about? what discipline (if any)? what kind of data? etc.
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