I’m Helen Lyons, an editor and writer based in Antwerp, working in Belgium and internationally.
My work sits at the intersection of journalism and service-based writing: I help publications, academics, and organisations shape complex material into clear, credible prose. That can mean tightening structure, clarifying an argument, smoothing tone, or producing clean copy from a messy draft.
I’m known for being direct, careful with detail, and easy to work with under deadline.
What I do
I take on projects across three areas:
- Editing: developmental/structural editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading
- Journalism: magazine features and daily news for publications
- Writing: web copy, briefs, reports, stakeholder-facing material, and educational content (8+ years of classroom experience)
If you’re unsure which bucket your project fits into, send a short sample and your goal for the piece, and I’ll recommend the right approach.
How I work
- I start by clarifying audience, purpose, and constraints (length, tone, deadline).
- I focus first on structure and logic, then on language and consistency.
- I deliver work in Track Changes or Google Docs with notes that are clear and actionable.
- I keep process simple: fewer emails, clean handoffs.
Background
I’m an American writer based in Belgium. My work has appeared in outlets including POLITICO Europe, The Washington Post, and The Brussels Times, among others.
I’ve got an MA in Journalism and worked as a classroom teacher for over eight years (certified elementary and secondary school). I work in both American and British English.
Working with me
If you’d like to discuss a project, send:
- what the piece is (and who it’s for)
- word count or approximate length
- deadline
- a short sample or link (if available)
You can reach me via the contact page, or at contact@helenlyons.org.
