How to Search the AAE Directory

The default AAE directory page includes the business cards of all AAE freelance-editor members in random order.
Follow the directions below to find freelance editors who offer the services, experience, and skills you are looking for.

Getting Started

Use the blue drop-down menus to select the editorial services, materials experience, and skills that match your needs.

• Start with choosing your most basic need(s).

• Within each dropdown menu, click "Search" to apply your selection(s).

• You may use multiple dropdowns, but click “Search” after making your selection within each; doing so refines the list.

• Please note: Terms you select in the dropdown menus may not appear verbatim on a member’s profile page, even though the member matches that criteria.

Use the keyword search (white text box with “Search for…”) to specify subject area specializations and skills not covered by the dropdowns.

• For example, use it for specific terms (Baroque, French, landscape, Indigenous, etc.).

• A keyword search will look for exact matches first, and partial matches if no exact matches are found.

  • For example, if you type in Japanese design, the system will look for editors whose profile pages include that exact word string.

  • If none do, you will see this message just below the band of dropdowns:
    “There are no exact matches for your search, closest matches shown.”
    followed by what the system determines are the closest matches.

  • In such a case, try using only the keyword Japanese and only the keyword design, as these searches will produce different results.

Search Results

Each time you click “Search,” a refined list of AAE members who match ALL of your dropdown and keyword criteria will appear. Results appear in random order.

What you see in initial search results are members’ business cards. Each provides a matching editor’s name, one-line summary, location, and a link to their website if they have one.

Click any member’s business card to see their full profile page, where you can read more about them and contact them.

Refine or Expand Your Search

If you get very few results or “No matches for search,” widen your search by:

• unchecking one or more selected dropdown criteria

• trying different keywords—or no keywords at all (keywords are optional)

If you get lots of results, you may narrow your search by selecting additional dropdown criteria, adding keywords, or using different keywords.

Contact an AAE Member

To contact an AAE member, when on their full profile page click “Send a Message” in the footer (at the very bottom of their page).

When sending a message, provide the member with details about your editorial project (e.g., the topic, the type of editing or related service you are looking for, and your timeline).

Preview your message and click “Send.”

Important: A verification link will be emailed to you. You must click this link to complete delivery of your message.