Confidentiality
Your work is never shared and is retained only with your permission.
About Kali Tal
The highest compliment I can receive is, “You helped me say exactly what I wanted to say.”
Writer's block often begins with the fatal thought: “Now, I have to write the paper.” But that's just the wrong way to think about it. Nobody writes a paper or a dissertation. A paper or dissertation is what you end up with after you finish a series of clear, discrete, manageable tasks in the correct order. I teach my students to write along with their research, as part of the scientific process, so that by the time they would normally say, “now, I must write the paper,” the paper is almost done.
My Core Values
These principles guide my work and relationships with clients.
Authenticity
I strive to represent your unique voice, without AI assistance.
Equity
I seek to level the playing field for writers from all backgrounds who must publish in English.
Excellence
I edit substantively to improve the flow, strength, and style of your scientific narrative.
For almost 40 years, I have edited manuscripts and coached grant writers in a variety of disciplines, ranging from medicine and health sciences to humanities, social sciences, and law.
In 2006, I left my position as Professor of Humanities at the University of Arizona and moved to Berlin. I had written seminal works in the field of trauma studies, taught undergraduate and graduate courses, and worked as an academic journal editor and publisher for over 20 years. I enjoy writing and research, but I prefer editing and teaching, so I decided to shift the focus of my career. In 2011, I was offered the position of senior editor at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Bern. In 2016, I moved to the Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), where I continue to coach dissertation students throughout the writing process, edit manuscripts and grants, and collaborate as a qualitative researcher.
In 2017, the Medical Library of the University of Bern invited me to join their new Research Support Services Department and to develop the first Medical and Health Sciences writing curriculum in Switzerland. My work there will be complete in May 2026, when I will leave a fully institutionalized curriculum to my successors, who will ensure the program continues into the future. The courses I developed are now integrated into the medical, dental, and pharmacy curriculum at the University of Bern. I will continue to teach in the program run by the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) and to conduct individual workshops in Switzerland and abroad.
My courses and services were developed to meet the needs of graduate students and faculty who did not grow up speaking English, but must publish in that language. I understand and sympathize with the challenges of writing in other languages and have developed a specialized writing method to ease the process. Please see my course list for more details on the method.
Excerpts from workshop evaluations and author comments
“Dr Tal is my best ever teacher for short course training. She is very effective, focused, and is excellent at managing her time. I was surprised at the knowledge and skill I got from her just only with two days lecture. It is amazing.”
Participant (PhD Student)
Basics of Scientific Writing in English: A Structured Method for Organizing and Writing Better, Faster Papers (2024)