All About Me
(but more to the point, what all this means for YOU)

Wordsmith extraordinaire, flamboyant writer, expert editor, perfect proofreader... Just some of the (thankfully, flattering) things I've been called of late. Just as well, really. Because you could say my livelihood depends on keeping my clients happy...

An NUJ-accredited, award-winning writer, editor and all-round wordmeister, I've gained 18 years' combined professional experience earning a living with words (yikes!). I'm a member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, which aims to promote editorial excellence.

My background includes journalism, marketing communications, PR, B2B, corporate writing, copywriting, creative writing, new media and print publishing, copy/sub-editing and proofreading.

What's more, because I've lived, breathed and yes even eaten my own words (at times) over such a lengthy period of time, I do not need to be handheld. I just take your brief — and deliver...

Qualifications and previous experience

– BA first-class honours degree in business Information technology & French
– post-grad certificate in journalism (with sub-editing qualification)
– post-grad certificate in PR (distinction)
– certificate in editing/proofreading

I have worked on national newspapers, magazines (consumer and trade), books (non-fiction and fiction), student manuscripts, leaflets, websites...you name it, I’ve done it!

Skills

Abstracting, Americanizing/Anglicizing, consulting (marketing, PR and editorial), copy editing, critiquing, editing/proofreading non-native English, editorial office/business support services, house style development, indexing, journalism, marketing consultancy and coaching, on-screen and off-screen editing, on-screen and off-screen proofreading, PR and promotion, project management, research, rewriting, sub-editing, web content editing and writing, general writing.

Subjects

All subjects considered. Extensive experience in new media, and marketing, promotional and PR communications.

Full subject list: Biography/autobiography/memoirs (general, business, arts/film/TV), biology, business studies (entrepreneurialism, small business, solopreneurialism), children's/teenage publishing (educational/informative, entertainment/consumer), counselling, conservation (general, wildlife) consumer interests, crafts (general, step-by-step), cultural studies, current affairs, DIY, domestic animals (general, behaviour, handling), earth sciences, English literature, finance (investment finance, personal finance), fiction (general, literary, popular), fitness, games and puzzles, gardening/horticulture, gender studies (sex politics), health (general, complementary and alternative), heritage, home and leisure, humanities, interior design, IT & computer science, UK and international law, life sciences, literary studies, marketing, medicine (academic/research, popular), music, NLP, personal/self development, philosophy, PR, printing, psychotherapy, publishing, social sciences/studies, South Africa, theatre, tourism/travel, veterinary sciences.

Details of work undertaken

Freelance journalist, project manager, copywriter, copy/sub-editor & proofreader for publishing and non-publishing clients located within the UK, as well as the European Union, Canada and the US, including (but not limited to):

– corporate identify and literature for non-publishers
– books, magazines and journals
– educational/training literature, both print based and on screen
– legal documentation
– in-house and external newsletters
– veterinary literature
– research reports
– product information
– policy publications
– articles
– websites and email marketing
– annual reports
– theses and dissertations
– student textbooks (business/human resources)
– marketing, promotional and PR materials

Here’s what I can bring to the table for your next project

•    Quick Study — I pride myself in being able to quickly grasp the key points on any given subject and devise a logical structure and flow for the written presentation. My many years of editorial work and journalistic writing have honed this.
•    Independent — turning around high quality work with little or no supervision will free up your valuable time while ensuring that the job gets done correctly the first time. I also work comfortably and well in a team environment, if appropriate.
•    Freelancer Plus — with my broad-based experience across a variety of industries and platforms worldwide, I am confident in delivering a quality product that hits the mark. I am comfortable working with both offline and online media, too.