About meBackground
I have been writing and editing for over thirty-five years. My interest in editing was first awakened while I was studying for my degree at Warwick University. I loved writing, and soon found that I had become the friend to whom fellow students would turn when they needed spelling, grammar or punctuation checks, when they needed to clarify thoughts and ideas or when they needed a little help with creating the perfect sentence. That was when I realised I could make a difference, and since then I have helped all sorts of people with all sorts of writing. History In 1983 I joined a writers’ group in London, and began to edit poetry and fiction. One of the writers whose work I edited won an Irish Post award, and I was involved in the publication of four collections of poetry and short stories for the group. In 1996 another writer, with whom I was working in West Yorkshire, launched his first collection of poetry at a Bradford Libraries event, performing with two notable poets. In 1998 I completed a Chapterhouse Editorial Skills course, and continued to take on a growing range of writing and editing roles in both professional and voluntary settings. Experience I have spent over thirty years working in public services. I have learned a great deal through practical experience, and my proficiency in editorial work has been supported by the skills I have gained through library and information service training. I have found that my ability to research and organise information competently, combined with my willingness to write, has been particularly valuable as I have undertaken more complex editing, rewriting and copywriting work. I have worked on projects with librarians, teachers and students, and I have written for public sector organisations, voluntary and community groups, small businesses and individuals. I have worked with most of my clients over several years, and one of them has been coming back to me for more than twenty years now for help with articles, reviews, reports, presentations and, most recently, an academic thesis. |
Attitude
I have several passions in my working life: I love to help and solve problems for people, I love to share information and I love to mentor and teach. I find great joy in the crafting of language, and in being part of the process of enabling others to express their ideas to full advantage. I am happy to contribute to any project that needs to use words to convey a message effectively, and I am particularly interested in working with people for whom producing written English is a challenge. I welcome clients whose first language is not English, who have dyslexia or who need support with spelling and sentence construction. Motivation I started my freelance business as part of a move towards a more creative lifestyle. I spend my working hours writing and editing, and my spare time pursuing my love of gardening. One of my clients said recently that she could ‘feel the calmness coming from the page’ when I returned her work to her. It was such a lovely compliment, and I do like to think that my way of life enhances my editing. I enjoy making connections with people, and I communicate with confidence. My experience, my qualification in Advice and Guidance and my testimonials all illustrate my professional commitment to offering helpful and empathetic support to clients. If you feel I have the skills and attitude you are looking for, please get in touch to find out how I can help you. |