Jun 6th, 2007
Wordsmithery
I am a freelance editor, proofreader, and copy writer with extensive experience in corporate, academic, and fiction editing. The fields in which I have worked include anthropology, artificial intelligence (computer science), chemistry, early childhood development, East Asian studies, education, ethnomusicology, geology, history, literature, marketing, public relations, sociology, sound recording and engineering, and women’s studies.
COPY EDITING
–My attention is focused on grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation, tone, and consistency.
–Note: Copy editing is not as “deep” as substantive editing. If hired for a copy edit, I may flag substantive editing issues but will not otherwise address them.
SUBSTANTIVE EDITING or REWRITING
–My attention is focused on organization, structure, purpose, and audience.
–Note: Substantive editing usually includes copy editing.
–Note: Substantive editing usually requires significantly more time than copy editing.
TECHNICAL EDITING
–My attention is focused on presenting specialized (often but not always technical) knowledge to a nonspecialist audience.
–I can work with data you provide to me, or I can obtain the data directly from subject matter experts.
FOR ALL EDITING
–Electronic deliverables include a redlined copy with changes shown, a clean copy with changes in place, and (where applicable) a style sheet.
–Hard-copy deliverables include a marked-up copy and (where applicable) a style sheet. (Note: Client must provide hard-copy files or supply funds to cover time and materials for printing.)
PROOFREADING
–My attention is on fixing spelling, punctuation, and typographical errors that an editor may have overlooked or that may have been introduced post-edit. I will also check for layout problems (e.g., bad hyphen breaks, orphans and widows, headers and footers).
–If working with hard copy only, I also read print-ready copy against an edited/marked-up copy to make sure that all edits have been made.
COPY WRITING
–I craft copy that effectively communicates your message.
–Possibilities include marketing media, web page content, blog posts, advertisements, e-mail, and white papers.
I transform writing into effective communication. If you’re interested in hiring me, please contact me by e-mail at marsha at first-things-first dot net.
