Writing & Editing
When you decide to pair up with a professional communicator—one who inherently understands the value of communicating in a conversational and engaging style—you gain creativity and experience. It’s the kind of experience that will elevate your message above the din of information overload.
My goal is to help you communicate your story in a simple, yet powerful way so that it speaks to people on their level. By conveying information in as precise a language as possible, you are initiating a conversation that instills trust, raises your credibility and encourages a positive response.
Good writing – writing that is accessible to everyday, ordinary people – is spare and precise. A well-written piece is in the service of its readers when the content is well organized and the copy is free of technical words and industry jargon. By structuring information logically and in familiar terms, you immediately benefit your constituents or patrons. If your target audience understands well what you want them to do, you have a greater likelihood of achieving the desired results: raising positive public opinion, generating more customers or, say, receiving that grant.
As a writer/editor of technical reports and other publications, I provide project editing on a range of topics that include health care services and public health, transportation and education and environmental and social issues. (See sample reports and marketing materials, Portfolio page.)
Whether you’re a small business owner, project manager for a public agency or in another category of your own, I can provide you with these services:
- Project writing and editing
- Original research and copywriting
- Web content development
- Marketing materials
- Brochures, fliers, displays
- News releases
Copy Editing & Proofreading
A copy editor is often thought of as the last line of defense, particularly in the newspaper business. It's up to the copy editor to catch those errors that managed to slide by the author. I offer proofreading, and copyediting to editors, authors, business professionals and others. Whether yours is a marketing brochure, a technical publication or a textbook, I am available to proofread and edit.
A note on proofreading versus copy editing:
Basic proofreading includes checking for spelling and punctuation errors, proper capitalization and word usage. A proofreader will do basic formatting fixes, line editing and ensure that typescript adheres to AP style usage, Chicago Manual of Style usage and/or a house style guide.
Comprehensive (copy) editingincludes basic proofreading but it goes beyond checking for spelling and punctuation problems. A copy or content editor ensures that the text is clear, correct, concise, comprehensible and consistent. A copy editor ensures the text flows well, that it makes sense, and is fair and accurate.
Strategic Communications
Strategic communications involves the use of marketing principles and techniques to influence a target audience–your patrons, clients and customers. The idea is to advance your organization's goals by taking deliberate, analytical steps to:
- identify and analyze your target markets
- determine specific program or campaign objectives
- develop strategies to overcome market barriers to reaching those objectives
- determine ways (means, methods) to evaluate success
- set budgets and identify funding sources
- write an action plan
