Image is everything if you want credibility for your organization. Every error in a proposal, brochure, catalog, advertisement, website or other project promoting your organization does matter—and will not necessarily be picked up by your spelling or grammar checker. You may consider yourself a pretty decent writer, yet even professional writers can benefit from a fresh pair of eyes on their work. Catalogs and technical documents need even more careful attention to such details as product numbers, prices, specifications, page numbers and indexes.

Proofreading newspapers, magazines and books typically means comparing the latest version of text with the preceding version and marking any inconsistencies and typos. Elsewhere, proofreading is often a combination of copyediting and proofreading because most writing projects need more than a quick check for typos, spelling and formatting errors.

Copyediting, sometimes called line editing, typically focuses on spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of the original text. It may also include preparing a style sheet for style consistency; reading for clarity and logic and querying suspected problems; recasting awkward sentences; cutting unnecessary words or sentences; cross-checking figures, tables and other features for consistency with mentions in text; and fact checking.

The turnaround time depends on several variables, including number of pages and how much work is needed. I may be able to return a press release, newsletter or brochure to you on the day I receive it if previously arranged. Rush charges may apply on short notice, overnight or weekend projects.

I charge by the hour or the project. My minimum per project charge of $125 is a typical charge for a four-page newsletter. I provide new clients with a document detailing my business practices and rates. I am happy to provide an estimate once I’ve seen some copy. On projects of six or more pages, I am willing to edit a page or two to show suggested improvements.

Please contact me by telephone or e-mail before sending me any copy. I use Microsoft Word on a Mac. I typically work on clients’ Word documents using Track Changes. I sometimes mark up hard copy for design projects and can also work with PDFs.

Yes, I am available to research, to conduct interviews, write or rewrite copy for websites, newsletters, magazine articles, press releases, or other projects. Please contact me by telephone or e-mail regarding your needs. Rates vary by project. Browse through a few of my writing samples.