I offer editing, writing, and communications strategy for organizations doing work that matters, particularly in the nonprofit, criminal legal system, and higher education fields. If your project doesn’t fit neatly into one of the categories below, that’s fine. Get in touch and we’ll figure it out.
Editing
Make your point, make it clear, keep it brief, and keep it moving.
Editing is what turns a good draft into a trusted document. It protects your credibility, sharpens your message, and makes sure readers understand what you meant. I work at whatever level your project needs, and many projects use more than one.
Developmental editing: Choose this if you have a draft but aren’t sure it works.
I look at the big picture: What is this about? Who is it for? What are the key takeaways? Is the structure right, and what should be added or cut? I review narrative, logic, flow, consistency, and voice.
Line editing: Choose this if the structure is solid but the writing needs to be stronger.
I work at the sentence and paragraph level to make your ideas clear and precise, cutting jargon and clichés, tightening language, and getting the tone right.
Copy editing: Choose this if the content is ready and you need it accurate and consistent.
I check spelling, punctuation, grammar, and style, and make sure your document follows the relevant style guide or your in-house style. I verify that tables and charts add up and are labeled and referenced correctly, and I check footnotes and citations for accuracy and consistency.
Proofreading: Choose this if the document is final and needs one last check.
This is the final pass before publication. I’m not making major changes, only catching remaining errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting.
Style guides I work with: Chicago, AP, APA, your organization’s house style.
Typical documents: Research reports, policy briefs, annual reports, factsheets, web content, newsletters, donor communications, grant proposals
Not sure which level you need? Send me the draft and I’ll recommend one.
Writing and content development
Sometimes just getting something written down is the hardest part.
I can create content and work with you to shape it until it’s ready to publish, or write a first draft and hand it off to you to refine.
What I write:
- Online articles
- Briefs and longer reports
- Op-eds
- Email campaigns
- Annual reports
- Newsletters
- Factsheets
- Social media content
- Correspondence and messaging
Communications strategy
It’s not just what you say. It’s how you say it, who you’re saying it to, and where you’re saying it.
If your communications feel scattered, or you need to rethink your approach, I can assess where you are, look at what your peers and competitors are doing, and build a plan that works for your organization and staff, whatever your size.
We start with the basics, which are often the hardest:
- What are your goals?
- What’s your message?
- Who needs to hear it?
- What should people take away?
Also available: layout and graphics support
I can lay out reports and factsheets using your existing templates, design simple templates, and create graphics for social media, email, or web using InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
How it works
- Tell me about your project. Send a short description and a draft, if you have one.
- We agree on scope. I’ll recommend the right approach and give you a clear estimate and timeline before we begin.
- I do the work. You receive the agreed upon final deliverable(s) by the agreed date, with room for revisions.
Ready to get started?
Tell me what you’re working on and I’ll help you figure out what you need.
