services
Whatever we work on together, you can be sure of a friendly, efficient approach and meticulous work ethic.
‘Thank you, Helen, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with you. You have brought so much
more out of me than I knew was in there!’
RACHEL GODFREY
ELT Author
ELT editing
I am a specialist English Language Teaching editor with eight years’ in-house experience in OUP’s ELT division and many more years working in a freelance capacity for various publishing houses. I love this job because it combines my passions for education, language learning and books!
I work on both digital and print products predominantly across the Primary and Secondary sectors, but have also worked on products for the adult market too.
I have an excellent reputation for handling all aspects of the editorial process: liaising with authors and artists and writing briefs; preparing schedules; selecting artwork; content and copy editing; studio recordings and proof checking before files go to print.
language polishing
I offer a specialist service for academics preparing papers or theses for submission. I’ve worked on papers from autonomous vehicles to zoology, which makes for fascinating reading. I provide a fresh eye and an objective stance on the language you use and the message you want to convey.
I have extensive experience working with non-native speakers of English who need to polish their academic journal and conference papers. I ensure prose is idiomatic and arguments are lucid and clear so that readers and reviewers can focus on what is important and not be distracted by syntactical or grammatical errors.
proofreading
Errors are embarrassing and can be costly, particularly in terms of reputation. Proofreading your copy before it goes public is good practice to ensure that your communications are clear and people are focused on your message, not your mistakes.
Usually a proofread happens once your copy has been typeset, which means it’s on the page, looking lovely. When I proofread I will be checking that all the details of your material are correct: yes, that means checking spellings and grammar but it also means ironing out other issues – including (but not limited to) illustrations and captions, layout, tables of contents and pagination.
Because the material is usually in a fixed layout at this stage, my proofreading intervention should be minimal. However, I will always flag any queries for you to refer to. It takes skill and experience to know what to change and what to leave alone!
As a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, I abide by their professional standards and code of practice.
copywriting
If you have a vision for your marketing collateral but don’t have time to work on the comms, I can help. I take pride in crafting concise and compelling copy that delivers your message with style and shine.
I always take time to understand exactly what you want to say, to whom you want to say it and why. That way I can transform your ideas into powerful copy that will make an impact.
I write for Ten Stories High – a fantastic Marketing and PR agency based in the Lake District. I’ve written widely diverse copy – from cruise ships to cafés – and love the variety this job affords. If you want material for blogs, social media, websites or brochures or anything else, just get in touch.
‘I found Helen extremely helpful, flexible and prompt, and working with her was a real pleasure.’
liz cross
Head of Children’s Publishing, OUP