WHAT I DO Academic Editing I am happy to undertake any kind of editing project, but the bulk of my work consists of proofreading and editing dissertations, theses and academic papers in a variety of disciplines. I’ve tackled areas as diverse as Film & Television, Physiotherapy, Law and Art. It always makes me happy when a student rings me after submitting work to say their supervisor was pleased. I am proud to say that only very rarely has a client of mine had to re-submit a thesis. It is such a thrill when I hear that all our hard work has paid off and a student has satisfactorily completed a course and been awarded that long-coveted degree!

Foreign academics, especially former students who take up the academic life, often return to me after graduation to ask for help in preparing journal articles. This is an area in which I feel at home, due to my past experience in freelance journalism.

Non-Fiction

I am happy to proofread anything from a job application to a technical manual to a self-help book. Contact me and we'll discuss your particular needs.

Fiction

As an experienced writer with in-depth knowledge of the speculative genres, especially fantasy, I enjoy reading works that other writers are preparing for publication. I will be happy to copy-edit your work and offer informed comment on plot, style and technique.

HOW I DO IT

I prefer to work on screen using MS Word’s editing facility. I correct your spelling and punctuation and re-word obscure passages for clarity, making notes and suggestions in the margin. If you accept my suggested changes, you can simply delete my comments and change the font colour to black (the edits show up in colour) so the piece is ready to print out and hand in. I will, of course, work in hard copy if that’s your preference.

I can do a much better job if you allow me plenty of time. I like to see a thesis or other long work chapter by chapter as you go along, finally giving the whole manuscript a last copy-edit before you submit it.

NOTE: If you don’t send the work chapter by chapter I must receive the entire thesis or book at least three weeks before your submission deadline. The longer the work, the more time it takes!

WHAT I DON’T DO

I will not, under any circumstances, write all or part of your academic work for you, even from your notes. You must make some effort to put the work down in English, even if your English is not very good. I will help you in every way I can to structure your work according to Australian lecturers’ expectations and to make sure your grammar, spelling, syntax and punctuation are acceptable, but I will never, ever, write your work for you.