My Services

If you need help with:

·         Background research

·         Writing documents from scratch

·         Editing and polishing an existing draft

·         Designing and running workshops

I’d love to hear from you.  I’m thoughtful, efficient and easy to talk to.  Book a coffee chat with me for free. 

Research

You don’t do a PhD in history unless you love finding things out and crafting it into a clear narrative.  I can help you with:

·         Background analysis

·         Issues papers

·         Site and place histories

·         Research for exhibitions

·         Conducting interviews

·         Image research

Writing

With my background in planning and history, I can write, critique and edit documents (including assignments) across a range of different subject areas.

·         Land use and planning

·         Water and resource use

·         Climate change and sustainability

·         Environmental history

·         Social history

·         Museums and collections

·         Literacy

However I am open to work in all disciplines. It’s how you get to learn new and interesting things!

I have experience in writing:

·         Reports

·         Consultation summaries

·         Newsletters

·         Website content

·         Exhibition content

·         Educational booklets

I have completed introductory training in Plain English.  I have also been a volunteer ESL tutor so if your first language is not English, I can help.

I can supply my CV and examples of work on request.

Editing

I can assist with structural editing and line editing, but not proof reading.  What does that mean?

Structural editing is the big picture view of a document, considering things such as;

·         whether it is fit for purpose,

·         logic and overall flow

·         if sub-sections are in the right order,

·         if the argument is clear,

·         tone and appropriate language etc. 

Once these items are clear and agreed upon, the next step is line editing.

Line editing is the more detailed consideration of the work paragraph by paragraph, for example looking for ways to reduce repetition, enhance clarity, adherence to style guides (if relevant) and address basic spelling and grammar. 

Proof reading is the final stage.  The proof reader is the person who picks up all the small errors and inconsistencies that everyone has become blind to.  They also check for things like whether or not the page numbers in the table of contents matches the actual page number, and if the figure numbers match for the all the illustrations. 

I don’t proof read documents that I have spent a long time working on.  It is only a fresh pair of eyes that find all the things your own have gone blind to.

I run workshops in memoir writing.  I am a former editor at the Australian Dictionary of Biography, and my approach to memoir and life writing has evolved from this experience.  For the introductory course, there are five sessions of two hours each and are especially aimed at beginner writers. 

At the end of the course, students will have:

·         an understanding of what memoir and life writing is

·         gained confidence in their ability to write,

·         a structure to follow after the course ends and

·         made a substantial start to their manuscript.

One on one coaching

I offer one on one coaching to previous workshop students and new clients. 

I help you explore why you might be stalled, help you explore ways to get going, support you to set workable goals and act as your cheer squad/whip, whichever is appropriate.