WHAT I DO & WHAT I DON’T DO
Proofreading, duh
Australian copy and content. Manuscripts, screenplays, treatments, pitch decks, existing websites, reports, articles, blog posts, product descriptions, Instagram captions, flyers, signs, and so on. Words!
I’ll check everything, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, inconsistencies, and formatting. Basically, I’ll catch the ugly stuff before you send it all out to the world.
Specialty areas
Film, literature, and music, animals (especially dogs), medical and medico-legal terminology, nutrition, environmentalism, health and wellbeing, politics, the law, current affairs, and human rights.
I love learning and have solid experience in researching, but these are some areas I am particularly knowledgeable in.
Nope
I won’t proofread anything for school or uni unless you can provide written evidence of this being allowed by your institution.
I will not be held liable for any loss of business or income, dispute, or anything else arising from my advice, edits, and suggestions; it is your responsibility to accept or decline these, thus any outcome is also your responsibility.
WHAT I CHARGE & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF
Hourly
$95 an hour, to be precise. And I charge a one-hour minimum, so, if your job only takes 40 minutes, I’ll charge you for 60. Thereafter it’s to the nearest minute, accurately tracked with Clockify. Coolio.
Invoices are to be paid within three days but if you want to book me for ongoing work we can probably work something out that suits.
For more information on pay rates, see here.
Big jobs
Or small ones! One-offs or regular work, as long as it’s words it’s welcome. I’d love to build strong relationships with awesome people and create lasting partnerships, and some terms (such as hourly rate and payment schedules) may potentially be negotiated for the right projects and businesses.
Good marks
I don’t use the typical squiggles most others use because it’s 2024 and times have changed. My marking style will depend on the document; it won’t always be pretty, but it will always be right. This is part of my down-to-earth approach! If you want the markups no regular person understands, go see a 70-year-old in a musty blazer with a crap website. (No offence to them, it’s just not my style!)
OTHER SERVICES I OFFER
Editing
If you want more than just proofreading, I also offer editing services by negotiation. It all depends on what you need done, from subject matter to size. Substantive, copyediting, maybe even full rewrites! Your best bet is to contact me with some details and we can go from there.
Copywriting
I am a Writer first and foremost, and I’m more than happy to consider your copywriting needs. I’m skilled at matching any tone and writing for diverse audiences, with 15 years of writing behind me. I’m particularly interested in my specialty areas listed above but I can and will write about most things!
Transcribing
Much of my time as an Executive Assistant in law firms was spent audio transcribing, mostly general legal and medico-legal. (I knocked off the medical terminology unit in my Certificate III in Health Administration in just four hours.)
If you have audio files you need typed up, get in touch. I charge $55 per hour for this service.
A NOTE ON THE OXFORD COMMA
I will always use the Oxford comma*. If you’re absolutely against such common sense, you best find someone else to proofread your writing. If you don’t know what an Oxford comma is, here’s an example sentence without one, and then with one:
“I’m going to the park with the dogs, Kevin and Debbie.” In this scenario you have two dogs called Kevin and Debbie and you’re all off to the park.
“I’m going to the park with the dogs, Kevin, and Debbie.” And in this one, you’re going to the park with your dogs as well as Kevin and Debbie, who we can now safely assume are people.
If you’re still against the Oxford comma, dude, wtf.
*Fine, damn it! If you’re really cool and I really want to work with you, I may let this slide. But it will literally hurt me.