Writing:

Do you stand out from the crowd? Does your reader take one look at your messaging and know that you’re the one for them? If the answer is no, you’re not doing it right.

The written word is everywhere: websites, blogs, social media. Getting the right message to your chosen audience is your key to success. Your words must create an impact. To create value for your reader, the content should be engaging, it should hit them between the eyes and make them sit up and take notice. You want your reader to do something; to pick up the phone, to buy something or to click through to your website. To make that happen, the message they receive must be right for them.

If you would like some help in writing content for your blog or website, if you’re looking for someone with a background in marketing and a good understanding of SEO, then I’m your person! I write extensively for both B2B and B2C markets, covering topics from engineering products, materials, health and fitness, pets and beauty.

“Claire is fast, accurate and interesting – all the things you look for in an excellent copy writer! As an agency owner, we have a high demand for content. We have worked with Claire for a few years now on a range of different clients’ content. Claire writes really well for the technical sector, probably because of her technical background, but also for leisure, hospitality and retail. We have many very happy clients, so the proof really is in the pudding!”

Rachel Wilson, KW Digital

Proofreading and editing:

Often referred to as  proof-editing outside of the publishing industry, the service I offer can range from proofreading (a final, detailed read-through looking at very minor changes), through to a light edit to ensure that the language used is consistent and appropriate to the readership, as well as checking spelling, punctuation, grammar and all the other things traditionally undertaken by a proofreader. I can also undertake a more substantial copy-edit, taking a batch of content and revising it to suit your brand, existing (or new) style, and your audience, as well all the language-based items listed above.

“Proofing is both an art and a skill, and it is a task I hate, which is why we outsource our proofing to Claire. In a typical month, we can have 50 pieces of content to proof, so our requirements are generally high and short notice. Claire never lets us down, she takes every piece from good-enough to perfect and provides valuable feedback to our team along the way. I would recommend her services to anyone.”

Rachel Wilson, KW Digital.

I am a member of the Society for Proofreaders and Editors, and will therefore work within the guidelines of their Code of Practice.

Why do you need a proofreader?

How confident are you that you have used the correct version of their, they’re and there throughout the document you have produced? Spell-checker will pick up mis-spelled words but not those typos where a real, but incorrect, word has been typed; for example, ‘do now press the red button’ rather than ‘do not press the red button’. How about using a hyphenated version of a word such as fine-tuning in one part of your document, and finetuning in another? Might you have referred to an acronym in one section as SMART and another as S.M.A.R.T.? How about using a bullet-pointed list on one page, and a numbered list on the next? These may seem like minor details, but it will distract your readers; it is in our nature to look for patterns, and it therefore provides confidence when your work is consistent, accurate and demonstrates professionalism. After all, if you can’t get your pre-sales message right, or your CV consistent, or your job advertisement grammatically correct, what does that say about the rest of your business?

Equally, if your message is inconsistent, confusing or punching either above or below the knowledge base of the readership, then they may well not read on; a third party can help to ensure your message is consistent and will provide an objective viewpoint on the material you are using before it reaches your critical audience.

If you ask me to proofread your document, I will:

• check spelling, punctuation and grammar
• ensure the correct use of capitalisation, hyphenation and consistency of format
• check that headings, subheadings and numbering systems are consistent (though it is down to the author/copy-editor to set them in the first instance)
• check that urls are relevant and live
• identify incorrect use of words and make alternative suggestions where possible
• ensure that your house style has been applied

If you ask me to proof-edit your content, I will:

• edit according to our agreed brief
• apply your house style or create a style sheet for you
• mark up tracked changes in word, or using PDF mark-up tools
• check that urls are relevant and live
• ensure consistency of style, perspective and voice

What is copy-editing?

This is a far more thorough edit, undertaken earlier in the writing stage and will often be the point at which stylistic decisions are made, advice is given on language choices and consistency, and and changes made to the content to ensure that it is accurate, concise, appropriate and well-written. This stage will also include marking up headers, tables, images, etc. as appropriate. Depending on the type of document, there may be a requirement for checking hyperlinks, applying coding and formatting to the text, and ensuring that queries are raised and resolved with the author prior to typesetting.

I am a member of the Society for Proofreaders and Editors, and will therefore work within the guidelines of their Code of Practice.

Jobs are priced on an individual basis according to the complexity of the work and your requirements, however I will estimate the work based on the minimum rates as suggested by the Society for Proofreaders and Editors. In order to make an assessment I will need to see a sample of the work, as well as some basic details:

• Word count
• Schedule (i.e. the date that you will provide the document, and your deadline for receipt of the completed work)
• The type of service you are looking for
• The type of work:
  • Website content
  • Blog
  • Marketing material
  • Curriculum vitae (C.V.)
  • Fiction
• Author-specific information (native or non-native English speakers, multi- or single-author)

I can provide either a fixed-fee service based on per 1,000 words or I can give hour or day rates if these are preferable for your requirements.

No job is too small, however I charge a minimum fee of £40 for a single piece of work.

Contact me on claire@cairn-editorial.co.uk or via my contact form

Between Claire Clarke, Trading as Cairn Editorial, and you, the Client.

1. These terms & conditions apply to any work done for the Client by Claire Clarke.
2. The Client is under no obligation to offer Claire Clarke work; neither is Claire Clarke under any obligation to accept the work offered by the Client.
3. Claire Clarke will provide service(s) as mutually agreed, confirmed in writing by the Client.
4. The work will be carried out unsupervised at such times and places as determined by Claire Clarke, using her own equipment.
5. Claire Clarke confirms that she is self-employed, is responsible for her own income tax and National Insurance contributions, and for paying VAT (where applicable) and will not claim benefits granted to the Client’s employees.
6. Claire Clarke agrees to attend the Client’s or other premises for necessary meetings, the time spent and agreed reasonable expenses incurred to be reimbursed by the Client.
7. The Client will reimburse Claire Clarke for agreed reasonable expenses over and above the usual expenses incurred in the process of editorial work.
8. The Client will pay Claire Clarke a fee per hour OR per printed page OR an agreed flat fee for the job.
9. The completed work will be delivered on or before the date agreed, for the agreed fee, which will be based on the description of the work required and the brief, both supplied by the Client.
10. If, however, on receipt of the item to be worked on or at an early stage, it becomes apparent that significantly more work is required than had been anticipated in the preliminary discussion/brief, Claire Clarke may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline.
11. Similarly, if, during the term of Claire Clarke’s work, additional tasks are requested by the Client, Claire Clarke may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline.
12. If the project is lengthy, Claire Clarke may invoice periodically for completed stages.
13. Any content created by Claire Clarke as part of the copy-editing/proofreading/project management process will become the copyright of the Client, unless otherwise agreed.
14. The nature and content of the work will be kept confidential and not made known to anyone other than the Client and its contractors without prior written permission.
15. Claire Clarke guarantees that any work that she subcontracts on behalf of the Client will be completed to the same standard, schedule and budget and with the same conditions of confidentiality.
16. If Claire Clarke’s work is unsatisfactory, Claire Clarke will rectify it in her own time and at her own expense.
17. Unless agreed otherwise at the outset, payment will be made within 30 days of receipt Claire Clarke’s invoice, according to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 (amended 2002 and 2013).
18. Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Client and the Freelance may keep on record such information (e.g. contact details) as is necessary. Either may view the other’s records to ensure that they are relevant, correct and up to date.
19. Either the Client or Claire Clarke has the right to terminate a contract for services if there is a serious breach of its terms.
20. If Claire Clarke has made a substantial contribution to the copy-editing/proofreading/project management of the work, she will be entitled to receive a free copy of the work.
21. Claire Clarke may use the Client’s name in her promotional material.
22. This agreement is subject to Scottish law, and both Claire Clarke and Client agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.
23. If it becomes apparent during the course of the project that the content could cause harm or offence to the readership, Claire Clarke maintains the right to cease work on the project and agree payment for the work completed to date.

I am an Entry-Level Member of the Society for Proofreaders and Editors, and any agreement formed will therefore be based around the guidelines of their Code of Practice.