Tag Archives: content

Recent Work

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I wanted to highlight a few recent collaborations that are now published. In addition, I’ve had a productive winter editing test questions for a large publisher, copyediting journal issues for University of Illinois Press, and managing permissions for eight different health textbooks. As I always say, this career offers me the opportunity to learn about so many topics.

If you need help with anything related to publishing, please reach out so we can discuss your needs.

Copyediting

Win Your Kids Back: Defeat Gaming Addiction by Nirav Saini (via Reedsy)

Proofreading

Déjeuner: Unscrambling Fasting Diets for Health by German Pena (via Reedsy)

Writing

Can Castor Oil Help with Eczema? (via Healthline)

8 Ways to Build Confidence with Thyroid Eye Disease (via Healthline)

How to Manage Depression and Anxiety in Thyroid Eye Disease (via Healthline)

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Mid-Year Update

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July 1 marked the halfway point of 2019, so I thought it would be a good time to take stock of my freelance work so far this year. Professionally, it’s been a very rewarding year for me, and I hope the trend continues this summer and fall.

Here are a few highlights from the first half of 2019:

  • I continue to write articles for Healthline, an online medical and wellness website. So far my most-read article of 2019 is “Bleeding After Hysterectomy: Is It Normal & When to Call a Doctor” with 52,924 user sessions. My articles range from these very detailed medical articles to topics that are a little less intense like “Why Is Water Important? 16 Reasons to Drink Up.” I just finished an article called “Is My Baby Having Night Terrors?” and I hope it is helpful to parents.
  • I am now collaborating with a few new clients. One client has hired me to write case studies to help a company market products in the higher education field. I have also found new clients via Reedsy and have been helping authors with their works on gestational diabetes, jazz, and instrument tuning (so far). I always say that I love my job because I come into contact with and learn about such diverse material. It’s a great fit for a lifelong reader and learner!
  • I still edit several academic journals each year. I have now copyedited several issues of the Bulletin for Research on Music Education, the Journal of Animal Ethics, Process Studies, and Jazz and Culture. The work going on in these fields is fascinating.

In addition to these highlights, I wrapped up a long-term ghostwriting collaboration with someone, copyedited/proofread a few upcoming trade books, and used my permissions-acquiring skills with a large medical-educational publisher.

Please let me know if there is anything I can help you finish as the year enters its second half.

Do I Need a Writer, an Editor, or Someone Else?

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If you are unfamiliar with the publishing process, you may wonder how a writer, editor, copyeditor, or proofreader can help you. I have worked on projects in all of these roles, and here’s my brief overview of how they serve a publication.

Writer: You may need a writer if you have a lot of ideas but you can’t seem to get them down on paper. A writer can take your stream-of-consciousness thoughts or interview you to create the document you intend to publish. That may be a website, a book, or something else. Writers can also create documents with prompts you give them or a research topic to investigate. I write for many different clients and some of my projects have included writing articles, ghostwriting books or blog posts, summarizing case studies, and more.

Editor: This is a very general title and I would lean toward putting the word “developmental” in front of the title as it concerns an individual seeking help. This person can look at your work so far and give you ideas of how to reshape or retool it to meet your intended audience. A developmental editor can also help you work on flow and ask probing questions to help you dig deeper into your document. At a publishing house, an editor may also be a managing or acquiring editor. A managing editor coordinates all aspects of the publishing process and an acquiring editor finds content to publish.

Copyeditor: This person will copyedit a document that is in very good shape and almost ready for publication. This person uses a style book or style guide (and a dictionary!) to correct grammar, usage, and style errors. A copyeditor may also point out sentences that need clarification or suggest adding headings to improve readability. A copyeditor will also format references in a bibliography or notes section as well as inquire about permissions for artwork or long passages that you borrowed from another source. Your copyeditor may also be willing to fact-check a document if you request it.

Proofreader: A proofreader looks at a nearly published document usually set in its final form. A proofreader will only correct egregious errors like misspellings or the odd (or missing) punctuation mark. The proofreader ensures that everything looks clean and tidy to avoid embarrassing mistakes appearing in the final publication.

There are of course other roles in publishing like typesetters, designers, agents, reviewers, fact-checkers, translators, and more. Before you get too far with your work, however, consider whether you need one (or more) of these types of people involved in your document. Feel free to contact me to chat about your project, and I can provide you with an assessment of what I think you need.

Highlights from May, June, and July

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It’s nearing the end of July, and we’ve got a heatwave in Philadelphia. I’m beating the sweltering weather during these dog days in the central air, as I wrap up several projects with impending deadlines.

Here’s what I’ve been working on for the last few months:

  • Contributing to finalizing chapters of a nursing textbook, including finding art and editing references
  • Coding and finalizing chapters for another nursing textbook
  • Editing a graduate-level dissertation on neuroscience and information technology
  • Copyediting journals on Mormon history and music education
  • Proofreading a book on the physics of nothing and a small gift book on the virtues of Christmas
  • Reviewing updated resumes
  • Writing articles on diabetes, yoga, gluten free diets, and other health subjects

When I’m not working, I’m balancing this docket of work with some pretty breezy summer reads–mostly celebrity memoirs. It’s fun to take a peek into some icons of our present day, including some pretty funny ladies who’ve enjoyed success at Saturday Night Live and beyond.

Highlights, End of 2015

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Happy New Year to all of you! The cold has settled in the Middle Atlantic states, and I am chugging along on some time-intensive projects that require me to move back and forth between The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Despite this ping-pong match between CMoS and APA, I am enjoying all of the work this new year brings.

Projects I worked on at the end of 2015 include:

  • Copyediting a journal on music education and a journal on Polish studies.
  • Editing a dissertation for a doctoral candidate in education.
  • Supporting a volume editor edit references and request permissions for a large-scale health textbook.
  • Reviewing marketing emails and blog posts for a graphic designer and lifestyle expert.
  • Compiling a handbook for a professional organization.
  • Writing articles for Healthline.

 

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And, in case you missed it, check out my recent blog post on the fabulous new coffee mugs I’ll be drinking from in the new year.

Now Writing for Healthline

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I wanted to share that I’ve been writing for Healthline, a web resource for health and wellness topics, since June.

Here’s some of my latest work:

If you need a professional writer to tackle a topic for your website, blog, newsletter, or other publication, look no further. I love to help capture the ideas bouncing around the heads of my clients and put them into a coherent written document. Contact me for more information about my writing services.

Client Profile: Envivo Creative

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I’m so glad I hired Natalie to write my website copy for me. All I had was a set of (what I thought were) incoherent notes about what I wanted my website to say and she was able to turn them into very readable copy that stayed true to my brand’s voice. It was like magic! She was happy to hear my suggestions and my hesitations and offered great advice when it was needed. I will definitely be hiring Natalie again in the future. She was a pleasure to work with!

— Tara Wilder, Envivo Creative

EnvivoCreative-mediumIn September, I had the great experience of collaborating with Tara Wilder, founder of Envivo Creative. Tara recently decided to leave her position as an online marketer for an information technology company to start a business that offers clients dynamic, results-driven online marketing campaigns. She even has a background in psychology, so she can really get into the head of your target market!

Tara WilderWhen I first spoke to Tara, she was finding it difficult to write the copy for her website. She decided to outsource this task, and I quickly realized that she was hitting writing roadblocks because she was too close to the project. After all, she lived and breathed Envivo Creative day in and day out — creating her business plan, working with a business coach, building her website, and attracting initial clients. As is so often the case, I could create her copy quickly and efficiently because of my distance from the business. I don’t stumble over ideas because I am mulling over the possibilities in my head, which can happen so often to entrepreneurs.

The Process

Tara and I began our collaboration with a 30-minute phone conversation. She discussed her company, and I asked relevant questions. Following our initial talk, I asked her to send me materials about her business as well as other ideas she had related to the copy. She requested writing samples, which I was happy to provide to her (and any other potential client).

For the next three weeks, Tara and I traded emails and ideas. I created a first draft of the copy, which she returned to me with notes and suggestions. We developed a great working relationship that fostered honest and productive feedback. By the end of our project, we felt like close colleagues, despite never meeting in person.

I am so excited to see how Tara’s business unfolds. I know Envivo Creative will help any small business get off the ground or grow with the effective marketing campaigns Tara and her team create. And I can’t wait to work with her and other entrepreneurs in the future. Helping someone develop ideas into coherent prose is one of my true passions.

Client Profile: Emi Kirschner (Via Caitlin Merto Designs)

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EK_Logo_RGBOne of the reasons I love publishing is seeing the end product. There is nothing better than watching a project come to fruition. No matter whether it’s a book, journal, newsletter, or website, there are lots of moving parts in anything that ends up “out there” for public consumption. Recently, I got a huge rush after seeing the rebranding of a recent client, Emi Kirschner.

Emi, a food, wellness, and lifestyle coach, recently launched her new website, emikirschner.com. This site features a wealth of information and shares Emi’s talents, knowledge, and unique approach. In the near future, Emi will launch “French Fries to Foodies,” a program designed for parents whose kids tend to be picky eaters. Emi’s down-to-earth style and patience will help any family struggling with incorporating well-balanced meals into the daily routine.

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Emi Kirschner

The fabulous graphic artist Caitlin Merto, of Caitlin Merto Designs, implemented and executed Emi’s new brand. Caitlin and I have been collaborating for some time on various rebranding projects, and it was a pleasure to contribute to this one. Emi and I worked closely together to shape her website’s copy to reflect her target audience as well as her enhanced brand, as identified by Caitlin. Earlier in the summer, Emi and I worked on her “Buttoned-up Bio,” which she can use for her many speaking engagements, workshops, and other endeavors. I hope that the copy on Emi’s website conveys her amazing work and her dedication to living better.

Emi, thanks for letting me contribute to your exciting new brand. (And kudos to Leave It to Me Photography for Emi’s fabulous new photos!)

Six Writing and Editing Resources

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In my line of work, we use several resources to guide our decision-making. These are our tools of the trade, helping us keep things consistent and in order. If you are writing or editing any type of content, I recommend you utilize one or more of these resources and keep your own in-house style sheet (I’ll be posting about that soon).

Here are my top resources for writing and editing:

Stylebooks

The_Chicago_Manual_of_Style_16th_edition1. The Chicago Manual of Style

Here’s the style guide I used at my former job at an independent book publisher. The Chicago Manual of Style is very comprehensive (and thick!). I swear, it answers nearly every question that might come up when you are working on a document. I highly recommend this style guide for books.

Why I love Chicago style:

  • Comprehensive
  • Helpful chapter on punctuation
  • Great advice for notes, references, and bibliographies
  • Informative for beginning editors and writers who are learning about the process

Last year I began using the online version of the guide, making my editing work even more transportable. For just $35.00/month you can have access to the book as a searchable resource — making it easier for you to look up a term, question, or style preference.

51Ejt8rMFaL2. The Associated Press Stylebook

I first used The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook when I worked for my college newspaper. I loved this resource for many reasons at the time, mostly because of its cut-and-dried approach to punctuation, terms, and formatting. Now, I have to admit, my love of the serial comma is strong, so exclusively referring to this style can be difficult (sorry to any of you who love the omission of that last comma in a series!). I recommend this style guide for writing intended for the web, newsletters, and magazines.

Why I love AP style:

  • Definitive
  • Easy-to-use
  • Good style for short-form writing

Make sure you start with the most recent edition of this book to avoid making any style decisions based on previous issues. In our constantly changing world, many of the terms and recommendations will change related to the web and other emerging technologies.

apa-style3. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

Of all the style guides, I find this resource the most helpful and the most frustrating. You may be asked to follow this style book (hereafter called APA style) for higher education courses or for professional writing. Its main focuses are avoiding bias in your writing (important!), formatting academic papers (crucial if that’s what you need to do), and ensuring that your references are consistent and match the manual’s recommendations (I can guarantee you’ll never stop checking for ampersands and appropriate periods). These sections of the book are immensely helpful, though I find it difficult to use when I have higher-level grammar or style questions. Sometimes I will confer with Chicago to confirm those questions.

Why I love APA style:

  • Great for academic writing
  • Helpful tips for bias-free language
  • Straightforward approach to references and citations

If you are using APA style and need more help, be sure to use the Publication Manual’s blog. It will provide you with plenty more information on writing and editing in APA style.

Web Resources

Okay, enough with the stylebooks! Here are some great web references that you can utilize for quick grammar, usage, and style questions.

4. Merriam-WebsterMerriam-Webster_logo.svg

I use merriam-webster.com as my go-to dictionary and thesaurus. It’s wise to have one specific dictionary to source for consistency. I recommend this tried-and-true version, and it’s the favorite of many stylebooks. You’ll be able to confirm spellings and capitalization as well as determine good synonyms when writing punchy copy. It even has a great medical dictionary and fun words of the day.

ud-logo5. Urban Dictionary

Okay, this is a little out of left field, but a lot of my clients use slang and colloquial language when writing blogs, newsletters, and other personal communications. Urban Dictionary is my source for looking up terms not in the Merriam-Webster (think figuring out what YOLO or FOMO means or deciding on a consistent spelling for “biznass” or “hair-did”).

duVKyUtt_400x4006. Grammar Girl

I have a professional crush on Grammar Girl. She’s all-knowing and is great at explaining problematic grammar issues, such as affect vs. effect, split infinitives, and parallel construction. Whenever you have a grammar question, this site can give you helpful information and tips without a whiff of grammar snobbery (a pet peeve of mine!). It’s a great way to answer specific questions or to relearn grammar that you last thought about when writing your final school paper a decade or two ago.

I hope these resources can be helpful to you as you create and edit content. I am always here to help you with any type of writing or editing. Contact me at natalielsilver (at) yahoo (dot) com to discuss your project and needs.

Client Profile: The Law Office of Heather L. Turner, LLC

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HeatherTurner_Logo1.inddEarlier this summer I worked with estate attorney Heather L. Turner to create copy for her new website. As the owner of The Law Office of Heather L. Turner, LLC, Heather wanted to create a site that was approachable for individuals and families, no matter their stage of life. Heather offers many services, including an all-in-one package for those looking to create an estate plan, and she wanted copy that conveyed her uncomplicated approach to wills and trusts. Even though she has a beautiful office in Narberth, she’s willing to travel to her clients to ease their burden!

The copy-creating process with Heather was ideal. We collaborated for about a month, beginning with me listening to her presentation at a local MOMS Club meeting. After that we met to discuss her goals for the site and followed up with e-mail exchanges. Heather needed copy for her welcome page, services page, and biography (which is difficult to write yourself, as I blogged about last week). Our working relationship was open and friendly, and I was able to deliver usable copy with just a few rounds of revision. Heather tweaked what I wrote as needed and sent it to her web designer to add to the new site.

Collaborating with Heather was such a rewarding experience. I am a huge advocate for families having estate plans in place, and Heather’s magnetic personality and professional experience make her the perfect person to write and administer wills and trusts. If you are looking for a personable and knowledgable estate planning attorney in Pennsylvania, contact Heather.

And thanks to Heather for such a ringing endorsement:

Natalie listened to what I wanted to portray on my website and helped me say exactly what I wanted. Natalie is easy to work with. She is friendly and professional and treats all clients like they are her biggest.

I can’t begin to express the joy I get from working with talented and smart small business owners. Heather is the perfect example of a go-getter entrepreneur. She understands that hiring people for professional services adds time to her life, giving her more hours to work with her clients. Thanks, Heather, for letting me help you with your informative new site!