editing references
‘Alison has brought order and direction to my writing, where required, inviting me to consider what might be expressed better and bringing sense to some of my more chaotic ideas … without over editing and slowing the flow. This she has achieved with the diplomacy and tact common to all good editors and essential when dealing with temperamental authors and their work.’
‘Alison has professionally and patiently guided me through the process of getting my childrens’ book from developmental edit to publication. Her calm manner and knowledge were an invaluable guide and motivation.’
‘You’ve really helped us make the deadline here’
‘Thanks for all your hard (and swift!) work on the reports, we’d be very stuck without you on the team’
‘It would be great if you had the availability to do at least three during that span’
Copyediting InDesign of Smithers Information reports
‘Brilliant! Thanks so much for getting through this before your holiday.’
‘I have more books if you’re ready for another. If not, could you let me know when you’re likely to be free again.’
Copyediting various academic publications
Dear Alison, Thank you for your professional and continuous support during the editing process of the book which included the insertion of numerous images in each of the chapters and the names of Japanese people and places. Your patience with my requests for corrections was very much appreciated.
Best wishes, Susan
Dear Alison, It has been for me a pleasure working with you, I am overwhelmed by the book, so a big Scottish thank you and I will keep in touch.
Yours sincerely
Richard Glass
‘I’ve always believed that every book should benefit from a professional edit. Sadly, this isn’t a hard and fast rule in these times of self-publishing and print-on-demand. Alison has solved many problems for me as a writer and as a publisher. In the first (writing) instance, she doesn’t allow my scribblings, which can be a little eccentric, to drift too far into obscurity and always brings the narrative back into proper perspective. In the second (publishing) instance, she has been invaluable to Gatecrasher Books, solving all the finicky problems associated with formatting, design, registry, accounts, etc., that I am either too busy, too confused, or too lazy to do myself. Thanks Alison.’
‘Many thanks for all your editorial efforts and for juggling jobs around so that you could prioritise Incredible Edibles – very much appreciated!’
‘I have a document for you to work your magic on …’
‘most excellent! – well done you …’
‘I’m pretty sure they don’t have templates for documents, so can you create one please …’
‘Thanks for looking at it so quickly …’
Is there any chance that you can format a survey for me? … Brilliant’
Christina Dixon Consulting, range of report formatting, proofreading, designing
‘The book is great thank you for all your hard work.’
‘We are very pleased with the work that you’ve done and we have since sent the Report to the printers.’
“I would like to say thank you for the book and cover. I do not mind admitting that I was a little bit emotional when I saw what you had done; after all the hard work to finally see it looking like a book was fantastic … I would like to say how much I value all the help and support you have given me.”
Doing Feminisms In The Academy: Identity, Institutional Pedagogy And Critical Classrooms In India And The Uk
We were up against a tight deadline to catch a window in the publisher’s schedule. Having you on board taking care of the copy editing not only ensured we met that deadline with a clean manuscript but also created vital head headspace for us as editors to enable us to keep the overall intellectual project in sight, and spend time finessing the Introduction etc
Thank you for your prompt sample edit. It’s great that you can meet my deadline. After the initial shock at so much editing I realized it does make reading easier so I am happy to go ahead with you as editor and for the layout for printing and formatting for ebook.
Thanks for the good job in general!
Thank you for this. I am very happy for you to send your invoice over.
‘I have just received our copies and would just like to thank everyone involved in its production. It is a great piece of work and a credit to the organisation!’
Dear Alison,
I’ve written this recommendation of your work to share with other LinkedIn users.
Details of the Recommendation: “Alison copy-edited my book on mobile commerce. As well as correcting the grammar, she found many ways to improve the book’s readability. She took the trouble to understand the subject matter and thereby to highlight some inconsistencies in the text. And importantly she completed her review within the agreed timescale. I would have no hesitation in using her services again or in recommending them to others.”
Service Category: Writer/Editor
Year first hired: 2013
Top Qualities: Great Results, Expert, On Time
‘I look forward to working with you again’ Academic copyediting for Routledge
As such a significant part of our schedule is devoted to an ongoing series of projects which come either on a drip feed or a gushing torrent, it can be problematic for us to manage the annual schedule. Something that is vital to the smooth running of our business is the ability of freelance editors to promptly react to changing circumstances and lack of warning on our part about upcoming projects. Alison has, on multiple occasions!, ironed out a kink in our pipeline by responding quickly, accurately, and even over the weekend!
Copyediting InDesign of Smithers Information reports
‘We had a technical report for produce for an electricity distribution network to summarise multiple phases of research conducted. This was a very tight turnaround with limited time for our internal quality checks to be implemented. Alison was able to very quickly comprehend the technical information, and provide an amended and edited document within the tight timescales required.’
‘I have now gone through the pages and find the text really improved. A fantastic job creating flow and better understanding.’
‘Thanks ever so much … I’ll send another one to be edited after this one’ Academic copyediting for a variety of publishing houses
‘You are such a great editor and we really appreciate the work you do.’
Author feedback:
‘I think the level of editing is very good. Thanks for this great work.’
‘Please extend to your copyeditor who did the proof-reading my acknowledgement and thanks for her good work.’
‘Needless to say I am very grateful for your diligence and professionalism in the work.’
‘Great, thanks. Yes, complete and final.’
‘Just been back to look at the very glossy proof copy with Lola and we are absolutely delighted! Well bloody done to all of us and a very big thank you to you for making it all happen!!’
design references
Editing and designing information presentation and book
A big thanks to Alison Shakspeare for pulling the mass of information together and making a dream a reality!
Branding package for real estate business in US: logo, colour scheme, stationery and website items
‘I do like what you did for the cover. That’s a good template I can see myself using.’
‘Perfect! Thank you so much for your help (and patience)!’
Alison was really helpful, friendly and gave me lots of advice for the next stage of my book. I employed her to edit and prepare my book for publishing … One of the stages I had problems with was the cover page … Alison was brilliant and she managed to sort out the right pixel size and placed the fairy dust, font and colour of the cover page. Alison solved a lot of other formatting issues for me. She is very professional and helpful and I couldn’t have produced my books if it wasn’t for her.
‘Saw the latest proofs, wonderful, go for it!’
‘I know you’re up to the job skills wise, putting ebooks together (with all content supplied) to look professional & pretty. And I’d prefer to work with someone I already know if you’re up for it?’
most of all, I am thrilled and very proud to have got my life story into print and into the hands of those who matter to me.
Thank you, Alison for your dedicated, skilful, professional work and for the confidence I felt throughout that my treasures were in safe hands.
Hi Alison, … Thanks for all your help. You’ve been really professional and I’d happily use your services again.
Kind regards, Richard
Dear Alison, The book is beautiful, exactly what I envisioned.
Best wishes, Susan
“I would like to say thank you for the book and cover. I do not mind admitting that I was a little bit emotional when I saw what you had done; after all the hard work to finally see it looking like a book was fantastic … I would like to say how much I value all the help and support you have given me.”
‘The brochures have arrived and they look brilliant.’
‘Looks lovely. Well done’
‘Alison’s been busy working her magic on the leaflet.’
‘I am happy to recommend Alison. She did an excellent job of managing a challenging project involving a suite of documents that needed to be turned around quickly.’
‘The book is great thank you for all your hard work.’
‘You have done an excellent job. Thank you.’
‘Excellent work. Just what I wanted.’
‘Thank you as ever.’
a) editing, designing and publishing the book ‘Just been back to look at the very glossy proof copy with Lola and we are absolutely delighted! Well bloody done to all of us and a very big thank you to you for making it all happen!!’ and b) the website ‘Thank you, not only your efficacy, but also your alacrity!’
Seriously Alison, I thank you so much for that. I will get there slowly but surely! You are a Star.
Top reviews from United Kingdom
‘Thanks it looks fab. J. is really pleased’
‘I’m actually using my editor Alison to do the really technical bits as she’s more reliable than X’
‘Great, thanks. Yes, complete and final.’
Website References
‘Thank you so much for trekking all the way up here to show me how to make changes to my website. It was much appreciated and meant that I could start to put some real meat on the bones.’
The site looks lovely
‘Thank you, not only your efficacy, but also your alacrity!’
‘The new site looks great … Love the Reviews and Awards page … Love the slider’
‘We love it!’
‘Thank you! All uploaded and looking good.’
‘Brilliant, thanks so much. I wish everyone was as efficient as you!‘
Copywriting References
‘Thanks for the text, it sounds good … I think I’m going to need someone like you on board.’
‘I will be in contact regarding the sales letters, these have already been written but I would like your opinion on them or any adjustments you think that are necessary.’
‘I need some inspiring words for this [eBay] listing!’
‘Can you please supply a short introduction for Instagram? I’ll let you decide what best to write.’
Writing product descriptions:
‘Oooh, you did get in the zone, Alison! It fits the bill perfectly – it’s exactly what we need. Thank you so much.’
‘I’ll take a gallon of that creative juice too please! Well done.’
Interview for Flair Magazine issue 30
‘I enjoyed our conversation on Tuesday, and am delighted with what you’ve written as a result.’
A regular comment on production of one of a whole series of articles in the field of sewing:
‘That is brilliant, well done. Great reading. It goes in as it is!’
On seeing the results of a telephone interview for issue 26 of Flair:
‘I am impressed by what you said about the contribution to Western medicine, architecture, mathematics and astronomy its what i came across in my research and was amazed and it made me want to explore more. It really encouraged me and I was amazed that you kind of picked up on that.’
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a go to reference book for all teachers.