Who’s behind the Clouds?

I’m an award-winning journalist, writer, editor, with 30 years in the business of journalism, public relations and publishing. I now work freelance.

After leaving university I worked as a researcher/writer in our county archaeology department on a book about the development of local towns.

I then gained an apprenticeship with a newspaper as a graduate trainee journalist, and passed my national qualification first time, when the average pass rate was around 40%. Qualifying examinations included 100wpm shorthand, law, public administration, and a project – I chose education. These were gained on an intensive block-release course.

Our final exam consisted of four exams in a day, bashing everything out on a typewriter. Interview, council report, speech, and practical journalism. It was a long day.

Following that, I worked in sub-editing and took courses in subbing and graphic design for newspapers and magazines.

I moved into public relations as a government information officer working in HMG press offices, (health and safety, agriculture, food, and fisheries, and Downing Street – Prime Minister’s office) and after another spell in journalism, gained a job as a communications specialist with the National Health Service.

In the NHS, I wrote and published everything from patient leaflets, to board papers, to consultation documents, to quarterly newspapers to annual reports.

I also dealt with MPs, royal visits, acted as company secretary to the board, led business planning, performance management and complaints. Oh, and I managed cancer services and cancer screening too. Somewhere in there I achieved my MBA.

Editing for manuscripts

I will do a sample edit of a few pages for free. A full edit costs £100 minimum depending on page length, which includes a number of proof reads, plus liaison with the author, factual checking etc. Developmental editing is not included unless requested. I try to improve what you have done, not re-write it, unless you want that.

A copy of an MS is needed to give a price.

Editing for other works

CVs, letters, papers, reports.

Price is dependent on length and errors. Again, I need to see a full copy.

Writing

With a background as a general reporter, I have a wide portfolio that includes my specialisms of history/archaeology, health, cancer, construction, nuclear power, and Land Rovers.

I speak, read and write French, English and Spanish. And the odd bit of Latin.

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