the gimlet-eyed grammar tickler®
ABOUT MELANIE – CIEP-TRAINED PROOFREADER AND EDITOR
Hello,
I’m Melanie.
I’m a former languages teacher, a fearless mountain climber, a gimlet-eyed grammar tickler®, and a CIEP-trained Proofreader and Editor.
After 25 years of teaching, I retrained and set up a freelance business to help people put words out into the world with confidence. My clients want to look professional, to be taken seriously, and to feel completely happy with what they publish or share.
And now? I have a very particular set of skills.
I work with authors and independent publishers, as well as businesses, charities and organisations. That might mean a book manuscript, a report, a website, learning materials – any piece of writing that represents you, the author, or your work.
MY EDITORIAL APPROACH – CLARITY, COMMUNICATION & CONSISTENCY
This may come as a surprise, but I don’t work for the Grammar Police. And I’m not the custodian of the English language. I am, in a sense, an advocate for the reader.
If you’re writing to be read, then clarity matters. Readers deserve writing that makes sense, flows well and respects their time.
This is why I focus on clarity, communication and consistency. So your writing does what it needs to do, delivers a strong reading experience, and becomes memorable for all the right reasons.
I am also very much on your side. If you’re writing a book or a long piece of content, it can be a lonely process.
I work alongside you to help ensure the work is the best it can be, while still sounding like you.
Over time, this often leads to long-term working relationships. Many clients come back to me for proofreading or editorial support because they see what a difference it makes to their work, and how they feel about it.
Finally…
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me in the wilderness, up a mountain or on a rock face. Always with a book in my rucksack. It’s my version of relaxing. I come back restored, revitalised, and ready to serve people like you.