Professional Proofreader and Editor

A decade of experience has shaped my editorial commitment to thoroughness and consistency, as well as to meeting goals and deadlines. Multimedia savvy, I’ve worked with the latest technologies in print, Web and broadcasting, including social networking and mobile environments. I continually raise my own standards and apply new concepts to old ways of thinking about communication and process. By working with diverse groups, I have cultivated a professional attitude of respect for others.

As senior editor, I solicited, received, and edited articles for a daily website and bimonthly print magazine. I updated the website, working closely with writers, public relations professionals, our art director, and my co-editors. I provided art ideas, edited graphics, and made all final edits to print pages. I was responsible for getting the magazine to production on time with clean copy. I wrote at minimum two new articles a week on IT-related topics. I was the point person for the brand's social media outreach through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more.

As reporter, I have conducted research and interviews, contributed story ideas, and generated innovative reporting approaches for daily, weekly, and monthly publications. I have revised my work with an editor to meet deadlines. I have written regular columns and cultivated relationships with sources. I have supplied related photos.

As book editor, I developed, designed, and copy edited fiction and nonfiction books. I secured all legal copyrights and permissions and was responsible for fact-checking content.

As editorial assistant, I translated documents from Spanish, reviewed manuscripts, counseled authors, and processed contracts. I chaired a weekly meeting of acquisitions, marketing, and editorial groups. I formatted manuscripts for production, hired expert readers, collected book reviews, prepared mailings and updated databases.

EXPERIENCE:

Senior Editor • Information Management, a SourceMedia publication, New York

Reporter • MKE, a Journal Communications publication, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Proofreader; Production Editor - New Titles; Acquisitions Assistant, Llewellyn Worldwide, St. Paul, Minnesota

Editorial Assistant • University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Writer • Southside Pride, mnartists.org, MN Daily, Twin Cities, Minnesota

Marketing Intern • Ruminator Books Press, St. Paul, Minnesota

Tool Fluency in: PC and Macintosh; HTML; Microsoft Office Suite; QuarkXPress; Adobe: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign; DreamWeaver; Chicago Manual of Style; Elements of Style; The AP Stylebook; search engine optimization; metatagging; online content management platforms; social media outreach; publication-specific style sheets.

EDUCATION:

M.A. in Communications, Marquette University

B.A. in English and Spanish, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, magna cum laude

• Mass Communications and Cultural Studies/Comparative Literature, minors

• Semester abroad in Spain, Internship at La Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha

ARTICLES:

Fiction Classification: Literary or Genre? Short Story, Novella, or Novel?

The Differences Between Editing and Proofreading Nonfiction, Fiction and Poetry

Feedback

"Marie Valentine has an eye for detail and a flare for originality in highly technical writing. It’s no mistake that she was the final oversight for many
submissions of news, features, commentary and informational pieces in her years at Information Management magazine and website. Marie is a consistently curious reader and a stylistically solid editor, and she is an excellent, timely communicator of those unique skills. As she introduced me to the nichewriting world of business intelligence, Marie passed on to me and others important daily writing insight and content resources, with both patience and grace. There is no editing or writing opportunity in which I would doubt Marie’s capabilities." - Justin Kern, associate editor, Information Management

“Marie displays both an administrative flexibility and the ability to meet unforeseen challenges, as well as a real capacity for making the editorial interventions that discriminates between true quality and mere excess. The vast array of projects she has taken on over the years stands as evidence of her willingness to experiment with new possibilities. The projects that Marie has tackled are successful and fully-realized – hers are not fragmentary pipe dreams but rather complete visions. That these efforts of hers often involve working collectively, adjusting to various personalities, and coordinating disparate groups of writers and artists, is an even greater testament to the depth of her ability. This unique combination of vision, dedication, and focus is what I have valued in my work with her, and it is precisely what I believe makes Marie an adept communications professional.” -Andrew Knighton, professor of English, California State University Los Angeles (former colleague at MN Daily, VACUM)

“I have worked with Marie as a freelancer, and I’ve seen her jump to challenges, adapt to change, carry out difficult goals, and help our publication distinguish itself. I was particularly impressed when I had an idea for a different way to tackle an old concept. I bounced the idea off Marie, and she made it work. She accepts feedback extremely well, and in a way that encourages a dialogue. You won’t go wrong with her.” -Diane Bacha, Marketing & Communications Director, Public Allies National (former General Manager of MKE, A Journal Communications publication)

“I have known Marie for years, and we have worked together on multiple projects. Her hard work and creative spirit have always been an inspiration to me. Her love for language/writing/editing are clear, and she turns that into enthusiastic and insightful contributions to a project.” -Dana Sitar, creative nonfiction writer

“Marie is an enthusiastic, dependable and conscientious employee who would be a great addition to any project.” - -Jean Schauer, Editor in Chief at the BeyeNETWORK, (former manager and EIC at Information Management)

“Marie brings a creative mind and love of nature to everything she does. I really like her focused approach to work and her ability to get things done well
and in a timely manner. She is very energetic, earning her masters degree while working full time, and a loyal, dependable member of the team.” -Mary Jo Nott, Editorial Director at Bloor Group (former manager and EIC at Information Management)

“I love having Marie as an editor. She truly engages with the work. She finds the inner heart of the piece and works her way out from there. I appreciate that she fields my questions regarding edits openly and promptly. She is more than I could hope for. If it were ethical, I would have her edit this recommendation.” -Mike Bahl, fiction writer

“Marie Valentine has edited three books I have written and we have co-edited several short-run chapbooks. Her keen intellect, critical eye for good writing and ability to process large amounts of complicated text in a short period of make her a valuable asset. Marie is impressively well-read and has been tremendous to collaborate with due to the broad range of literature which encompasses the breadth of her interest. I would highly recommend her in the areas of editing, proofreading, writing, analytical critique and inspirational encouragement.” -Wes Tank, writer and filmmaker

Submission

Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:

EditMyBook@Gmail.com

Alternates
2012@Book-Editing.com
Help2012@Airmail.net
Contact@Editing-Writing.com

You may send your initial submission to all addresses to make sure it's received.

Required:
Submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (Word/DOC or RTF attachment preferred). Large files should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started (e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).

A sample is required to receive an estimate
for editing services

Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your project (e.g., footnotes).

(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):

(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):

(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction, horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):

(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):

(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)

(06) Level of editing desired/expected --

Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)
Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)
Rewriting / Ghostwriting
Critique / Evaluation

(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):

(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:

(09) Number of footnotes/references:

(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:

(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:

(12) What is your budget for the entire project?
$ ________________
(Note: The editors will quote their regular rates, but having an idea of your budget allows the editors to tell you what services they can provide to stay within that budget.)

(13) Your name:

(14) E-mail addresses:

(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):

(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):

(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):

(18) Do you want the coordinator to reroute your submission if you requested editors/writers who (a) are not available by your deadline date, (b) do not handle the type of material you submitted, and/or (c) do not perform the service(s) you want?

(19) How did you learn about our service?:

(20) Attach the first 50 pages of your manuscript (include prologue/preface, proposal, query)

Notes:

No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)

To learn more about the rates charged by professional editors, please see: Editorial Freelancers Association

It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.

LIVE AGENT

Note: Questions about price and turnaround times cannot be given over the phone or via chat.
To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page.

Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours (M-F, 9a-7p central). Expect longer response times if you submitted after U.S. business hours or on weekends.

You may also send your submission to our alternate e-mail addresses if you do not receive a response within three hours M-F:

Help2012 at Airmail.net
editingnetwork at gmail.com
contact at editing-writing.com

You may also leave voice mail for the network coordinator: 469-789-3030. This number is for verification of e-mail submissions only.

Please be as complete as possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive the most accurate estimate.

Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your editor or publishing consultant, not with the editing network as a whole or its coordinator.