Telephone 07512 829259
Telephone 07512 829259
Like so many good things, it starts with a conversation. This is where we get to know each other and I get the chance to learn about what it is you’re wanting to achieve. From here we can agree a way forward, some timescales and an estimated cost.
Next, I’ll be needing a more detailed brief. There are a number of ways to do this and they’re mostly done in combination – a chat over coffee or over the phone, me poring over material you already have, phone interviews with key players, you completing a briefing document and pinging it to me to self-brief from. As well as answering the who, what, why, when and how questions, this is where I find out everything I can about you. Where you’re headed, what’s gone before, your tone of voice. Not to be under-estimated, this research stage is where the game is won or lost.
And then, I’ll draft your copy. You may well want to make changes before you approve it, and that’s all good. Usually any backwards and forwards happens by phone or email and takes very little time, so there’s no hanging around waiting for the finished version.
My standard whole-day rate is £300. For a straight-forward project, I'm pretty good at estimating up front how much time it will take, so there'll be no surprises. Quotes are from brief to delivery. Revisions, within reason, are included at no extra charge.
Depending on the size of the project and also my workload at the time, anywhere between three days and three weeks is typical. The only things likely to slow it down are the speed at which you can get information to me and how easy it is for me to get hold of anyone I need to speak to.
That's ok. I don't always get it bang on first time. If it isn't quite right I will tweak it until it is. You won't be charged for revisions, within reason. I want you to be completely satisfied with the final version.
It would be a pleasure to meet you face-to-face but it is very rarely essential. I take many a brief over the phone or by email. It’s just easier, quicker and cheaper that way.
Should you wish to pay me a visit though, I'm based near Newark on the Lincolnshire - Nottinghamshire border, easily accessible from the A1. I'll also happily come to you, but please be aware I will charge for my time and travel.
Even competent writers make mistakes. Proof-reading is simply having someone's fresh and expert eyes look over your work word-by-word to spot any rogue punctuation and spelling errors. Editing is rather more involved. As well as marking up the bits that need fixing, copy editing also identifies the bits that could and really should be changed to make your writing better. It isn't just correcting cold hard errors, it's about delivering improved flow, readability, vocabulary and clarity. Still your words, your style, but with cleaner lines.
It's where poorly writing comes to be mended. Encompassing proof-reading, copy editing and total re-writes, the copy clinic is a sliding scale of treatment for existing material. At its very basic it's about correcting grammar and spellings. At the mid-way point I'd be doing that and also making suggestions on how certain sentences could be reframed to improve readability and impact. And a full re-write is where ALL the text is up for grabs - the brief essentially being "read this and re-write it better for our intended audience", but with no (or very little) additional research required. How far you want me to go is up to you.
A few reasons. By its nature, a lot of what I write is confidential or private. Sometimes I simply can't publish my work because it is in-house material that's not meant to be seen by an external audience. Also, I often work alongside clients, producing writing to be used in change programmes, briefing packs, awards ceremonies, speeches etc. The words I write are used, spoken, emailed, published on Intranet sites more often that they're printed inside glossy brochures and adverts. So there isn't always much to see. Likewise, where I've edited or proof-read someone else's text, that text - before and after - isn't mine to share.
Please email joanna@cleanlines.co.uk with any other questions, or call 07512 829259.
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