developmental editing

Writing Doctor

Published by Jonell Galloway + Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Permalink 0

Writing Doctor: This Pen is for Hire

How’s your prose?

Let me find what ails you, and set you to “writes”. Whether through modest adjustments or major overhauls, let’s get your prose in good health!

You are a food blogger, but your dream is to become a food writer. Writing is a craft, and like all crafts, it takes time and patience to learn. Think of it as a house. You start with a solid foundation, with a frame and a floor, but you have to finish the building so you can house your family.

Working with a writing coach is like adding a roof, insulation and siding to suit the climate you live in. The climate can be compared to the market or the type of writing you aim to do. You have to hone your writing to that market and meet the expectations of publishers and of your audience. Writing free of spelling and grammatical errors is not enough.

Food Writing Competition

Published by Jonell Galloway + Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Permalink 0

Food Writing Contest

We are seeking food-related fiction and non-fiction entries for our First Annual Food Writing Competition. We want to highlight what can be vividly done in very few words. You have wanted to try your hand at the greatest possible concision, have you not? This is your chance to be rewarded for that. Winners will be published on Mastering the Art of Food Writing, and qualify to compete for inclusion in the first annual Food Writers to Keep an Eye On 2015 eBook we plan to publish in 2016.

Entries should be a maximum of 500 words, and may treat any food-related subject. This covers the full spectrum of food and travel writing: memoirs; short stories; reviews; poems; travelogues; essays; guidebooks entries; lifestyle; adventure; destination features; history; and, anthropology. Not sure that’s you? Write us to ask.

Rates

Published by Jonell Galloway + Saturday, August 23, 2014 Permalink 0

Welcome — the doctor is in! We offer a menu of services to writers at all levels. Even if your prose is in fine health, we want to help you notch it up to peak performance. You will appreciate our competitive pricing. If you select two or more classes, we are pleased to make you an introductory offer of a 10% discount.

Food Writing Classes

Our 1-hour classes for groups are offered at $30 per person, and we offer the same classes, one-on-one, with lots of custom features, at $90.

Writing Doctor Services

Our doctoring services, for individual writers only, are priced at $90 per hour. And we’re fast. If you have an especially big project that you want us to price either by the page or by the job, we will be happy to give you an estimate, and we will stick to it. We’re ambitious for you, and will put our shoulders to the wheel to make good things happen.

Writing Doctor Services

Published by Jonell Galloway + Friday, August 1, 2014 Permalink 0

Writing Doctor Services

Welcome — the doctor is in! We offer a menu of services to writers at all levels. Even if your prose is in fine health, we want to help you notch it up to peak performance. You will appreciate our competitive pricing.

Our doctoring services, for individual writers only, are priced at $90 per hour. And we’re fast. If you have an especially big project that you want us to price either by the page or by the job, we will be happy to give you an estimate, and we will stick to it. We’re ambitious for you, and will put our shoulders to the wheel to make good things happen.

Individual Doctoring

Your manuscript may only need a little discussion, a light edit, proofreading, and — whoosh! Show it to us, and we will make recommendations, gratis. If in our opinion you need substantive editing, we’ll say so.

Editing

Our copy editors check for content, overall structure, structure within paragraphs, clarity, style and accuracy of research work, and citations. They can also check that your manuscript is in line with in-house style requirements.

Writer support for ensuring a manuscript’s structure and broad direction. This may require adjustments in tone and significant adaptation. This is a baggy category — we won’t know what you need until you show us. Ask us for a quote.

Proofreading

We offer full proofreading services for manuscripts that have already been revised and edited. This covers grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other details that may have been overlooked in anticipation of sending out your final manuscript.

Writing

For all ghostwriting and co-authoring projects, please contact us directly.

Translation

We translate menus and other food-related texts from and to all romance languages and English.

Formatting

Formatting of your manuscripts in word processors or on blog platforms when technical requirements prove it to be overwhelming.

Classes

Writing Basics 101, Beginning Writing, Essentials of Food Writing, Editing and Revising Your Own Manuscript, Word Processing 101, How to Start a Food Blog, Building a Social Media Presence/Branding. For experienced writers: Crafting an Online Presence, Ebooks. 101. Click here for more detailed information, or go to the Writing Doctor section. If you have more questions, click here to write us

Writing Doctor

Published by Jonell Galloway + Tuesday, July 29, 2014 Permalink 0

Writing Doctor: This Pen is for Hire

How’s your prose?

Let me find what ails you, and set you to “writes”. Whether through modest adjustments or major overhauls, let’s get your prose in good health!

You are a food blogger, but your dream is to become a food writer. Writing is a craft, and like all crafts, it takes time and patience to learn. Think of it as a house. You start with a solid foundation, with a frame and a floor, but you have to finish the building so you can house your family.

Working with a writing coach is like adding a roof, insulation and siding to suit the climate you live in. The climate can be compared to the market or the type of writing you aim to do. You have to hone your writing to that market and meet the expectations of publishers and of your audience. Writing free of spelling and grammatical errors is not enough.

The longest part of your “house” is the finishing work: painting, trim, doors, cabinets, etc. “Finishing work” is the long series of steps you follow to produce a final draft. It includes proofreading, developmental editing and copyediting.

Making your way to the perfect final draft is not so different from getting fitted for a tailor-made dress or suit. You choose the fabric, cut, color, etc., but that is just the beginning. Each draft is like a fitting. Some of them will work; others won’t. Just as your dressmaker doesn’t hesitate to take out the basting stitches and start again, you mustn’t hesitate to rework, add, cut, or even throw a draft in the bin. It’s part of the process.

Like most people, you have the basic tools to become a writer. Take the first step and build on your writing skills. Learn how to find your inspiration, find the right time and spot to work, get organized, and set goals. Find your voice and let it speak through your writing. Learn to be kind to yourself as you perfect your craft and to tap into your creativity at any time. Add to your skill base. Become the food writer you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

If you’re a beginning writer or a food blogger, you probably need to polish your writing skills. From proofreading to mentoring, to developmental or copy editing, let me be your Writing Doctor and get you to the finish line!