Fiona K
Loubes Bernac, France
“Good writing is as important as content because mistakes spoil your presentation and credibility.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
Dipl. in Fine Art & Design
Pretoria Technikon South Africa
1970–1974
Favorite referencing style
APA – it’s the easiest so far.
Why I became an editor
This is my retirement career! As the daughter of a dedicated English teacher, languages have always interested me, and my fascination with the impact of words has been a constant thread in my world. Having lived in France for twenty years, after being married to a Slavonic speaker, I am especially interested in English as used by foreigners and how the construction of different languages affects translation. I see proofreading as an ideal vehicle to explore and satisfy my ongoing captivation.
Background and experience
I spent 13 years in a graphic design studio, where much of my work involved annual reports, leaflets and information posters. In 1988, my partner and I opened our own company in the world of trade fairs, conferences and exhibitions. In 2000, we sold the company and moved to France, where we indulged our dream of wine-making. The requirement for creating professionally presented marketing material has remained, so I think I can claim to have had a close acquaintance with this function for decades!
Why I love proofreading and editing
I enjoy tweaking and honing a text to make it the best possible delivery of the author's creativity or research. Poor writing can, sadly, ruin the professional presentation of hard work and study, so it is really rewarding to be able to help someone achieve their best possible result.
Favorite book:
Any Human Heart by William Boyd.
Hobbies:
Read, travel, garden, cook, re-purpose old furniture, walk...
Editing tips:
Check that checklist over and over. And that magic "find" function in MS Word has many uses. I also read the paragraphs aloud, starting from the end; this brings a different perspective to the work.
