Margaret Hunter | Nonfiction editing, proofreading, formatting

As a communications professional in a busy organisation, or an independent author–publisher, you’re looking for a skilled editor or proofreader who can just get on with the job of preparing your draft documents and content for publication.

I’ll copyedit or proofread your text so that it’s clear, concise and correct for your intended readers. I’ll do what it takes to make it easy for your designer or typesetter to prepare the layout. Or I’ll design your book or document for you and send you the files you need to get it published digitally or in print.

I’ll guide you on up-to-date language and publishing conventions. Have your own organisational style guide? I’ll make sure your text complies. Don’t have a style guide? I can build one for you. Need me to work with your own layout template or create one for you? No problem.

Read on for more information, including services provided | what my clients say | portfolio of work | training and experience

► Or get in touch at [email protected] for an initial consultation and fee estimate.

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★ Services provided ★

► Proofreading

► Copyediting

► Editing for simplification or plain English

► Book and document page design, formatting and layout

► Ebook formatting

► Word styles and templates

► InDesign styles and templates

► Accessible PDFs

► Style guide preparation

I’ll work in a format that suits you. I’m an experienced user of Microsoft Word (and other Office programs), InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, Jutoh, WordPress and similar online tools. We’ll agree a suitable working method, such as Word tracked changes and comments, PDF markup using inbuilt commenting tools, and report feedback.

► Not sure what service you need? Download my free guide to the different types of editing

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★ What my clients say ★

Thank you very much for the edited article. It is beautifully edited. I like that you have kept the neutral tone … | Alexander Filmer-Lorch, Inside Meditation

Your attention to detail and eye for consistency is incredible. It has been a pleasure working with you. | Danielle Peel, Head of Project and Policy, Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)

I think you really got a great handle on the right tone for the magazine with the last two pieces you worked on – the edited versions read really well, so you're definitely "in the zone" very quickly with Second Nature, which is great news for us! | Louise Kittle, Natural History Museum

Thank you for all the work you have done and working with you was a pleasure. The help that you gave me has enabled the book to sell well. Much appreciated. | Mutsawashe Svosve, independent author

Some of my clients

• RCR (Royal College of Radiologists)
• RISJ (Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford)
• RCPE (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh)
• CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity)
• CIHT (Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation)
• ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors)
• TSO (The Stationery Office)
• Isle of Man Government
• Businesses and sole traders
• Independent authors, trainers and consultants
• NGOs (eg Natural History Museum, Unicef, Academy for the Advancement of Human Values)
• Publishing project managers (eg Scriptoria, Green Ink)
• Universities and research bodies (eg Oxford Internet Institute, UCL, King's College London)
• Design and media agencies (eg Ave Design)
• Educational publishers (eg Macmillan Caribbean, International Baccalaureate)
• Book publishers (eg Handspring Publishing, Eclipse Publishing & Media)

★ Examples of publications edited and/or formatted ★

CIHT, Delivering sustainable transport for housing developments: Fixing a failing planning and transport system

FIGO, Ethics and Professionalism Guidelines for Obstetrics and Gynecology

RCR, Gynaecological cancer: RCR consensus statements

Newell, Research Impact and the Interconnectedness of Stuff

RISJ, How we follow climate change: climate news use and attitudes in eight countries

Filmer-Lorch, The Inner Power of Stillness: A practical guide for therapists and practitioners

Molyfit, Who Says Age Should Slow You Down?

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★ Training and qualifications ★

• LLB Law (Scots), DipLP Diploma in Legal Practice
• MPhil Child Studies, with distinction
• Basic editing (Publishing Training Centre)
• Basic proofreading (PTC), with distinction
• CIEP/SfEP courses: Plain English for Editors, Editing with Word, Web editing and proofreading, On-screen editing 1 and 2, Brush up your grammar, Introduction to proofreading, Introduction to fiction editing, Practical mark-up of PDFs
• Mastering styles and templates
• Joomla! essential training (Lynda.com)
• InDesign CC: Epub Fundamentals (Lynda.com)
• Creating accessible PDFs

★ Experience ★

I have been a freelance editor and proofreader since 2003. Before that I worked in information and publications roles in the non-profit / charitable sector, after a brief spell as a solicitor.

• Information officer, Federation of Community Work Training Groups
• Information worker, National Tenants' Resource Centre
• Information and resources worker, Save the Children Child Poverty Resources Unit
• I was a CIEP Council director from 2015 to 2021
• Experienced user of style guides for United Nations and WHO

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Biography, autobiography & memoir
• Body, mind & spirit
• Communications
• Crafts & hobbies
• Design
• Ecology
• Education & training
• English as a second language
• Environment & nature
• Travel & tourism
• Publishing
• Humanities
• Narrative non-fiction
• Social sciences
• Self-help
• Gardening
• Public policy
• Health, fitness & wellness

• Design
• Typesetting
• Self-publishing
• Ebooks
• Formatting/layout