Proofreading/ Editing: This is where I peruse the words on your website, looking for ones that are misspelled, don't fit in or are the wrong fit (what's that? you think your right? Oh, you mean you're {you are} right!), etc. Also, sentences that don't make sense (or are run-ons, like this sentence): subject and verb agreement (he go where? nowhere with that language!), use of adverbs (yes, beautifully is a wonderful adverb, and wonderful is an adjective) and verb tense agreement (you understood me when I'm writing now? ---none of this mixing past and future together business!).
Editing can also include tone or style...Style is all about language. Words have a pattern, an energy, a song. Yes, they sing - and beautifully- if you let them! They can be wonderfully melodious:
flowing, gently turning, almost Victorian-esque in nature;
mischievous, playful, inquisitive, even;
matter-of-fact, down-to-earth, just-tell-it-like-it-is hardcore kind-of writing;
choppy and fast-paced, like those after hour TV infomercials or cram-as-much-as-you-can info newspaper articles...
Style is the beat that makes people come back for more @ yourwebsite.com.
So, please, no more Frankenstein themes unless it's Halloween!
Please note:
I'm a creative writer. Making your website perk up with SEOs, making it pretty as you please with Photoshop and Dreamweaver or even being your temporary webmaster just doesn't do it for me. I bring my little red pen and yellow highlighter with me, and begin my meticulous task of circling and underlining all that must go. Then, I replace those bits that don't fit with a sing-song language that works---for you!
Translation (French to English): I translate documents from French into English. If you've ever seen poorly translated documents (or clicked on the translate this page button), you'll notice that there are words in English, but they don't quite jive. What's missing is the rhythm. As with editing, I try to match the style that you've given me in French and translate this same energy into English. This is where I use my creative skills as a writer and my good ol' best friend the thesaurus. This aspect of translation is what I believe makes average translation pale in comparison to professionally sounding and pleasing writing.
