copy chief / top editor

Recently I got a new magazine up and running with a workflow in under 30 minutes. I have participated in hundreds of magazine closes for publications of all sizes with every imaginable process (or lack thereof); I prize efficiency and enjoy creating streamlined processes that let us focus on creativity, not chaos. More often than not as copy chief, I've also been research chief, and I'm adept at resolving conflict and helping staffs work together functionally.

Clients are increasingly bringing me in as a combination of copy chief and top editor--someone who can traffic plus rewrite, cut to fit, and scrutinize stories as a journalist. Bottom line: I find the sweet spot between deadlines and quality, whether I'm a one-person copy desk or managing a large staff. Clients have included WSJ., Radar, SmartMoney, Page Six Magazine, DuJour and Men's Journal. 

copyediting + proofreading

For 15 years, I've been honing a talent that early colleagues identified when I was still a kid. In the New York Press days, my production manager would grumble when I'd mark an extra space between words: "It's not there." It always was. I will catch those typographical irregularities, and I'll coax grace from your copy, eliminating dangling modifiers and comma splices--and illuminating what matters. There is no lexical, grammatical or style conundrum I haven't encountered and solved. Your text in my hands becomes literate and smart. Clients have included New York Press, Inc., Radar, Interview, Barron's, Seed, Fashion Week Daily, AOL, Scholastic, the College Board and the Association for Computing Machinery.

web production

Digital and print are like reluctant siblings. Neither one is going anywhere, but neither do they always communicate well. Many print publications are developing their Web presence but don't yet have a seamless way to take print content online. I can work with content intended for print and translate it to the Web: rewrite heds and deks, delete the dross, identify and remedy tech and formatting snafus, find and size photos from a stock site or the public domain, and liaise between your print and Web teams. Clients have included mensjournal.com and Inc.com.

translation

I've been studying French for 25 years. In January 2012, I passed the B2 DELF (aka "gnarly three-hour fluency exam"). As of September 2014, I'm pursuing an M.S. in translation at NYU's School of Professional Studies. You could find a French-to-English translator with more experience; I challenge you to find one with my writing skills. And that's the key in translation. Fluency in the native language is non-negotiable; the artistry lies in creating deft, elegant reading in English. I can identify the French writer's nuance and intention and guide that into English that you'll be proud to publish and that readers will enjoy reading. Clients have included W., WSJ., Men's Journal and Lotus. 

publicity + communication

I am a stellar advocate for work that incites the right passion and energy. Past projects include Sam Green and Bill Siegel's Academy Award–nominated documentary The Weather Underground. Services are tailored to the client but typically include creating a press kit, outreach to the media, consulting, and social media.

basic web sites

Like my site? Me too, thanks. I had a domain name for seven years before setting it up, fearing it would be a costly time suck. Which might have been true in 2008. Numerous user-friendly, free or low-cost services, like Weebly, are now available. If you need a site that's similar to mine in terms of complexity, I can write and design it for you. We can use my photography or yours; I can also walk you through the purchase or transfer of a domain name.

Photograph by Kate Crane