Wise Owl Wordsmithing

 EDITING | DOCUMENTS | COACHING & CONSULTING

Document Services

From basic document formatting to collaborating on the creation of a document. Resumes, business plans, journal articles, manuscripts, reports, and more.

Editing Services

Your readers expect high-quality writing that is clear, concise, and well organized. Editing can identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of your message delivery.

Coaching & Consulting Services

Personalized services tailored to your unique needs and goals. Coaching may help to optimize your writing success (e.g., an academic paper, navigating through writer’s block). Consulting can identify practical solutions to a specific issue (e.g., how to improve presentation materials).

Editing, Document Creation, Coaching, and Consulting Services

Wise Owl Wordsmithing helps authors, academics, businesses, and writers of all varieties with their editing, document creation, coaching, and consulting needs.   Whether you’re a student working on a term paper or thesis, a scholar writing an article for a journal, an author developing a manuscript, an entrepreneur drafting a business plan, a business person producing a report, a volunteer preparing a grant application, or a writer of any kind, Wise Owl Wordsmithing can help.

Based in Prince George, BC, Wise Owl offers a variety of services and resources designed to assist and support any type of writer in achieving their goals.  Whether personal, professional, or academic, Wise Owl can help you ensure your documents and materials are well-crafted to effectively communicate with your audience.

Wise Owl Wordsmithing gives your words wings, so your ideas take flight.

 

Who I Work With

Academic

Students (undergraduate & graduate), faculty, and researchers.

Business

Business plans, newsletters, reports, presentations, and more. 

Non-Profits

Grant proposals, newsletters, reports, presentations, and more. 

Authors & Individuals

Manuscripts, resumés, and more.

editing services prince george bc

Having trouble writing?

You’re Not Alone. And I’m Here to Help!

I help writers in every niche break through their barriers, discover their unique writing style, and formulate a cohesive document.  My 1:1 coaching and consulting services are personalized to meet a client’s specific needs. For example, students might require assistance with the academic writing process, whereas authors might need guidance through a case of writer’s block.

Meet Marianne

Freelance Editor and Collaborator

In 2016, after years of providing academic writing support to university students, Marianne founded Wise Owl Wordsmithing for the opportunity to work with writers and creators of all descriptions.  Wise Owl offers a variety of services to help her clients at every stage of their writing journey. Marianne truly enjoys a supportive and collaborative approach by tailoring her services to best meet the needs of each client.

My Approach

Whether your document is academic, professional, or personal in nature, I will work with you to identify opportunities to improve the quality, clarity, and effectiveness of your message. Let’s give your words wings so your ideas take flight. 

My Process

Every project starts with a consultation to understand your goals and determine which services best suit your specific needs. Whether it’s strictly editing, creating, or coaching/consulting, or it’s a combination of services you need, I am committed to providing high quality services to help you achieve your goals. 

My Commitment

To offer a welcoming, respectful, and safe environment for collaboration.

To embrace diverse perspectives with a willingness to learn and grow.

To honour your privacy.

To be responsive to your needs.

To be honest, forthcoming, and reliable.

To continue my professional development.

To welcome feedback on my work.

What my clients are saying…

“I can honestly say that the work put in by Marianne and her enduring support for my project brought it to fruition. My thesis started as a compilation of four different concepts and the Wise Owl herself guided me to the finished project, which I am so proud of. This was my first experience with an editor, but I would advise anyone with less than intimate knowledge of APA format to at least consult with Marianne, an APA guru in her own right. Marianne is personable, flexible, and open-minded to working with any and all writing concepts.” 

Vicky

MSW Graduate & Satisfied Client

“Thanks greatly to Marianne Sprague for a thorough and thoughtful editorial review of this completed work.” 

Oye

Dissertation Client

“I found Wise Owl Wordsmithing comprehensive, efficient, and succinct. Marianne was quick to reply and got the job done on time. A small price to pay for a quality service.”

Tim

Thesis Client

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn How it Works!

Why hire an editor?

Here is what Editors Canada identifies as Five Good Reasons 

What types of editing do you offer?

A variety of terms are used to describe what an editor does. Editors Canada defines four core skills in their Professional Editorial Standards. Based on the Editors Canada definitions, the following are the skills and services I offer to clients in whatever combination best suits your project requirements and goals.

 

Structural Editing assesses and shapes draft material to improve its organization and content. Changes may be suggested to or drafted for the writer. This may include:

  • revising, reordering, cutting, or expanding material
  • writing original material
  • recasting material that would be better presented in another form, or revising material for a different medium (such as revising print copy for web copy)
  • clarifying plot, characterization, or thematic elements

Stylistic Editing clarifies meaning, ensures coherence and flow, and refines the language. It may include:

  • eliminating jargon, clichés, and euphemisms
  • establishing or maintaining the language level appropriate for the intended audience, medium, and purpose
  • adjusting the length and structure of sentences and paragraphs
  • establishing or maintaining tone, mood, style, and authorial voice or level of formality

Copy Editing ensures correctness, accuracy, consistency, and completeness. It may include:

  • editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage
  • checking for consistency and continuity of mechanics and facts, including anachronisms, character names, and relationships
  • correcting or querying general information that should be checked for accuracy 
  • Canadianizing or other localizing converting measurements
  • checking web links 

Proofreading examines material after layout or in its final format to correct errors in textual and visual elements. The material may be read in isolation or against a previous version. It may include checking for:

  • adherence to design
  • minor mechanical errors (such as spelling mistakes or deviations from style sheet)
  • consistency and accuracy of elements in the material (such as cross-references, running heads, captions, web page heading tags, hyperlinks, and metadata)
  • flagging or checking locations of art
  • inserting page numbers or checking them against content and page references

    Note that proofreading is checking a work after editing; it is not a substitute for editing.

    What does editing involve?

    According to Editors Canada… 

    “Editing involves carefully reviewing material before it is published and suggesting or making changes to correct or improve it. The editor must communicate clearly and tactfully with all team members, and clearly mark and convey changes, suggestions, and directions. In all cases, the editor should strive to make all changes without altering intended meaning or introducing errors.

    The editor should also be aware of the legal and ethical dimensions of the publishing process, including issues involving copyright, plagiarism, libel, privacy protection, and confidentiality, and the need to address biased, non-inclusive, and offensive material.”

    What are your fees? How long will it take?

    Each project is unique – from pure editing, creating, coaching, or consulting to projects requiring a combination of services. Once we have a conversation about your project goals and needs, we’ll be able to determine which, if any*, of my services are the right fit. Then I’ll be able to provide you with a quote and a timeline. If we agree to proceed, we will do so according to a formal agreement (statement of work).

    *If my services are not what you need to reach your goals, I’ll let you know. I won’t sell you services that you don’t need nor any services that I’m not capable of providing.

    Articles

    Sometimes I Write About Writing

    Starting an APA 7 Academic Paper

    In this post I walk you through the steps of starting an academic paper according to the 7th edition of the Publication Manual for the American Psychological Association (APA). There is also a link to the video tutorial and a quick reference handout.

    The Origin of Wise Owl Wordsmithing

    Perhaps you’re wondering why I started Wise Owl Wordsmithing. Well, I didn’t set out to become an editor, but I’m sure glad it found me! I’m grateful to have my own business where I get to work with people in a supportive and collaborative manner. Let me share with...

    Contact Me

    Have an upcoming project you need help with? Have questions?  Send me a message or book a free consultation. I’d love to hear from you!

    Call Me

    (250) 960 – 8513

    Email Address

    marianne@wiseowlwordsmithing.ca

    Let’s Connect

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    Grateful to be residing on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada