I specialize in retaining your voice; plus, clarity, active verbs, paragraphing and spacing for easy comprehension.

Business & Corporate Editing

I specialize in: plain-English editing, streamlining and mainstreaming content; using active verbs, concise sentences, paragraphing for flow, organization as needed. Technical writing only proofread.

Edited over 600 business projects in 27 industries. Fully developed 5+ book-length corporate manuals and 1 nonprofit booklet Denver RTD Board.

Projects: Editing includes 83 workbooks, sales and training manuals, business plans, reports, procedure guides, proposals, project histories, web copy, resumes, and corporate newsletters (e.g., Lafarge 6.5 years, Rothgerber), and 20 journal articles by submitting authors for AORN; as well as proofreading overview assessments, brochures, research, newsletters, resumes, positions statements, marketing/sales, letters.

27 Industries: Advertising - Consulting firms - Creative - Cultural - Education - Engineering - Entrepreneurs - Environmental - Financial - Geological - Governmental agencies (federal, state) - Health - Legal (arbitration, meditation, position statements) - Manufacturing - Nonprofits (MHILC) - Oil and gas - Real estate - Transportation (RTD, CDOT, LaFarge). Literary Agents (client books) - Publishing (magazines, journals, newsletters)

Companies: Lafarge (6.5 years) - AORN - Array Technologies - CDOT (four long-term contracts) - Fluor Daniel - Quantel Systems - Raytheon - Rocky Flats - Rolm - URS - WMC - International Typographical Union (3.5 years) - La Marick Beauty System (7 years) - Langtons International Agency NY (2014-2015)

HOURLY RATES: SEE Book Development Fees. Small Jobs $60-$75/hr. Large jobs $49/hr. We can estimate flat rates depending on project. No rush jobs.

Testimonials

"Charol, thank you so much for your work on our catalog. You did an amazing job! We really like your attention to detail." - Eric Phillips, Northwest Institute for Healthcare Training, Salem OR, 2012 (copyedit 10,500 words, 6 hours)

"Excellent work, I appreciate you very much! You are a gift to those of us needing your services and talents." – Robin Burrow, 8 academic papers copyedited over two years (2013-2015)

“Most people don’t even know they need you ... I am completely confident in Charol’s abilities as an editor. I don’t even hesitate to turn my unfinished work over to her, because I know she’ll take care of it. This is especially important when I am swamped and pressed for time. I know I don’t have to take four hours to get the work right before I turn it over to Charol. It always comes back fixed and all I have to do is follow her revisions—much easier, and faster, than doing it all myself.” LAFARGE Corporation 6.5 years, Kelley Baily, Executive Editor, 1999-summer 2005 (retired)

“I absolutely love this. I like the way you have rewritten it. It's just the way I wish I could have written it.”- Jared Whipple, Utah (2012 Dec.), articles for his private-practice marriage and family therapy website. His goal for 695-words was less academic, more personal, conversational, warm; could be shorter. (Did a full polish, 175 words/hour).

“Charol’s proficiency, expertise, and attention to detail played a critical and essential role in creating my firm’s corporate sponsorship sales training manual. This 200-page manual (the most comprehensive of its kind ) has become the foundation for my firm’s growth.” David Dorin, Sponsorship

References:

Susan Rivera, University of Denver dissertation advisor, referrals for copyediting, susan.rivera@du.edu
William H. Lee, M.D., nonfiction book developed, Bill@AgeManagementMD.com

BUSINESS BOOKS (edited, polished, developed)

Personal growth, sales manual, organizing office, Big Sister/Big Brother, communication, culture, diet, health, dogs, equestrian, history, business, legal, real estate, how-to rehab, public speaking, research, science, sports, investing.

Example: Maximum Horsepower: How to Strengthen Your Sales Force Quickly, by Ocean Palmer (aka Ted Simendinger) "Editors are like dentists; writers need them more than want them. Mine’s a monster talent in a pint-sized package. Best of all, she’s a great teacher and I’m lucky and grateful to have her.” Silver Medal Winner Axiom Business Books Awards. "A monster talent.”

2 of 6 ghostwritten:

Full development author’s 100 pages into 300-page book. Best Seller. William H. Lee, M.D., Over 50, Feeling 30! How bioidentical hormones bring your body back - "You did a great job. Everyone comments it's an easy read, meaning they appreciate that it is in 'layman's language'. You were a stickler for that.... A special thanks to Charol, my book doctor. She organized my extensive materials, edited with great enthusiasm, and motivated me with new ideas that have brought a greater fullness to this book for all who are seeking better health... This book would not have gotten into print without her knowledgeable assistance."

Full development author’s 100 pages into 200-page book. Janis A. DiCiacco, Ph.D., The Colors of Grief: Understanding a Child’s Journey Through Loss from Birth to Adulthood. “Writing this book in a cohesive manner could not have been achieved without the objective and insightful work of my editor, Charol Messenger, who worked with diligence and integrity. Because of her creative formatting and revisions, the readers will find the information easy to digest.”