About Graham Hughes, editor and proofreaderA safe pair of handsI’ve been a full-time freelance editor and proofreader since 2013. I’m an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP): here’s my profile on the CIEP directory. I’m committed to follow our Professional Practice Code, which assures high standards of editorial work and customer care.
|
|
|
As part of my active involvement in the CIEP, I’m a member of its governing council and a tutor for some of its core training courses. I’ve also been the coordinator of two local CIEP groups, and had a stint on the Learning and Professional Development Committee.
I’ve had extensive training in copy-editing, proofreading and related subjects, from the CIEP, the Publishing Training Centre, Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) and other organisations. I’m committed to keeping up my professional development: attending conferences, reading articles, watching webinars and so on. For details, please download my brochure below. What I’ve doneI’ve helped a wide range of clients, but in recent years I’ve mainly worked with:
|
‘We three would like to thank you profusely for the detailed, expert work that you are doing on our book manuscript. Indeed, we are scratching our heads and trying to recall if any of us have ever seen better copy-editing!’ Mary Elise Sarotte, Dean’s Professor of History, University of Southern California |
I’m also experienced in working with:
As well as books, I've edited or proofread many other kinds of written work, including:
You can find details in my portfolio:
- trade non-fiction publishers
- academic publishers and book packagers
- non-profit organisations
- researchers.
As well as books, I've edited or proofread many other kinds of written work, including:
- business reports
- articles, white papers, research papers
- business guides
- marketing and promotional content (such as website content, social media posts, client magazines, brochures, newsletters and product packaging)
- personnel profiles
- training materials.
You can find details in my portfolio:
How I got here
After getting a BSc degree in Data Processing at Loughborough University, I had a 26-year IT career as a programmer, analyst, project manager and team leader. I worked for organisations in the transport, financial services, government, retail and telecommunications sectors.
After a while, I felt that I wasn’t really getting anywhere in that line of work any more. I looked for something else that I could do, at least as a sideline, and maybe eventually full-time.
First, I tried my hand at writing. I took a training course, had a sports history book published (later self-published as an ebook), and had some articles published in magazines and online. This never looked like working out as a new career, though, so I was still on the lookout.
Then I spotted an advert for a course in copy-editing and proofreading. I realised that this was the part of the writing process where I felt most comfortable. Instead of doing it for my own writing, I could check other people’s work – without having to sell ideas to publishers, negotiate advances, do the up-front research and planning, deal with the dreaded blank page syndrome, and so on.
So, I started learning the trade, joined the CIEP (then the Society for Editors and Proofreaders) and started doing some small jobs in my spare time. When the IT job finally fizzled out, I felt ready – though with some trepidation – to make the leap into full-time editorial freelancing. Amazingly, it worked out.
The IT background helped: it gave me great experience of working in a well-organised, methodical way, with an emphasis on thoroughness and attention to detail, and this has had a big influence on my editorial work. It’s also helped me to get work with customers in the technology world.
So, I ended up in what I think is my ideal line of work – it just took a while to get here.
After a while, I felt that I wasn’t really getting anywhere in that line of work any more. I looked for something else that I could do, at least as a sideline, and maybe eventually full-time.
First, I tried my hand at writing. I took a training course, had a sports history book published (later self-published as an ebook), and had some articles published in magazines and online. This never looked like working out as a new career, though, so I was still on the lookout.
Then I spotted an advert for a course in copy-editing and proofreading. I realised that this was the part of the writing process where I felt most comfortable. Instead of doing it for my own writing, I could check other people’s work – without having to sell ideas to publishers, negotiate advances, do the up-front research and planning, deal with the dreaded blank page syndrome, and so on.
So, I started learning the trade, joined the CIEP (then the Society for Editors and Proofreaders) and started doing some small jobs in my spare time. When the IT job finally fizzled out, I felt ready – though with some trepidation – to make the leap into full-time editorial freelancing. Amazingly, it worked out.
The IT background helped: it gave me great experience of working in a well-organised, methodical way, with an emphasis on thoroughness and attention to detail, and this has had a big influence on my editorial work. It’s also helped me to get work with customers in the technology world.
So, I ended up in what I think is my ideal line of work – it just took a while to get here.
When I’m not working
I live near the centre of the historic city of Chester, just half a mile from its Roman walls. I enjoy wandering around the city, taking in its sights and its pubs. I also spend a lot of my downtime reading (no surprise there!), listening to music, and playing electric guitars and basses quite badly. That definitely won’t be my next career change.
Brochure
This summarises my services, background, skills, training and continuing professional development, and includes some testimonials:
Legal note
I provide these services in a self-employed, sole trader capacity.
▶️ Could I be the editor or proofreader you need? The Get a quote page has advice on how to approach me about potential work.
