Anya Hastwell
Advanced Professional Member| Location | LONDON NW10 |
| Anya Hastwell | |
| Web | Languawitchery Wordcraft |
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Are you looking for someone to create some calm out of your editorial chaos?
Or perhaps... to pep up your prose?
Then you've come to the right place.
At Languawitchery Wordcraft, my goal is to help you fine-tune your words and their message, to ensure that the final result is one that's the very best version of itself, to brief, budget and schedule – one that's truly memorable for all the right reasons for your audience.
I provide non-fiction editorial services – copyediting, proofreading, writing – to the following:
- Ethical businesses and organisations, for reports, white papers, website copy, newsletters, press releases, leaflets and other communications and marketing materials.
- Publishers of non-fiction books and journal articles. I can also write book blurbs.
- Private clients, academics (e.g. of English Literature/creative writing as a therapy) and those who prefer to remain nameless.
You can read what they have to say about me in 'Testimonials', if you scroll further down this page.
While my own academic background is decidedly arts based (I have a BA Honours degree in English Literature and I'm currently studying an MA in Creative Writing!), I work across a wide range of non-fiction subjects.
(And as a tour guide at one of London's most renowned cemeteries since 2017, I also happen to know a thing or two about symbolism in Victorian grave art and architecture.)
Science • Technology • Medical • STM • Memoir • Biography • Autobiography • Creative non-fiction • Health and well-being • Bioethics • History • Arts • Culture
Experience & clients
Clients who've placed their trust in me include:
Oxford University Press • Taylor & Francis • Routledge • Open City • Cats Protection • Class Professional Publishing • WhiteFox • Quota Books • Hodder • Quintessence Publishing • Copernicus Publications • Oemus Media • Itad • Tomorrow’s Company
Relevant past-life in-house experiences:
- Desk Editor, Quintessence Publishing, 2010–14
- Assistant Editor, UK and International Press, 2010
- Production Assistant, Auto Trader, 2008–09
- Editorial Assistant, Immediate Network, 2006–07
- Editorial Assistant, Cava Media, 2005–06
Skills and expertise
- Copyediting (on-screen)
- Proofreading (on-screen using Acrobat’s in-built mark-up tools)
- Copywriting
- Content writing – you can find a couple of examples here
- WordPress CMS
- MS Word styles, templates and macros
- UK and US English (Anglicising or Americanizing)
- New Hart's Rules, Butcher's, Chicago, APA and plain English
- In-house company style guides
- Fact-checking, if the project requires
Subjects
Science • Technology • Medical • STM • Memoir • Biography • Autobiography • Creative non-fiction • Health and well-being • Bioethics • History • Arts • Culture
Academic qualifications
- MA (part-time) in Creative Writing – University of Hull Online: 2021–23 (ongoing)
- BA (Hons) Degree in English Literature – University of Roehampton: 2000–03
Training & professional development
- Plain English for Editors (CIEP) 2022
- Copyright: How to get what you want in the digital age (Publishing Training Centre) 2019
- Medical Editing (CIEP, then SfEP) 2017
- Brush Up Your Grammar (CIEP, then SfEP) 2017
- Copyediting 2: Headway (CIEP, then SfEP) 2017
- Efficient Editing: Strategies and tactics (CIEP, then SfEP) 2016
- Editing with Word (CIEP, then SfEP) 2016
- Proofreading 2: Progress (CIEP, then SfEP) 2016
- Advanced Copyediting (Publishing Training Centre) 2011
- Subediting and Design – Distinction (London School of Journalism) 2006
- NCTJ Certificate in Periodical Journalism (NCTJ) 2003
- Freelance Feature Writing – Honours Diploma (London School of Journalism) 1997
PLUS: Attendance at the CIEP annual conference, either in person or online, since 2017.
Software
I use both Mac and Windows 10 operating systems with up-to-date, reputable anti-virus scanning programs and robust back-up systems that are used regularly, and use the following software:
- Word V.16; I also use PerfectIt and various macros to optimise work efficiency
- MS Office 365 suite (including the latest versions of Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Acrobat Reader DC, using its in-built mark-up comment tools
- Trello
- ClickUp
- Toggl Track
Testimonials
Thank you so much for this excellent edit of the document. I was very impressed by your eye for detail and consistency, as well as your clear give with eloquence.
Author, Shakespeare and the Afterlife
Your amends are brilliant and very helpful, so thank you very much for taking the time to work on this.
Project Manager, Open City (for Open House festival guide 2019 + other Open City documents)
Anya has provided us with excellent copy to help promote the work of Cats Protection and is a pleasure to work with.
Media Officer, Cats Protection
Anya was a pleasure to work with. Timely, detail-oriented and responsive which made the entire process smooth and efficient. I highly recommend Anya and would work with her again.
Indie author, anon
What a pleasure it has been to work with Anya. She took on a very tricky scientific title at short notice and carried out an efficient, high-quality copyedit to the tightest of deadlines, sending regular updates and doing her utmost to make the whole process as smooth as possible. I would welcome the opportunity to work with her again and will be recommending her to any of my publishing clients who are looking to expand their list of excellent contributors.
Anna Stevenson, Freelance Publishing Professional
Anya is a highly accomplished scientific editor. She worked for us for four years editing our dental books and journals to a high standard and, since leaving us to go freelance, she has continued to edit our books in an accurate and timely manner.
General Manager, Quintessence Publishing
I approached Anya because of a backlog we had at the scientific publisher I work for. She was very willing to help and took on a number of manuscripts. In addition to her core copyediting skills, she also possesses solid computer skills, which is essential because we work with LaTeX. In open-access publishing, we also have strict deadlines that we have to adhere to, but she had no problems meeting them. My experience with Anya has been a pleasant one, and I would recommend her services to other publishing houses.
Copy-Editing Team Coordinator, Copernicus GmbH