Frances Cooper | Editing & Proofreading

Contact me [email protected]

I provide friendly, specialist copyediting, proofreading, writing and fact checking services to writers, publishers and organisations on subjects related to natural history, ecology, wildlife, countryside, and species and habitat conservation. I help clients to communicate important messages strongly and coherently to optimise their effectiveness and impact.

I work on nonfiction and academic books for publishers and independent writers, and on magazine and journal articles for specialist publications. I also work on nature-related corporate and marketing materials and website copy.

I worked in nature conservation for 24 years gaining a wide knowledge of species and habitats and how to conserve them. I also developed extensive experience of managing nature conservation projects, funding bids, reporting, research programmes and communication. My specialist knowledge allows me to work accurately and efficiently, contributing to the effectiveness of the project.

I also have interests in sport, sustainable travel, the climate crisis, and ethical and planet-friendly topics.

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Media

Nonfiction and academic books, including

• ID and field guides

• conservation handbooks and how-to guides

• guide books/ travel guides

• species monographs

• narrative nonfiction

• illustrated books

• children's books

I also work on

• specialist journals and magazines

• corporate literature, websites/blogs, brochures and marketing materials

• interpretative and educational materials

Experience

Freelance proofreader/copyeditor since 2016; Biodiversity Officer/ Dartmoor Mires Project Manager, Dartmoor National Park Authority, 2002–2015; Woodlands Officer, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, 1996–2002; Scottish Wildlife Trust, 1991–1996

Editorial training

I attained a pass or better in all assessed courses. CIEP was known as SfEP before achieving chartership status.

• Non-Fiction Development Editing (CIEP 2024)
  
• The Art of Querying (CIEP 2024)
• Word for Practical Editing (CIEP 2021
• Efficient Editing (CIEP 2020)
• Introduction to Fiction Editing (SfEP 2020)
• Copyediting 3: Progress (SfEP 2020)
• Copyediting 2: Headway (SfEP 2018)
• Proofreading Mentoring (SfEP 2018)
• Proofreading Progress (SfEP 2017)
• Practical Mark-up of PDFs (SfEP 2017)
• Basic Proofreading (Publishing Training Centre 2016)

Clients

Publishers and publishing companies

• HarperCollins (Collins Learning and William Collins)

• Princeton University Press

• Cambridge University Press

• Head of Zeus

• Quarto (The Bright Press)

• Pelagic Publishing

• Bloomsbury

• Bradt Travel Guides

• Taylor & Francis

• Whitefox

• Sunrise Setting

Journals and magazines

• Nature (via third party company)

• British Wildlife Magazine

• Conservation Land Management

• College Art Association

NGOs

• Plymouth University

• Leeds University

• Surrey University

• Cornwall College Group

• National Trust

• Moors for the Future Partnership

• High Weald AONB

Independent writers

• Authors

• Academics

Subjects

nature | natural history | wildlife | ecology | biodiversity | conservation biology | species and habitat conservation | countryside management | ornithology / birds | entomology / insects and other invertebrates | mycology / fungi | herpetology / amphibians and reptiles | mammalogy / mammals | botany / plants | travel | trekking | sport |art

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences

Testimonials

• You’ve done a fantastic job working on these spreads, Frances. I’m really happy with the work you have carried out and you deserve a huge pat on the back. It can sometimes be a bit tricky when working with new freelancers but this has been a breeze! I’ll be sure to keep you in mind for future projects. July 2017

• [Your edits and suggestions are] a great help and time-saver for me ... The books are always much better with your input. May 2020

Managing Editor, Collins Learning (HarperCollins)

• Frances worked as a proofreader on the copy for our new website. At the outset I asked her if she was willing to do more than proofreading and she was happy to help with editing and fact checking. She worked very professionally and I was impressed by her attention to detail. As well as providing an excellent proofreading service she made sense of some of our text which was overcomplicated. I received high quality work from her and I was able to rely on her to send me work that was ready to upload. Frances was easy to work with, sending regular updates and meeting all deadlines. She exhibited a real interest and knowledge in our work and was a pleasure to work with. March 2019

Jody Vallance, Communications Officer, Moors for the Future Partnership

•Frances has great attention to detail. She delivered the project before the deadline. Highly recommended. March 2017

•Brilliant work as always. April 2017

Project Manager, National Trust

•It [is] good to have your eagle eye on the job. May 2019

• … your excellent work. September 2019

Kathleen Cioffi, Senior Production Editor, Princeton University Press

•The edit was excellent … Your queries throughout the process were very sensible. August 2019

Editor, Taylor & Francis

• You have done a brilliantly thorough job. May 2020

Editorial Project Leader, Collins Learning

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Art & culture
• Ecology
• Environment & nature
• Environmental science
• Narrative non-fiction

• Writing