Frances Cooper | Nature Editor & Proofreader

Contact me [email protected]

I provide editorial services to writers and organisations on subjects related to natural history, ecology, biodiversity, and species and habitat conservation.

Whatever the form of nature writing, from children's books to narrative nature writing to academic and scientific papers and reports, I can help ensure it reads well, from a final check and polish (proofread) to structuring it in a coherent way (structural edit), making it clear, consistent and error-free (copyedit) or even help with writing it. I also offer fact checking for some publications.

Services Structural/developmental editing | copyediting | proofreading | writing | fact checking

With over 24 years of work in nature conservation, including managing nature conservation projects, funding bids, reporting, research programmes and communication, I bring specialist knowledge that allows me to work accurately and efficiently with your audience in mind.

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

My clients include authors, local authorities, NGOs, charities, publishers and academic journals. Get in touch to discuss whether I am the editor for you.

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I work on

• reports of all kinds: research/scientific, evidence, specialist, annual
• funding bids and applications
• corporate literature, websites/blogs, brochures, marketing materials
• interpretative and educational materials
• narrative nonfiction
• species monographs
  
• illustrated books
  
• ID and field guides
  
• conservation handbooks and how-to guides
  
• guide books/travel guides
• children's books
• specialist/academic articles
• specialist magazines

Experience

Freelance specialist professional editor 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

• 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)

Qualifications

• BSC (Hons) Biological Sciences

Clients

Organisations

• Cornwall College Group
  
• National Trust
  
• Moors for the Future Partnership
  
• High Weald AONB
  
• Next Steps South West
• Malton Museum

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 (Art Journal and The Art Bulletin)

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

What my clients say

• 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