Ms Georgina Weaver |

Skype
Georgina Weaver

Featured

An experienced writer, researcher, editor and proofreader, trading as The Company of Words, I offer writing, researching and editing services in range of subject areas (see below).

I am an English graduate with post-graduate qualifications in education, humanistic psychology, training and facilitation, and journalism and sub-editing. I have worked as an English teacher in secondary, tertiary and further education and TESOL [teaching of English to speakers of other languages], as a creative writing teacher in prisons, and as a professional coach, facilitator and education consultant, across the UK and in USA. I have written a series of grammar, punctuation and general English books for children in Years 1 to 8, and I have tutored and mentored adults on degree and higher degree courses in writing and editing their work.

Twelve years ago, I chose to move into a freelance writing and editing career. I have always been passionate about the written word and was able to bring my experience in education and personal development, which has enabled me to work in close partnership with clients to develop their material and their writing skills, consistency and style.

I have worked with a wide and diverse range of clients: individuals, small businesses, education institutions, private companies, not-for-profit organisations, and various national and local government departments. Many of my individual clients are non-native English speakers, who need to write in English.

I am very accustomed to adhering to house style guides, to the major referencing conventions and to university and company style and formatting guides.

I have written, submitted and had accepted articles for education journals, ecology journals, and book reviews for a variety of publications. I have had short stories published and been placed or shortlisted in a number of national short story competitions (Manchester, Bridport, etc).

Having a love of and curiosity for languages and how they develop, I can ‘just about get by (sometimes!)’ in French, Spanish and Italian, and have studied Latin and Anglo-Saxon. Sadly, however, I do not consider my knowledge of any of these to be sufficiently sophisticated to offer editing services in anything except English and American English!

I am particularly interested in undertaking work in human rights and social justice, and climate change and environmental and ecological issues, which I have a passionate personal interest in and commitment to. 

Media

• Books
• Multi-author books
• Journals
• Theses and dissertations
• Government reports
• Educational materials
• Distance-learning materials
• Online materials
• Magazines
• Language course materials
• Company literature
• Manuals
• Newsletters
• Travel guides
• Websites/blogs

Experience

Freelance editor since 2009 - undertaking contracts as outlined in Skills and Media above.

Inspection Quality Proofreader (p/t but regular freelance post) - Ofsted (2016-2020)

Director and Senior Consultant - Prism Learning, Education Consultancy and Training Development (my own business, 2000-2009)

A number of posts teaching English in secondary and tertiary education, followed by a move into adult and community education

Training

1. References (SfEP). 2019
2. Editing with Word (SfEP). 2018
3. Proofreading Progress (SfEP). 2016

Clients

1. Applied Science and Technology Unit, Hong Kong
2. Astute Medical Training
3. British Institute of Human Rights
4. Centro Coaching
5. International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations
6. Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills [Ofsted]
7. Parch Hill
8. Research and Innovation Institute
9. Royal College of Surgeons
10. Technip Industries
11. UK Council for International Student Affairs [UKCISA]
12. UK Police Service
13. VUWBO
14. Write the Talk
15. Writers of non-fiction books and writers of short stories
16. Yale University Press
17. Students submitting masters dissertations and doctoral theses to universities across the world, including:

• American College of Greece
• Collegium of Social and Economic Science, Warsaw University, Poland
• Goldsmiths University of London, UK
• London Business School, UK
• Nanjing University, China
• Newcastle University, UK
• Tavistock Institute, UK
• University College, London
• University of Bedfordshire, UK
• University of Cambridge, UK
• University of Durham, UK
• University of Edinburgh, UK
• University of Exeter, UK
• University of Oman
• University of Southampton, UK
• University of St. Andrews, UK
• University of West Indies

Subjects

I am happy to work in any subject area in the arts, humanities and social sciences. My particular areas of expertise, gained from graduate-level and post-graduate qualifications and a former career in education and training are:

• Fiction, Literary Fiction, Theatre, Literary Theory and Criticism, Ecocriticism
• Journalism, Media Studies, Newswriting, Features Writing and  Media Law
• Education (especially secondary, further, higher and TESOL), Training, Coaching and Facilitation
• Community and Social Development
• Human Rights and Social Justice
• Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Personal and Professional Development.

Areas in which I have developed substantial interest, knowledge and familiarity, through a wide range of writing and editing work, include:

•  'Aesthoecology' (the complex relationship between aesthetics and ecology)
•   Anthropology 
•   Art and Art History
•   Business and Business Studies
•   Climate Change
•   Complementary Health and Therapies
•   Current Affairs, Politics and Economics
•   Ecology and Biodiversity
•   Environmental Sciences
•   Health and Medicine
•   History
•   Human Geography
•   International Development
•   International Education
•   Philosophy and Ethics
•   Sociology
•   Sustainability Issues

I have worked as a copy editor / proofreader in some areas of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology. However, while I am happy to work with tables, I have no expertise in mathematical or scientific symbols and formulae, so would not undertake work in which these need attention.

I will not work in any area that I consider to be unethical, exploitative or discriminatory. 

Qualifications

BA: English

MA: Adult and Continuing Education

Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (secondary and further)

Post-Graduate Diploma in Humanistic Psychology

Post-Graduate Certificates in Facilitation, Coaching and Mentoring, and Consultation

Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism (including Newswriting, Subediting and Media Law)

Faber Academy - Writing a Novel course

Member of the Institute for the Development of Human Potential [IDHP]

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts [RSA]

Advanced Professional Member, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading  [CIEP]

Specialised software

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe InCopy

Edifix

Endnote

Wordpress

testimonials

Georgina is a highly professional, skilled, and committed copy editor and proof reader that I would not hesitate to recommend. She has edited material about different social issues including gender diversity, refugee inclusion, and children’s rights and always does so with great clarity, an eye for detail, and with high ethical standards and sensitivity.  

Professor Peter Hopkins, Newcastle University, UK

Georgina is an incredibly conscientious, patient, punctual and scrupulous editor with an unerring eye for detail. She has a great understanding of the complexities of language and she works with enormous sensitivity, for the text and for her authors and clients. I would highly recommend Georgina as an editor and colleague; she is a joy to work with and can always be relied on for exceptional work and professionalism.

Morven Dooner, former publishing manager

Georgina proofread my doctoral thesis prior to submission. She has an exceptional eye for detail and an insightful way of reconstructing sentences and paragraphs to sharpen impact and meaning. In doing so, she undoubtedly improved many aspects of the presentation and clarity of the finished work. The external examiner commended the grammatical accuracy and general layout of the thesis, and this was in great part due to the professional service that Georgina provided. I am extremely grateful to her and would have no hesitation in recommending her to anybody submitting a thesis for examination.      

Dr. Christopher Turner, University of Exeter, UK

Georgina is an incredible editor and proofreader, and I highly regard and recommend her work. She is very reliable, efficient, talented and a real pleasure to hire and work with.

Fabio D'Apice, Director - Centro Coaching and former Executive Director - International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations

Georgina has proof-read several of my academic works and has done an excellent job. She has an eye for detail, provides constructive and engaging feedback, and is sensitive to the subject matter. She is approachable, engaging and punctual.

Member of staff, University of St. Andrews, UK

As well as working alongside Georgina as part of a small team for four years to March 2020, on several occasions I have offered her freelance work that my academic proofreading/copy editing company was unable to take on. She was kind enough to agree, and I can therefore vouch for her professionalism and determination to 'get the job done' to the highest standards, together with her wide general knowledge so valuable in this role.

Alison Williamson, Director - Lone Pine Design Ltd (t/a Burgess Pre-Publishing)

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the invaluable assistance that Georgina provided in proofreading my Masters' dissertation. Her meticulous attention to detail and dedication to improving the quality of my work have made a significant impact on the final product, and I couldn't be more thankful! 

Anthropology Graduate, University College London