Wendy Hobson
Advanced Professional MemberLocation | READING, Berkshire |
Telephone | 0118 987 4587 |
Mobile | 0783 1234 112 |
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Web | www.wendyhobson.co.uk |
Wendy Hobson |
Flexible, imaginative, down-to-earth, professional and friendly, I am an experienced editor and writer in the non-fiction leisure market – so everything from cookery and crafts through organisational guides to health and wellbeing. I take on a variety of work but I have three main specialities.
Troubleshooting difficult manuscripts: If you have a manuscript that is not up to scratch, send it my way and I can guide an inexperienced author to bring it up to standard; undertake a heavy edit; or do a complete rewrite, if that is what is needed.
Editing cookery books: I have worked on cookery books for many years for some of the most prestigious cookery publishers and not a few high-profile authors, as well as many other talented but less illustrious cooks, chefs and foodies. I have recently completed the CIEP guidelines: Editing recipes and cookbooks.
Editing and writing on health and wellbeing: I have recently written and project managed a series of patient information books for a cancer charity, and have also written a number of organisers and lifestyle books, about which one reader was kind enough to say:
‘I just wanted to congratulate you on such a perfect book on Mindfulness. It is so simple to understand and beautifully written and presented. I have hundreds of self-help books, this is one in my favourite pile. I will cherish this great book. I love it.’
If you say 'yes' to any of these questions, send me a few details and we’ll see how I can help.
- Do you need an experienced editor to take control of a disorganised manuscript?
- Are you exasperated by recipes that don't work?
- Is your step-by-step guide tripping you up?
- Do you have an author who knows their subject but is not as strong in their written English?
- Are you trying to coax a book out of a nervous or inexperienced author?
- Does your text contain the information you need but no style?
- Would it be helpful to have a detailed flatplan, synopsis or objective report?
- Is working in layout (in InDesign) high on your agenda?
I can bring you a manuscript that pleases
the author – who didn’t know they could write so well
the publisher – who has high standards to maintain
and the reader – who needs clear information or instructions to get a job done.
Skills
- Project management and editorial consultancy
- Writing, re-writing, writing, ghost-writing, guiding and developing inexperienced authors or those with non-native English
- Cookery testing and recipe editing
- Structural and complex editing
- Editing and copy-fitting in layout
- Preparing presentations and sample material for book fairs, submissions, etc., writing abstracts
- Anglicizing international recipes
Subjects
- Cookery
- Crafts, especially step-by-step guides, sewing and needlecrafts, knitting and textiles
- Design, especially interior design and soft furnishings
- Lifestyle, including event planning and organisation, hobbies
- Self-development, including popular psychology
- Health (non-technical)
- Wellbeing and mind, body, spirit
Media
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Books
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Magazines, reports and newsletters
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Websites and online materials
Clients
- Hardie Grant
- Pavilion
- Welbeck
- Constable & Robinson
- Arcturus
- The Book Consultancy
- Foulsham
- Saga Healthcare
- Fight Bladder Cancer
Experience
- Freelance editorial consultant (since 2011)
- Editorial director at Foulsham Publishing (1995–2011)
- Freelance editor (1982–1995)
- Managing editor at Rodale Press (1981–82)
- Senior editor at Purnell Books (1978–81)
- Educational publicity manager at Oxford University Press (1976–77)
- Editorial assistant at Macmillan Education (1975–76)
Qualifications and awards
- BA (Hons) English Language and Literature
- In-house trainer for editorial staff
- Adobe InDesign training (2015)
Software
Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator
Testimonials
An excellent editor and it’s a joy to work with her.
Grace Cheetham, publisher, Nourish
Thank you for being the warmest, most intelligent and patient editor that any author could wish for. I can’t think of anyone I would trust more with my intentions.
Nisha Katona, author of Pimp my Rice
What an amazing job you’ve done! I’m so thrilled with it, thank you so, so much. I’ll be in touch with the next book before I spend several weeks trying to perfect it myself. Thanks again for such a brilliant job.
Deborah Taylor, Book-launch your Business
Very organised, and has the ability to sort out problems while remaining calm and focused … approachable … I very much enjoy working under her clear and decisive leadership.
Helen Stevens, SfEP Marketing and PR director (2010–12)