jeannehaskett.com

access to knowledge and experience – consultants, by definition, have a wide variety of experience, since most depend on a number of clients to supply them with work on a time-to-time basis; a good business communications consultant retains her competitive edge by learning new systems and software packages and by maintaining her writing and editing skills
a fresh perspective – familiarity with a product or service can blind those working closely to any faults; a consultant, on the other hand, brings a new perspective to the project, not unlike a user who has just installed your software on her machine, or a new employee eager to learn about the new product or service he or she will be selling/supporting/using
beta testing – while creating software documentation, a consultant will use your software on her own system and thus test not only the software but also its compatibility with her system, and inform you of any bugs encountered
quick turnaround time – consultants are accustomed to deadlines and tight schedules
financial savings – consultants are paid for work performed and often prove less costly than in-house employees who draw wages and benefits and perhaps have other responsibilities besides; in most cases, consultants have the software required to create your documentation and you need not worry about purchasing an expensive word processing package or graphics program.

What does a writer and editor do?

A writer and editor handles all of your documentation needs, from the initial proposal to submission of the final document to the printer. Specifically, the duties of a writer and editor include:

gathering information about the scope of the project and the audience
gathering information on the topic through research, personal observation and interviews
organizing the material and designing a layout
writing up the material in a way that best communicates to its intended audience
preparing illustrations, charts, photographs, and diagrams to accompany text
revising or rewriting initial drafts
proofreading and copyediting final copy and galley proofs, if necessary
working with other writers, designers, editors, production staff, as required.

Technical writers interpret, organize, write and edit material of a scientific or technical nature. They may also design the document's page layouts and create graphics to accompany the text. Technical writers must possess excellent communication skills and technical aptitude. A good technical writer is analytical, logical, inquisitive and organized. Technical publications can take the following forms:

installations procedures
reference and maintenance manuals
safety handbooks
operations guides
work guidelines
software documentation (user manuals)
online help.

How does website design fit in with your other services, specifically writing and editing?

Often companies, clubs, organizations and even individuals have the same or similar content in their sales proposals, newsletters, brochures and other documentation; much of this information translates well to websites too. Writing for the web is not all that different from more traditional forms of writing or documentation. As with all other writing and editing services I provide, content development and/or website design services are tailored to suit the user as well as your individual needs, and can serve to complement an existing service and your corporate image.

Is it possible to see some of your webpages and sites?

Yes, visit my portfolio to see thumbnails of webpages and sites I've created, many of which are available online.

What is your job?

My job is to answer your documentation needs, whether it be the editing of a newsletter or the design and development of a new training curriculum, complete with an online help system and accompanying user guide. Sometimes the job is small, involving just a few hours to edit or proofread a document. Other times the project is large, spanning several weeks if not months, in which case the process involves an initial meeting to discuss what is required, the drafting of a proposal, workplan and budget, a series of meetings and perhaps interviews to gather information, and usually two or three review cycles before the documentation is complete. For a complete list of my services, visit my Services page.

How do you work?

I prefer to work from my own office; however, I am willing to travel to your offices for kick-off meetings, information gathering, review meetings, etc. I am completely accessible by phone, fax, courier, email, and ICQ/Yahoo Messenger!/MSN Messenger/AOL Instant Messenger.

Can you use [name of tool]?

I am familiar with a wide variety of applications and with both Windows and Macintosh environments. Check out my Education and Training page for a complete list. I've been learning new tools for over ten years now and I have yet to meet one I couldn't use. And when it comes to technical documentation, for instance, learning a new program is par for the course.

What happens if elements of the project exceed your abilities?

I have many associates and colleagues I can call on: software developers, graphic artists, and other writers and editors. In fact, if the project is large, and the turnaround time short, I am able to put together a team of writers to help meet your deadline. Project management is another one of my skills.

Will you travel to ...?

I'll go anywhere if the project justifies it.

What do you charge?

It depends on the service required and on the scope of the project. I charge different rates for proofreading, editing, website design, and writing. For small projects I tend to charge an hourly or daily rate. For larger projects I usually charge a fixed fee based on the size of the project, its complexity, the number of review cycles, materials required, etc.

How do you handle a tight schedule?

In the ten-odd years I've been writing and editing, I have yet to miss a single deadline.

How do you gather data?

Usually I start with what you have and work from there, expanding my knowledge of the subject by means of research, personal observation and/or interviews. Again, the work dictates the approach I take. A basic editing or proofreading job may require no face-to-face meetings at all, merely initial contact via telephone or email, the receipt of the draft as an attachment to an email, and the return of the completed document and invoice the same way. For larger projects, a number of meetings may be required, interviews of "experts" (managers, software developers, engineers, etc.), and telephone or ICQ-type conversations by internet.

How do you structure information?

We've all encountered information that isn't well organized. Or material that isn't well indexed. Or well written. When structuring information, I consider the audience and then present the material in a way that best communicates what they need to know. I do the following:

use conversational words and standard terminology
use tables and bulleted lists to make information more readable
create flowcharts or graphs to further explain concepts
incorporate graphics, when necessary, to enhance visual appeal
create tables of contents, indexes, glossaries, quick reference charts, when necessary.

Would you be interested in ...?

Try me. Give me a call, write me an email, or tell me a little about the project you have in mind.