Overview
I work with words, whether proofreading, copy editing, writing, translating, or teaching them. I've been called an eagle eye on more than one occasion, and I pride myself in not missing the bigger picture while still focusing on the details.
Born in Poland, my introduction to English was through grammar school in the USA and I have been honing this, and many other languages, ever since. I'm fluent in Polish and English, proficient in German, and a beginner in Latin American Spanish. I'd be happy to edit your work for English, and I could offer a deeper service and reference the source material if it is in any of these languages.
I'm also a subject-matter expert in arts and crafts, specifically in paper, ceramics, and sewing. I own a craft business (Jezyki Shop) and I am a teaching artist at Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles where I also volunteer. Since 2017, I have taught 4 workshops there in making ornaments and flowers out of paper. I've also taken many ceramics classes at Otis College of Art and Design and Barnsdall Art Park in Los Angeles, Pewabic Pottery in Detroit, and a few creative writing classes, specifically in the art of the short story, also at Otis, Barnsdall, and Creative Nonfiction (online). Lastly, I volunteer with two refugee organizations: Tiyya Foundation and Miry's List.
Professionally, I have worked in publishing for more than a decade. As an author, proofreader, copy editor, translator, English editor and instructor, and project manager. Notable companies and clients include: SAGE, Macmillan Learning, Hayden-McNeil, Redwood Publishing, EMBER Magazine, and Berlitz.
Services
Non-Fiction
Languages
Certifications
- BA Journalism - Michigan State University
Work experience
Self-employed
Using Chicago Manual of Style, I have proofread everything from new projects to complex revisions of university science textbooks and lab manuals, cannabis magazines, academic research journals (using Council of Scientific Editors style guide), and more. I check not only for typos and correct style, but also correctly input author revisions, pagination, page references, and formatting. Clients: Hayden-McNeil Publishing (Macmillan Learning), SAGE Publishing, Redwood Publishing, EMBER Magazine, and self-published clients.
I've also worked on short-form marketing material like blogs, banner ads, billboards, and email for a variety of marketing clients like Be Grizzlee (TBWA/Media Arts Lab), Plex, and MedMen.
EMBER Magazine
Published by PAPER for MedMen, EMBER Magazine (2018-2020) was a journal of cannabis and culture published four times a year. Articles were conceived and written by PAPER and I was responsible for final proofreading which included reading all articles for typos and proper formatting, checking pagination, table of contents, running heads, and ensuring company language and product names were accurate.
SAGE Publishing
After working at SAGE full-time as an Associate Editor, I moved into a freelance copy editor role for the Journal of Dental Research and its sister journal JDR Clinical and Translational Research. Following CSE (Council of Science Editors) style and the journal's style guide, I prepared author-submitted manuscripts for publication by adjusting text spelling and formatting, punctuation, and other niche rules to ensure consistency among all articles published by the journal.
Berlitz
On tight deadlines and a high expectation for quality, I wrote proprietary ESL (English as a Second Language) learning materials for intermediate to advanced language level business professionals. Learning materials consisted of the instructor's manual, student workbook, audio scripts, and any additional handouts.
In 2018 I completed two separate texts, one titled Social Situations and the other Discussing the News. I was asked to write these two books after having worked with the same company to complete a B2B Customer Service book in 2014 (May to August).
SAGE Publishing
Essentially a project manager of open access scientific research journals, I worked with the Editors-in-Chief who oversaw peer review and journal content. I consistently juggled large picture journal strategy while making sure loose ends with the website or author requests were tied up. My titles included Cell Transplantation, Cancer Informatics, Journal of Experimental Neuroscience, and Genetics and Epigenetics, just to name a few.
Hayden-McNeil Publishing (Macmillan Learning)
A subsidiary of Macmillan Learning, Hayden-McNeil is a custom publisher of university textbooks and laboratory manuals mainly in the sciences. Adhering to CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style), I completed first reads of brand new books or complex revision projects checking for everything from pagination to correct labels in the figures and tables.
In addition top proofreading, I kept track of projects in our management system, recorded time spent in each stage, trained new hires and reviewed their work and problem-solved on a daily basis. After working for HM full-time, I moved into a freelance proofreader role with them that continues until today.
Portfolio
