Andrew Dawson

Andrew Dawson – Editor

Expert copy editor and proofreader with 20 years' experience. I love working with career guide, self-help, business and memoir authors.

Overview


I have a passion for helping authors produce their best possible work.


I specialize in copy editing and proofreading and particularly enjoy working on books in the self-help, career guide and business genres, as well as memoirs.


The common thread? These authors want to help others like them by sharing their experiences, whether it’s a former Scotland Yard detective explaining how to solve murders (an Amazon bestseller), an entrepreneur sharing the secrets of their success, a spiritual journey, or one of the many career guides that I've edited in a range of professions, from veterinary medicine to modelling. They are great people to work with.


With 20 years’ experience in journalism, communications and publishing, I like to think I’m a great person to work with too, and I know how to meet your high standards. I’ve never missed a deadline, often getting manuscripts back well ahead of schedule, and I will always reply to your messages promptly.


I began my career as a reporter and quickly learned the value of a good editor who can help shape and improve writing, while preserving the author's integrity and spirit - and how demoralising and frustrating it can be to have your work edited insensitively.


These lessons have guided the subsequent 15 years of my career as an editor of newspapers, magazines, self-published books and professional publications, and I will always treat your work with the empathy and respect it deserves.


I’ve been the news editor of six weekly newspaper titles with a readership of more than 50,000, checking hundreds of stories every week produced by a team of eight reporters. I’ve also managed a busy government press office, with responsibility for the quality and accuracy of all press communications for an organisation with 23,000 employees and a £1bn budget, as well as editing a 24-page residents’ magazine delivered to around 500,000 households three times a year. There’s no margin for error when you’re the last port of call before hundreds of thousands of copies are printed, so you can rest easy that I’ll spot those typos!


This background has also ensured that I am very versatile and, since becoming a freelance editor, I’ve sensitively honed the writing of authors in a wide range of topic areas, from architecture (various textbooks published by the Royal Institute of British Architects) to sci-fi (Finality, the latest novel by award-winning novelist Marcus Martin); from to nutrition (Immunity Hi, Virus Bye-Bye) to psychology (Damaged People).


I’d love the opportunity to do the same for you.

Services
Non-Fiction
Architecture Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Career Guides Health & Wellbeing Psychology Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Science Fiction
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • NCTJ post graduate diploma in newspaper journalism

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2017 — Present

• Proofread various academic publications for the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)
• Copy edited and proofread latest sci fi novel by award-winning author Marcus Martin
• Copy edited and proofread dozens of career guides, self-help publications, business titles and books on health, nutrition and psychology

Hertfordshire County Council

Sep, 2008 — Jan, 2017 (over 8 years)

• Managed a team of four press officers with responsibility for enhancing and defending the reputation of an organisation with a £1bn budget and more than 20,000 employees
• Responsible for ensuring all communications issued (press releases, press statements, web articles and social media posts) were timely, clear, accurate and reflected the values of the council
• Editor of the 24-page residents’ magazine, Horizons, which was delivered to 480,000 households three times a year; role included copy editing and proofreading content from a range of sources from across the council

Herts & Essex Newspapers Ltd

Feb, 2007 — Sep, 2008 (over 1 year)

• Managed a team of eight reporters on a busy news desk
• Responsible for the content of six weekly titles in the Mercury series, spanning east and north Hertfordshire, with a combined readership of around 50,000
• Copy edited and proofread hundreds of stories every week to tight deadlines

Portfolio

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If you are a talented and ethically grounded sales professional, the most effective way for your customers to get what they want is to do what you tell them to do. Stop “asking for the sale,” ... read more
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Passive House is a leading low energy building standard. An important tool for designing Passive House buildings is the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). This book is an essential guide t... read more
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Small Practice and the Sole Practitioner

Marianne Davys Architects Ltd

This book is a practical guide for students or those already running or thinking of running a small practice on how to set up and run a small architectural practice and how to run multiple sma... read more
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The Dynamic Man

Louis Masensi

The world is changing and it's changing fast. Topics that humanity accepted as facts are being put into question everyday. Following in that theme, Louis Masensi questions the nature of manhoo... read more
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Andrew has 78 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Adel H.

Adel H.

Nov, 2023

Andrew has done an excellent job with the copyediting project. He spotted the inconsistencies in my ideas and suggested mostly accurate fixes, given that this is a non-fiction book on a specialized subject. I will for sure use his services again for my next book.
Andrew D.
Thanks Adel, glad I could be part of your exciting project.
Ayesha A.

Ayesha A.

Nov, 2023

Andrew was great to work with. The process was very easy and he was very attentive before, during, and after completing the work and it was even completed early. Greatly appreciated!
Andrew D.
Thanks Ayesha, great to work with you too!
Mitch W.

Mitch W.

Oct, 2023

It was a professional pleasure to work with Andrew on my book project. Not only is he highly proficient in proofing my project, he went above and beyond in making suggestions on bettering the book and giving me warnings about potential legal issues that I should avoid. Andrew sometimes partners with another Reedsy professional, Sarah, who did the editing for my book. They work so well together ...
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Andrew D.
Thanks very much Mitch, hope all goes well with the book. Look forward to working with you again!
Sharath J.

Sharath J.

Oct, 2023

Working with Andrew was smooth, professional and he even delivered the edit ahead of time! Highly recomended.
Andrew D.
Thanks Sharath! Hope all goes well with the book, it was great working with you too
Annette P.

Annette P.

Oct, 2023

Andrew did a wonderful proof read on my manuscript, I was very impressed when I seen the result, it was beyond my expectation. He is friendly patient and so very helpful and informative. His attention to detail is very impressive. He went way beyond what I paid him for. I received a detailed breakdown of his work, including pointers for the designer, which I found incredibly helpful and the c...
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Andrew D.
Thanks Annette, glad I could be of help!

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