Writing and speaking with correct grammar and spelling are second nature to me. You might think it’s ironic when you learn my mother was born and raised in Paris, France. She learned proper English in school and was a stickler for ensuring that her children speak (and write) with the correct grammar at all times. Slang words were not welcome in our home unless we were playing around, and if we misspoke, we were promptly corrected. I am forever thankful for the corrections because it served me well with my journalism major in college and in my career, which has spanned corporate and agency public relations, bank marketing, and higher education. (I hope that my daughter is absorbing my frequent, and probably super annoying, corrections so that she will be a strong writer and speaker in college and her career!
I have more than 35 years of public relations and marketing communications experience. In all of my roles, writing was required. I have written marketing plans, proposals, newsletters, press releases, brochure copy, trade articles and much more. Nearly all professions require communication through writing. Even today with the popularity of social media and digital outlets, the posts have to start somewhere. It’s with the written word. While writing is the “cake” of the recipe; I’d like to suggest that proofreading is the icing. It makes everything better and so much more palatable.
Today, it takes a second to publish something even if it’s an email you dash off to a client. Oftentimes, we hit the send button without taking that second, third, or fourth look at what we’ve written. I catch errors all the time when I’m reading an article, social media post, or printed piece. I want to help writers to be their best by offering my proofreading services!
When I’m not proofreading, I’m reading a best-selling fiction novel or self-help book. Why not? We can always use help.
My other passion is event planning. Throughout my career, I’ve planned many events from conception to implementation to on-site management and post-event review. These events have included a speaker series, galas, golf outings, groundbreakings and dedications, commencement ceremonies, university president inaugurations, and numerous dinners and receptions.