ABOUT
Terry Erle Clayton
EDITING
I can unravel the most tangled thoughts and trim the fat from a manuscript so your authorial voice is clear and readers see the value of your work.
I work almost exclusively with professionals using English as their second, sometimes third or fourth language. Grammar and vocabulary are seldom the problem.
More often, the problem is authors are 'trying to hard to sound like writing'. When I edit, I apply the principles of the Plain English style. Plain English doesn't mean simplistic or dumbed down English. It means eliminating the clutter so your meaning is in plain sight for the reader to see.
I leave comments to explain why I have made a revision and I am careful to draw attention to any revisions where I think I may have unintentionally changed the author's meaning.
WRITING
As a writer, I excel at transforming technical content into crystal clear text for publication in high-ranking peer reviewed journals, persuasive policy briefs, comprehensive reports and white papers, compelling op-ed pieces, engaging magazine articles, web content and blog posts.
As an expert in your discipline, you have no problem communicating with other experts. You may sometimes find it difficult to communicate your ideas clearly to people outside your discipline and express those ideas in different genres like blog posts, success stories and corporate comms materials. I'm very good at translating technical content into plain English without misrepresenting your ideas or making them sound simplistic.
COACHING
As a writing coach, I combine my love of language with the creative rush I get from working one-on-one with people doing interesting and important work.
Through my coaching, workshops and courses, I help STEM professionals like you write more in less time with less effort and greater confidence your readers will get your message and take the actions you desire.
How valuable is your time?
When I ask people how much time they spend writing at work, they usually only think about the time they spend with fingers on keys composing sentences. Composing is just one of several writing subroutines.
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Now think about the time you spend thinking about and planning what you need to write, gathering materials, checking facts, making notes, talking with colleagues about what needs to be written and how, reviewing and revising drafts, formatting, and finally, copyediting and proofing.
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​If you work in a STEM profession, banking and finance, the social sciences or academia, chances are you are spending one-half to three-quarters of your day engaged in these other 'invisible' subroutines.
Given the amount of time you spend writing, shouldn't it be getting easier?
I know you are getting the job done and meeting your deadlines, but I also know it's a struggle and it's not an aspect of your work you enjoy. I know because I have been working alongside professionals like you in over 80 organizations on five continents since 1990.
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Perhaps...
Perhaps you're satisfied with they way things are.
Perhaps you think it's normal that writing should be a struggle.
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Perhaps you would be interested in spending less time writing more with greater confidence that more readers will see the value of the work you do.
Whatever your discipline, writings is part of your craft.
I know you spend time and effort keeping up to date with new developments in your field. I know you are constantly looking for new and better ways to practice your craft in your chosen profession.
True professionals never stop striving to improve.
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But for some reason, people seem to think that investing time and effort in better writing isn't worth the return. They would be wrong.
The people I work with are surprised at how little effort it takes to make significant changes in the way they write and the impact they can have through their writing.
You will be too.