Editors' and proofreaders' Alliance of Northern Ireland

Siobhan Dignan

Based in: Belfast

Telephone: 028 9062 3372

Mobile: 07933 241464

Qualifications

MA English, University College Dublin.
BA English and Anthropology, Dean’s List, Grinnell College, USA.

Training and professional development

Introduction to Fiction Editing (SfEP).
Introduction to copy-editing (SfEP).
On-screen Editing 1 (SfEP).
Copywriting course, College of Commerce, Dublin.
Plain English Campaign

Experience

Editor, writer, proofreader: 20+ years freelance.
Copywriter: 20+ years’ ad agency/corporate communications work: US, Dublin, Belfast.
Editor and workshop mentor (volunteer) for Fighting Words, creative writing centre for children.
Belfast Trust Reader Panel for patient information leaflets.

Media

Print, digital, audio/video content: publications/ezines, manuscripts, policy papers, scripts, websites, blogs, marketing materials.

Skills and services offered

Editing: proofreading, copyediting, manuscript development/evaluation: fiction, memoirs, editorial, reports, translations, scripts, marketing and training materials.

Writing: Editorial – Trade publications, newsletters, advertorials, case histories, thought pieces, award entries, digital content.
Marketing – Print and online, press releases, branding, audio/video content (testimonials, instruction videos, presentations, ads) for diverse sectors. Search Engine Optimisation.

Americanisation: language and authenticity for UK clients reaching US audiences and vice versa.

Subject areas

Personal/company histories, fiction: commercial/children’s/young adult, retail, tourism, social policy, enterprise, marketing/branding.

Specialisms

Memoirs: editing, interviews, writing.
US vernacular.
Commercial projects: industry publications, PR/advertising, B2B.
Working with writers for whom English is not the first language.

Clients include

The Hardware Association of Ireland, The Hardware Journal.

Authors (fiction, memoir, scripts) based in Northern Ireland, Britain, Ireland, the US.

Marketing/design agencies: Think Design, Conceptroom, Red Revolution, additude.

Public sector and related services: Economic Research and Consulting, Belfast Metropolitan College, Young Enterprise, Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland, DECET (EU early years body), Queen’s University, Ulster University, Craigavon Industrial Development Organisation.

Fighting Words: editing services – fiction, poetry, personal stories.

Examples of work undertaken

Editorial and marketing communications: Writing, editing for The Hardware Journal trade publication. Articles, thought pieces and award entries for Young Enterprise. Digital content, editorial for Tourism Ireland, TourismNI, BT Biz ezine, RSPB, Save the Children. Brochure/advertising copy for Lough Erne Golf Resort and Hotel, Irish Food Service Association and House trade shows, Northridge Finance.

Memoirs and fiction: Americanisation, editing, manuscript development for Half Irish, a self-published young adult novel. Edit for After you Were Gone and My Letters to You, memoirs translated from Urdu. Developmental edit for Heir to the Magic fantasy series for children. Beta reader for Belfast writer Tara West (Fodder, Poets Are Eaten as a Delicacy in Japan, The Upside of Down). Manuscript development for Anything But Steady, based in Northern Ireland and A Minority of Joy, by a teenage author with Asperger’s. Editing That One Time, Fighting Words’ online anthology by frontline workers and families.

Public sector/education: Belfast Metropolitan College website. Proofing public policy reports for Economic Research and Consulting, the Department of Education. Collating translated text into EU training guide (DECET). Interlingua language course brochures.

Additional information

I can help you express your ideas clearly and engagingly. Whether the project needs a restructure, rewrite or review, careful trim or final polish; skilled writing and editing works magic. Factual communications become more effective and informative. Fiction, more compelling. My background as an advertising copywriter ensures a prompt, professional and creative service, with an eye for flow, consistency and accuracy. Bringing out the best in your voice. For manuscripts, I offer a free sample edit.

Based in: Belfast

Telephone: 028 9062 3372

Mobile: 07933 241464