Services

My extensive writing, editing, publishing, marketing communications, and business communications experience enables me to offer a suite of diverse services:

• Writing for Publication
• Editing for Publication
• Editorial Consulting & Development
• Editorial Management
• Copywriting: Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations
• New Media/Web Writing & Content Development
• Corporate Communications: Writing & Editing

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“Colleen Sell’s work strikes the perfect balance between creative and saleable. Her attention to detail is matched only by her knowledge of the publishing process, and she is the only writer and editor I know who never misses a deadline! It’s rare that I have the opportunity to work with someone with such a knack for both creative writing and the editing/proofreading processes. In the 5+ years I’ve known Colleen, I’ve continually found her to be one of the most responsive authors I’ve ever worked with.”

Meredith O’Hayre, Editor, Adams Media, an F+W Media Company

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For samples of my work, please see my online Portfolio.

Writing for Publication

I offer the following writing services to individuals and publishers:

• Work-for-hire book author
• Ghostwriter (books, articles, white papers)
• Collaborator/co-author (books)
• Features writer (magazine, trade journal, e-zine, newspaper)
• Columnist (magazine, trade journal, ezine, newspaper)
• Reviewer (book, film, art, restaurant, product)

Editing for Publication

I’ll match the nature and scope of my edit to your needs, comfort level, and budget.  I’ll strive to retain and enhance your voice.  I’ll communicate with you during the editing process, and I’ll deliver a red-lined draft for your review, changes, and approval. If applicable, I can also incorporate all approved changes and provide a finished manuscript.

I offer the following editing services to individuals and publishers:

• Developmental/content editing
• Line editing / copyediting
• Proofreading

I also offer the following services to publishers:

• Abstracting and abridging
• Anthologist
• Features editor (magazines, trade journals, ezines): assign/acquire and edit articles
• Magazine editor (consumer, trade, literary, ezine): developing and editing all editorial content; managing contributors

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“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you.
And we edit to let the  fire show through the smoke.”

Arthur Polotnik

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Editorial Consulting &  Development

• Book proposal evaluation and consultation
• Book proposal research, development, and writing
• Manuscript critique: for content, style, structure, accuracy, readability, marketability
• Product development (book, magazine/journal, newsletter, online publication)

Editorial Management

I can manage all or a specified part of the editorial process, working independently or with your staff and/or freelancers to produce all or a specified portion of your content.

• Magazine/Journal: content development, acquisitions, editing
• Newsletter: content development, acquisitons, editing
• NewMedia/Web: content development, acquisitions, editing

Copywriting: Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations

I can write copy  to your specification. Or I can work with you and your team to develop the creative concept—whether for a single piece or for a suite of integrated collateral—and then write copy to suit. Or based on input from you, I can take the project from creative concept through to finished product, collaborating with designers, illustrators, photographers, and other professionals, as applicable.

Versed in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing, I can develop promotional materials for a wide range of industry sectors, including arts/entertainment, publishing, retail, restaurant, manufacturing, technology, real estate/property development, education, e-commerce, nonprofit, professional services (legal, medical, accounting, computer repair, etc.), and more. I am particularly interested in working with LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) enterprises and organizations.

• Brochures
• Fliers
• Data/promo sheets
• Direct mailers
• Book jackets/covers
• Catalogs
• Display ads
• Print ads
• Web ads
• Slogans and tag lines
• Corporate backgrounders/histories
• Executive bios/profiles
• Press kits and releases
• Naming, slogans, tag lines
• Newsletters
• Case studies
• Feature articles (trade/business journals)
• White papers
• Exhibit materials/displays
• Point-of-sale collateral / signage

New Media/Web Writing & Content Development

• Site content
• Web banners / ads
• Online publications, e-zines, journals
• Blogs
• Articles / columns
• Reviews (product, book, movie)
• E-newsletters
• Listserv broadcasts
• Social media ”tweets” (e-mail broadcasts, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

Business Writing

• Annual reports
• Business plans
• Marketing plans
• Customer service collateral
• Employee communications
• Training materials
• Technical documentation
• Newsletters (internal, external)

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“I see but one rule: to be clear.”

Stendahl

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How I Work

Each project is different, and each client has a unique goal and a unique approach to reaching that goal. So before I write or edit a single word, I’ll gather as much information as possible from you; assess and think carefully about your project; and discuss with you how I might best help you to create, improve, or polish the written work you have in mind. Then I’ll provide you with a “project bid,” outlining what I propose to do, how I’ll go about it, what I’ll need from you, approximately how long it will take, and how much it will cost. For some projects, depending on the type and scope, I will also provide sample pages or creative concepts and sample text.

Once we agree on the scope of the project and my involvement with it as well as on all other terms and conditions of the collaboration, I’ll draw up an agreement for us both to sign. This ensures that we’re both working from the same page from the get-go, before either of us incur time and cost. Of course, the agreement will include a termination clause, if that need arises.

My confidentiality and integrity are guaranteed.  So are my professionalism and the quality of my work. I genuinely enjoy what I do, and I’ll do my best to make our collaboration enjoyable for you, too.

What I Charge

A cost estimate or bid will be provided for each project or contract.

My fees are determined on a per-project or per-client basis, based on five factors:

1. Industry standards
2. The nature and scope of the project or service
3. The type and level of service I will provide
4. My experience and expertise
5. Your budget

Examples of standards rates for writing and editing services:

• Copyedit: $20-$30 per hour
• Line/developmental edit: $35-$45 per hour
• Proofreading: $15-$20 per hour / $2-$4 per mss page
• Ghostwriting/co-writing/book doctoring: $40-125 per hour
• Web writing: $50-$100 per hour
• Feature writing: $1-$3 per word
• Blog: $2-$5 per word
• Book proposal evaluation: $250-$500
• Book proposal development/writing: $1,000 minimum
• Manuscript critique (book): $500-$1,000

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Contact Colleen

Got questions? Need more info? Want to discuss your project? Want to request a bid?

Just send me an email.