Meet the editor of your next project:

Melissa A. Swenka (MeliSwenk)
Proofreader, Editor, Writer
Joplin, MO 64801
meliswenk@gmail.com

***Use Blogroll below to find more specific professional profiles, thanks!***

Education

Master of Arts: English (with emphasis in Creative Writing)*
University of Northern Iowa (May 2011)

Bachelor of Arts: Communications (with minor in Psychology)
Upper Iowa University (May 2005)

*I have also completed course work towards a Master of Arts in Public Relations (January 2006-December 2007), which I completed through University of Northern Iowa before changing my major. I had completed all the course work, passed all the comprehensive exams, but never finished the research project. Therefore, I retain working knowledge pertinent to the public relations discipline.

Work Experience

MARKETING/AD COPY:

“The Dish on Dining” (February 2012-Present)

• Set up “Dish on Dining” interview dates
• Conduct review interview with chef, owner, manager of highlighted restaurant
• Write 500-700 words of publishable ad content regarding prepared food
• Take 4-6 clear, printable photos of each entire meal
• Frequency of 1-3 reviews per month
• Content runs twice a week in a newspaper serving several regions in the four-state (SWMO) area

 

E-rapport (July 2011)

• Edited for grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Sales-oriented ghostwriting to maintain established conversational tone
• Enhanced continuity and clarity with line, comprehensive editing suggestions

 

ACADEMIC WRITING:

Creative Thesis to complete Master of Arts Degree in English (May 2011)

• Performed major comprehensive edits to a novella-length fictional work  from advising committee’s suggestions
• Presented final, publishable product written to university, MLA, and advising committee’s standards
• Completed an oral defense of this work, based on questions/discussion from advising committee
• Applied techniques learned in workshop, craft, and theory classes to create a publishable work of fiction

 

Education Specialist Degree Thesis (March-December 2010)

• Performed line edits to pass university read-through
• Formatted to match APA and university-specific guidelines
• Created tables to display researched information
• Met weekly to discuss progress and outline any changes to previous week’s work
• Helped author to maintain tonal, voice integrity while meeting external, technical criteria

 

IN-HOUSE SERVICES:

Advertising Tear Sheet Clerk (October 2011-Present)

• Prepare tear sheets of running ads to verify for local and national advertisers
• Organize mass invoice mailings once a month with retail, class, and coop ad tear sheets
• Maintain monthly coop ad spreadsheet
• Updating established organization systems in tear sheet office
• Assist in creation of dummy pages from ALS in Quark Express
• Fifi of new and pick-up ads into “dummy”ed pages

 

Editorial Assistant/Production Specialist (September 2009-May 2011)

• Sorted, logged in-coming mail
• Began selection process by reading submissions
• Answered, filled subscription orders
• Maintained positive rapport with subscribers, authors, and purchasing agents
• Edited proofs, galleys, and accepted submissions for accuracy in Chicago style
• Built magazine in Quark Express