As my slug says: Writing is hard, but editing doesn’t have to be. There are a variety of editing programs that can solve everyday problems so you can focus on the editing that only a human can do.
I offer one-on-one or group coaching in three programs: Microsoft Word, PerfectIt, and TextExpander.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is one of the key programs editors use every day to do their jobs. While the program is familiar to many, there are a few tools that can be hard to fully utilize without training.
PerfectIt
PerfectIt is a proofreader’s (or really, any editor’s) best friend. It’s a plugin for Word that checks for inconsistencies across a document. Right out of the proverbial box, it will catch common errors. However, with a little bit of tweaking to adapt it to your house style guide, it can become a major tool to your editing toolbox.
TextExpander
If you find yourself repeating the same text over…and over…and over, you need TextExpander in your life. Be it emails, comments on documents, or citations in a bibliography, TextExpander enables you to automatically populate a document with your template or preset text.
I can help you populate your library with frequently used text, images, forms, or code. You then assign short abbreviations to these snippets, which are expanded into the full text when typed (hence the name TextExpander!). For example, I can set up the program to have http://www.JustAskJess.work pop up when I type “wweb” (short for “work website”).
Reviews
“Highly recommend”
“Jess was a guest speaker inside my membership community, the Freelance Editors Club. She shared her in-depth knowledge of PerfectIt and using wildcards and made the software seem much more approachable. After her presentation, we were all excited to implement everything we had learned. If you need extra support with the intricacies of PerfectIt and using it to its full potential, I highly recommend Jess!”
— Tara Whitaker, Founder of the Freelance Editors Club
“Truly talented editor”
“Jess is a truly talented editor with the ability to modify her extensive editing skills to the voice and needs of the client or project. She is especially brilliant in developmental editing, but I would trust her with all levels of editing. And her skills with using macros in editing are truly impressive. If you have the pleasure of working with Jess, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from her.”
— Toni Rexroat, Email & Marketing Manager
“Huge asset”
“Jess has been a huge asset to our editorial team! She is always happy to jump in and help with any task and has numerous macros and shortcuts to help us all with working more efficiently. Jess is especially great with compiling and formatting citations and resources, and fact-checking to ensure all content is presented accurately. We love her positive energy and drive!”
— Julie Willson, Managing Editor
Just Ask Jess 