Curiosity is a useful starting point.
I’m John, a writer, editor and English language educator based near Liskeard in Cornwall.
I write articles, business copy, learning materials and fiction. I also edit other people’s words and put together quizzes for groups who enjoy a good question.
Whatever the subject, I want the reader to understand what matters and have a reason to keep reading.
Listening, explaining and finding the point.
My route into writing has not been particularly conventional. Much of my working life has involved teaching English to adults, including Business English and IELTS preparation. That means listening carefully, finding out what someone needs and explaining an idea in a way they can use.
My experience includes teaching at Britannia Royal Naval College and teaching, programme coordination and materials development at HMS Raleigh. Working with learners from different backgrounds taught me to question assumptions about what a reader already knows.
I also have a degree in Marketing and German from Lancaster University. That business background helps me think about who a piece of writing is for, what it needs to achieve and which details will matter to its audience.
What that brings to your project.
With a feature, I look for the detail that makes a subject worth reading about. With business copy, I work out what the reader needs to know before asking them to act. With learning materials, I think about what someone should be able to do next.
Editing calls for the same attention. A piece can be accurate and still leave its reader working too hard. I look at the order of ideas, the sentences and the tone, while keeping the writer’s voice.
Working with me
I start by asking questions. Who are you trying to reach? What do you want them to understand or do? What have you already tried?
Before work begins, I agree the brief, deliverables, timing and price with you. You’ll know what to expect, and there’s room for feedback as the work develops.
When I’m editing, I aim to make the writing clearer while keeping the writer’s voice. When I’m writing from scratch, I choose the tone to suit the reader and the purpose.
I also appeared on University Challenge, which may help explain why quiz questions have found their way into my working life. I enjoy questions that make a group think, talk and occasionally argue their case.
Have a go at my sample quiz →If you have a writing or editing project in mind, tell me a little about it. I’ll explain how I can help.
Talk about a projectExplore my work