Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.
Patricia Fuller
RAISE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS GAME!
Let’s make you look good…
International consultants are experts in their field and value professionalism. They know that high-quality outputs are what get them their next project and that it’s not just the quality of the content that matters but how it’s communicated and presented. Did you know that even by using a font that is not the ‘norm’ for a client could have a subconscious negative impact on how they perceive a document?
Good writing is an art and, if done well, will shine a light on your expertise, and engage and delight your audience… and help them to get the results they need! Proofreading for typos, spelling and grammatical accuracy are a minimum but there’s so much more! Want to take your writing to the next level, an editor can help!
Hire a proofreader and they will look for misspellings, incorrect/missed punctuation, inconsistencies (textual and numerical), etc. Hiring an editor, on the other hand, will do so much more for you! An editor corrects issues at the core of writing like sentence construction and language clarity. A thorough editing job will help improve the readability, clarity, and tone of your documents. Even native English speakers hire editors and proofreaders so their clients and other key stakeholders are not distracted from the valuable insight and expertise they offer by an odd phrase or an inaccurate spelling, inconsistent style or tone, poorly-formed sentences or jargon.
Want your writing to sing? Here are the main types of editorial services:
- Developmental editing is something that comes at the start of the writing process and includes coordinating and overseeing a project from start to finish. If you have Terms of Reference (ToRs) with reporting requirements but need direction and oversight on how to approach, organise, structure your document and transition between headline sections, then developmental editing is for you. This can also include helping you develop the ‘story line’ or narrative strategy and structure, and with setting deadlines.
- Substantive, Structural, Content, or Evaluation editing typically includes identifying and/or solving problems of clarity, re-organising sections/chapters to improve the order and flow of your document, and rewriting segments of the text to improve readability. Structural edits ensure your arguments are clear, your narrative story is developed, and your information is presented logically and accurately. A key focus for a content edit should also be the tone and voice of your manuscript. A content editor should be aware of your target audience to ensure that the way your content comes off (tone) is a good fit for that audience, and that the writing sounds like you (voice).
- Comprehensive editing happens once your document is complete, in final draft state. Some professional editors divide copy editing and line editing into two separate edits, copy editing being the lighter, grammar-only edit, and line editing being a more intense look at each sentence’s meaning.
- Line editing is down in the weeds, so not looking at the big picture. A line editor focuses on word choice and whether each sentence has the intended impact or meaning. They want the writing to be short, simple, concise, and about the reader and without run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and clichés and jargon.
- Copy editing is the most common type of editing. A copyeditor will meticulously check/correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of your original text. An editor will impose a consistent style and format during a copy edit. They’ll also check for clarity, inconsistencies, and they’ll cross-check references to figures, tables, and pictures.
- Mechanical or Stylistic editing refers to the application of a particular style, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or Associated Press (AP) Style. The editor looks at punctuation, capitalisation, spelling, abbreviations, and any other style rules. Many donor editorial guidelines follow the Chicago Manual of Style.
- Proofreading is the final step in the editing process before going to print or submitting to a client, and includes checking for any final errors and inconsistencies that may have slipped through during previous edits. This includes reading for typos, spelling, checking clarity, and reviewing basic grammar. Proofreading is a light edit and is meant to be a final clean up and polish before publication.
I’m an English language expert and marketing and communications specialist with over 20 years’ experience in the International Development sector. I love working with my clients, helping them produce high quality, professional, polished documents that attract reward and recognition, positive client testimonials and win them their next project.
SERVICES:
Advisory
Looking for a communications specialist to partner with you on a project, campaign, publication design and/or launch, or event? As a Communications Advisor I can help you with the following:
- Marketing and communications strategy development for International Development Projects (Inception and Planning to Impact reporting and Closure)
- Marketing Collateral and Content Strategy to grow awareness, consideration, decision, or loyalty
Advisory Services fees: €500 p.d. (excl. tax)
Editorial
Editorial services for professionals working in International Development looking to improve the quality of their written outputs and deliverables for clients.
Well-versed in both British and American English.
- Developmental Editing (€400 p.d.)
- Structural Editing (€300 p.d.)
- Comprehensive Editing including line editing, copy editing, mechanical editing, and final Proofreading (€200 p.d.)
Editorial Services fees: €200-400 p.d. (excl. tax) depending on the type of editing required
Copywriting
Looking for copy / content for marketing and communications purposes to increase your reach and engagement? I provide copywriting services for a range of print and/or digital marketing collateral:
- Web/landing page copy
- Blog posts
- Social media content
- E-books
- Infographics
- Event magazines
- White papers
- Case studies
- Brochures
- Presentations
- Reports
Copywriting and Content Writing fees €400 p.d. (excl. tax)
No road is long with good company…
Turkish Proverb
Let’s go on a journey together.
MY CLIENTS
My clients are high-performing, passionate individuals. They range from programme staff (Team Leaders, Chiefs of Party, and Programme Directors) to technical experts and professional consultants to academics and researchers from a range of sectors and industries, including cultural relations, international charities, international development, education, and the creative industries. The challenges may be shared to some extent across clients but each client and each project is different. There is no one size fits all solution which is why communication project journeys do not take a cookie cutter approach but are rather a unique, curious, collaborative journey.
Testimonials
Thanks to Fiona for her precious support and for her attitude in supporting the accuracy level requested by the fisheries department.
International Consultant – Fisheries sector, EU
Fiona is wonderful to work with, has exceptional expertise and can lead and rally diverse teams to achieve complex goals. She is dynamic, self-motivated, forward-thinking, and genuine making her ideal for building reliable and sustainable partnership networks. She is insightful and dynamic!
Senior International Officer – USA
I worked with Fiona for a global market insight project that took place in Turkey and China. I have learnt a great deal from her. She was not only an inspiring leader but also a genuine colleague/friend to work with!
Global Marketing Operations Lead – Turkey
Fiona’s ability to lead and develop people and strategy is unparalleled. Regardless of the project, Fiona knows that people are the heart and soul of a projects purpose, strategy and success. From the personal to the professional, Fiona makes time to get to the root cause of challenges rather than treating surface level symptoms.
Project Manager – USA
I have worked with Fiona on a number of projects and each has been an exhilarating experience – yielding more I think, than either of us might have anticipated at the outset. She sets high standards and is not short of ideas, while trusting to partners and colleagues to efficiently execute. Those involved are always impressed with the energy and enthusiasm that Fiona brings to the table. She is quick to give positive feedback where due and thus ensures that those working with her give of their best.
Marketing Strategy and Research Consultant – UK
No road is long with good company…
Turkish Proverb
Let’s go on a journey together.

Fiona Pape
BA, MA, MCIM, MICF, ICF ACC
A dual Canadian British national, Fiona Pape is an English language expert and marketing communications specialist with professional marketing qualifications. She has been a Member in good standing with The Chartered Institute of Marketing since 2005.
She is also a happiness coach, (ICF ACC), a consultant and trainer, a curious and creative spirit who plays with colour and mixed media, an occasional blogger, entrepreneur, mother and wife.
More info on her professional background, qualifications and client testimonials can be found on other pages on this site and on her LinkedIn profile.