Hi! I'm Lisa Roettger and I am WatchWord Editing. I confess--I'm also a word nerd. I have been as long as I can remember. When asked to write a haiku in middle school, I wrote one about dangling modifiers. Really, I did. (And, yes, poetry "nerds," technically that is not a haiku, which should be about seasons.) I also loved diagramming sentences, including the challenge to diagram Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky."
A childhood passion for words morphed into a bachelor's degree in linguistics, and later a master's degree, also in linguistics. I was privileged to put those to work in other countries over a period of more than twenty years. As well as giving me a greater awareness of language variety and cultural differences, it also made me more sensitive to others trying to communicate in a language that is not their mother tongue.
A passion for reading words and learning words in other languages led to a desire to assemble my own written words into something others would want to read. My favorite genre was poetry, but that has been interspersed with nonfiction writing, and now with a novel in progress. When I say that I understand the hurdles you face in writing and in having that writing edited by others, I do.
For six years, I shared with college students my passion for and my knowledge about language and writing, helping them prepare for the writing they would need to do in college and in their careers. That experience, and my experience in consulting, has trained me to make suggestions to authors and not to make unwanted changes to a person's work.
I am enjoying helping others fine tune their writing, so they can experience the joy of connecting with others through the written word. Isn't that what writing is all about--connecting with others? Sharing our ideas across the continent, across the globe, and even across time?
I enjoy working with nonfiction texts, especially those concerned with linguistics and the humanities. I also specialize in Christian nonfiction and fiction. I am not limited to these areas, though. I am also fond of mysteries. Even if I have not mentioned your specialty, feel free to contact me to discuss your project and we can decide if I am the best one to help you, or if you should look elsewhere for an editor. (If you wish, I may be able to make suggestions for editors who are better suited for your genre or subject.)
Training: Memberships:
Certificate in Copy Editing, UCSD Editorial Freelancers Association
BA in Linguistics, University of Illinois, Champaign In Print (President)
MA in Linguistics, University of Texas, Arlington Chicago Writers Association (Board Member)
Advanced Studies Certificate, Moody Bible Institute
About WatchWord Editing:
What is in a name? More to the point, what is in the name WatchWord Editing?
First of all, we watch an author's words. We make sure words are spelled correctly and that the right word is chosen. Of course, we watch more than that: punctuation, consistency...
WatchWord Editing, though, is about more than just watching words. We're about guarding your watchword. I want you to know that in my role of editor I don't rewrite your work to make it mine. Your work remains your work, your ideas expressed in your voice. I want to guard your watchword.
A person's or company's watchword is their core belief or motto, and it is something you express in your writing, something that makes your writing unique. It is also something that should remain yours.
Hence, my watchword: Watching your words while guarding your watchword.
A childhood passion for words morphed into a bachelor's degree in linguistics, and later a master's degree, also in linguistics. I was privileged to put those to work in other countries over a period of more than twenty years. As well as giving me a greater awareness of language variety and cultural differences, it also made me more sensitive to others trying to communicate in a language that is not their mother tongue.
A passion for reading words and learning words in other languages led to a desire to assemble my own written words into something others would want to read. My favorite genre was poetry, but that has been interspersed with nonfiction writing, and now with a novel in progress. When I say that I understand the hurdles you face in writing and in having that writing edited by others, I do.
For six years, I shared with college students my passion for and my knowledge about language and writing, helping them prepare for the writing they would need to do in college and in their careers. That experience, and my experience in consulting, has trained me to make suggestions to authors and not to make unwanted changes to a person's work.
I am enjoying helping others fine tune their writing, so they can experience the joy of connecting with others through the written word. Isn't that what writing is all about--connecting with others? Sharing our ideas across the continent, across the globe, and even across time?
I enjoy working with nonfiction texts, especially those concerned with linguistics and the humanities. I also specialize in Christian nonfiction and fiction. I am not limited to these areas, though. I am also fond of mysteries. Even if I have not mentioned your specialty, feel free to contact me to discuss your project and we can decide if I am the best one to help you, or if you should look elsewhere for an editor. (If you wish, I may be able to make suggestions for editors who are better suited for your genre or subject.)
Training: Memberships:
Certificate in Copy Editing, UCSD Editorial Freelancers Association
BA in Linguistics, University of Illinois, Champaign In Print (President)
MA in Linguistics, University of Texas, Arlington Chicago Writers Association (Board Member)
Advanced Studies Certificate, Moody Bible Institute
About WatchWord Editing:
What is in a name? More to the point, what is in the name WatchWord Editing?
First of all, we watch an author's words. We make sure words are spelled correctly and that the right word is chosen. Of course, we watch more than that: punctuation, consistency...
WatchWord Editing, though, is about more than just watching words. We're about guarding your watchword. I want you to know that in my role of editor I don't rewrite your work to make it mine. Your work remains your work, your ideas expressed in your voice. I want to guard your watchword.
A person's or company's watchword is their core belief or motto, and it is something you express in your writing, something that makes your writing unique. It is also something that should remain yours.
Hence, my watchword: Watching your words while guarding your watchword.
