Alexandra (Perkins) Carpenter
Hello and welcome!
Thank you so much for stopping by my website! My name is Alex Carpenter, and I am a copyeditor, proofreader, developmental editor, and writer. I have worked as a writer and editor for over 16 years, focusing predominately on the academic, publishing, and marketing industries. I graduated from the University of Colorado in 2003, double majoring in U.S. History and Film Studies, before heading to Arizona to get my master’s in English.
After graduation, I worked as a writer and editor for a local publishing company. Our projects included writing and updating articles featured in the local magazine, rewriting many pieces from the company’s archives, and using SEO to enhance the readability of various abstracts for students and clients. In 2009, I began working for a real estate agent and lawyer, where I wrote, edited, and proofread their websites, listings, emails, speeches, and other documents.
After spending a few years in Italy and Germany, I moved back to America in 2016 and began focusing on editing academic content. For about six years, I was a writer, literature expert, and freelance editor for two companies, where I reviewed and edited many different types of content, including master’s and doctoral theses, conference papers, poetry, travel blogs, book chapters, business proposals, marketing materials, and scientific studies. I also provided feedback for clients once the editing process was complete, explaining why changes were made to their papers and offering suggestions for improvement. Throughout my experience at these companies, I spent a significant amount of time working with non-native English speakers, helping them to develop their writing voice and style. As well, I became very familiar with both U.K. and U.S. approaches to writing/grammar, and I cultivated a strong knowledge of APA, Harvard, AP, MLA, and Chicago Manual of Style guidelines.
Recently, I worked for a marketing company, where I copyedited and proofread all of their assets, including websites, emails, PDFs, social media, marketing projects, and RFPs. Our company also used various copyediting software, including Adobe, Microsoft, and BugHerd, further expanding my technological skillset. Additionally, I became well-versed in content management through the software system Wrike.
Additional career highlights include proofreading a manuscript for a N.Y. Times best-selling author, which was fantastic! In my free time, I provide my writing and editing services for a nonprofit, where I run their website, marketing assets, and social media.
I love to edit all types of content, including books (nonfiction and fiction), magazine articles, journal entries, website content, essays, college papers, and dissertations. I am also in the process of publishing two books and will have more information on those soon.
If you came to my website looking for help with something you have written, I would love to talk more about your editing/proofreading/writing needs, so please feel free to email me with your information so we can get started!
*Fun facts about me! I have traveled to 32 countries, I’ve lived in three countries, and I speak two languages. I can’t live without my dogs, and nothing makes me happier than chai tea, a great music playlist, and a book I can escape into. Oh, and when I’m not working or spending time with my family, you can find me at the dojo, where I’m working hard to achieve my blackbelt in kickboxing!
Education & Work Experiences
An accomplished professional with comprehensive expertise in copyediting, writing, academic editing, proofreading, content development, marketing, and research.
Creates content and performs editing across industries, including the academic, publishing, marketing, and e-learning sectors.
A proven track record of success in researching topics, reviewing student and professional papers, and improving the tone and clarity of documents and online assets.
Skilled in numerous style guidelines, including AP, APA, CMOS, Harvard, and MLA. Experienced in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, Wrike project management system, and BugHerd editing software.
Consistently meets deadlines and maintains strong working relationships with clients. Maintained a 100% rate of turning in work while freelancing, regardless of how tight the timeline was.
Maintains a solid comprehension of SEO practices to ensure business goals and objectives are met.
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Copyeditor and Proofreader - Academic Partnerships; 9/2021-11/2022
Copyedited all materials, including website content, RFPs, e-mails, PDFs, social media, and flyers. Utilized Wrike project management software platform to ensure communication and organization between teams. Edited company projects using various programs that included BugHerd, Adobe, and Microsoft Word. Participated in continuing education courses to maintain the highest levels of editing and writing performance. Researched, fact-checked, and proofread partner website details to ensure continuity and accuracy using spreadsheets, marketing briefs, and program parameters. Applied marketing skills to enhance student viewership, enrollment, and interest in partner universities and colleges. Served as member of multiple Quality Control teams. Assisted writers with content development. Proofread and edited Request for Proposals (RFPs) between the company and its respective partners. Consistently met project deadlines. -
Writer, Copyeditor, Social Media Manager - Sean Perkins Foundation; 10/2018 - Present
Copyedit all content for the foundation, including scholarship materials, the foundation’s mission statement and goals, website content, and promotional print materials. Run all social media platforms, which reach over one thousand followers, including Facebook, Instagram, and the foundation’s website. Promote the organization, provide information on its fundraisers, partnerships, and functions, as well as manage communication between clients and board members. -
Copyeditor, Proofreader, Developmental Editor, Writer; AKC Editorial Services - 10/2018 - Present
Perform basic and heavy copyediting and proofreading services for a variety of clients, including students, professionals, and writers. Build and maintain a strong customer following by establishing relationships and providing excellence in service quality. Proofread academic papers, admissions essays, travel blogs, creative writing articles, manuscripts, and other documents for grammatical and mechanical issues. -
Proofreader - “Eden,” by Jamie McGuire (New York Times bestselling author); fourth edition 2018
*Communicated with best-selling author Jamie McGuire in obtaining materials, proofreading manuscript, and providing feedback on grammatical and spelling errors, word choice and usage, syntax, tense, sentence structure, and flow. *Identified and suggested areas of improvement by providing feedback on areas of concern. -
Copyeditor and Proofreader; Cambridge Proofreading - 08/2016- 03/2022
*Provide content editing for student and professional papers, ensuring proper editing of all essays, book chapters, thesis, conference papers, and medical journals. *Offer comments and suggestions to assist in improving writing, including proofreading and copywriting of non-native English speakers to ensure adherence to specific guidelines and requirements. *Delivered improvements to student tone, clarity, and comprehension of work while ensuring proficiency in AP, APA, Harvard, Chicago Manual and MLA formatting. -
Copyeditor, Writer, Literature Expert; Study.com - 06/2015- 09/2022
*Enhanced student learning experience by transcribing, editing, and rewriting articles and videos on academics, college majors, and distance learning programs. *Perform comprehensive research on statistics and career salaries, outlook and requirements, while providing critical information on educational opportunities. -
Writer, Copyeditor, and Administrative Assistant; 01/2009 to 04/2015
Sean Perkins, Realtor, and owner of Stoneridge Properties Newburyport, Massachusetts *Served as a real estate listing editor and newsletter writer, including inputting and updating information into MLS and marketing websites and client databases. *Gained new clients and enhanced brand image by managing and updating agent websites, social media, and online listings. *Communicated between clients, agents, and other online professionals to communicate needs and provide services. -
Writer, Abstractor, and Copyeditor; 10/2006 - 06/2008
EBSCO Publishing– Ipswich, Massachusetts *Authored article summaries on various periodicals and magazines into abstracts as reference tools in database products for public and academic libraries, universities, and researchers worldwide. *Increased research value by developing appropriate and attention-grabbing headings. *Improved literary database by assisting in literary rewrite project by editing and creating abstracts for a literary database. *Served as editor for company’s research magazine, specializing in national and international issues. *Provided training and support to new staff members.
Education
Master of Arts (2006): English
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona 3.7 GPA
*Degree emphasis focused on literature, writing, and education. Additionally, the degree provided a background in Shakespeare, Professional Writing Communities, Sociolinguistics, British and American authors, as well as literal theory and criticism.
*Worked as a writing tutor at the Writing Center and assisted students individually or in small groups in order to develop their writing abilities from basic essays to developing strategies for research papers and thesis proposals. This was achieved by asking questions and explaining and practicing concepts and techniques that best fit the student. Assisted students in understanding their instructor’s written comments and feedback regarding their assignments
Bachelor of Arts (2003): United States History; Film Studies
University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado 3.5 GPA
*U.S. History; Emphasis on modern U.S. history from the early 1900s, particularly WWII. Additional classes were taken on Mexican history, Hispanic and African American cultures, as well as Middle Eastern religions.
*Film; Emphasis on foreign, experimental, and independent film, as well as firm theory and scholarship. Additional classes were taken on film making, Asian directions, Latin American and European cinema, as well as American film since the late 1800s.
Associations
The Editorial Freelancers Association 2018
ACES: The Society for Editing 2019
Continuing Education
Basics of Editing and Proofreading (Webinar) 9/18
Word for Editors: Mac and PC (Online Course) 10/2018
Freelancing 101 (Webinar) 11/2018
How Authors Go From Shy to Sold (Webinar) 2/2019
Developmental Editing of Fiction: Beginner (Online Course) 2/2019
Successful Self-Publishing from Both Sides (Webinar) 2/2019
Proofreading 101 (Online Course) 2/2019
How to Create a Marketing Plan (Webinar) 2/2019
Copy Editing: Beginner (Online Course) 3/2019
Developmental Editing of Fiction: Intermediate (Online Course) 3/2019
Developmental Editing of Non-Fiction (Online Course) 3/2019
Copy Editing: Intermediate (Online Course) 4/2019
Developmental Editing of Fiction: Advanced (Online Course) 4/2019
Copy Editing: Advanced (Online Course) 6/2019
Introduction to Academic Developmental Editing (Online Course) 9/2019
Introduction to Line Editing (Online Course) 10/2019