Hi, I'm Marja (pronounced Maaria).  

As a professional, accredited and qualified copy-editor and proofreader, my goal is to ensure your writing is stress-free and polished. My approach is to listen your needs and provide a cost-effective and suitable option, then work together with you to make sure the writing is clear, consistent and compelling while preserving your unique voice (that's what makes your writing yours).

Prior to my career in editing, I worked as a speech and language therapist and as a marketing assistant, areas which have enhanced my passion for grammar and the nuances of language. And I love nothing more than curling up with a good book at the end of the day – which makes editing the perfect job for me.​

I was born in The Netherlands and immigrated to New Zealand when I was four, completing all my schooling and tertiary education here. ​I grew up in Wellington and now live on a farm in South Canterbury with my family. 

Being bilingual in English and Dutch, and having studied French and Russian at a tertiary level, gives me an understanding of the unique difficulties of writing in English when it's a second language and enables me to support those who need to make their writing sound natural to the English ear.

Professional memberships:
Accredited Editor of the Institute of Professional Editors Ltd (IPEd)
Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)

​My qualifications: 
Diploma in Editing and Proofreading, New Zealand Institute of Business Studies, New Zealand
Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Bachelor of Arts, majoring in modern languages, linguistics and European studies, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand

Further courses I have completed:
Editorial Project Management – Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders (CIEP), UK
Practical e-Book Production – Editors Canada
Introduction to Fiction Editing – Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), UK
Certificate in Copyediting (Progress – CE3) – SfEP, UK
Certificate in Copyediting (Headway – CE2) – SfEP, UK
Editing for Register, Tone and Voice – Copyediting.com, USA
Copyediting Fiction – Copyediting.com, USA
Over the Copyeditor’s Shoulder – Editorial Freelancers Assoc. (EFA), USA
Editing Recipes and Cookbooks – Copyediting.com, USA
Editing Children’s Literature – EFA, USA
Art of the Query – Copyediting.com, USA
Social Media for Business – Louise Harnby, Editor, UK
Certificate in Editing with Word – SfEP, UK
Cookbook Editing – Aces, USA
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​I continue to maintain professional development to ensure I stay up to date.