Sarah Maclean

About Sarah

Plain English specialist, freelance writer and editor

BA, Dip. Adult Teaching, Dip. Māori Studies

Professional summary

I am in business as an editor, formatter, proof reader and writer. I provide a full range of writing and editorial services. I will work with you to write more effectively, or write for you with clarity and accuracy. The relationships I establish through writing for others are important to me and I guarantee timely consultation.

Commitment to plain English

With a background in education and sales, I know that information is powerful when a document is easy to read. My experience with a wide variety of readers, and a range of commercial and government organisations, confirms my commitment to plain English.

Subject expertise

I handle a variety of material. My speciality is translating complex ideas into text that reaches a wide audience. For example, I have experience writing and editing material about workplace assessment.

Study during a Diploma in Mātauranga Māori from Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki gave me the insight to write with a deeper appreciation of the tangata whenua. I write and edit information for audiences who use both English and Māori, and specialise in the area of bicultural Māori–Pākehā understanding.

I have continued to update my skills with Core Skills papers in the Diploma in Web Content (Contented Enterprises Ltd) and the Editorial Module of the Diploma in Publishing (Whitireia Polytechnic). I am also a qualified workplace assessor.

Some recent projects:

• Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Māori Development, Wellington. Editor and writer for the Whānau Ora team, as required.
• NZ Institute of Management, Wellington. Trainer: effective business writing.
• Competency International Ltd, Porirua. Writer with others: Fiji trade qualifications system.
• Community Connections Supported Living Trust, Wellington. Editor: client newsletter.
• Write Ltd, Wellington. Contractor: occasional contracts, copyediting and proofreading.
• Families Commission Wellington. Editor: Ongoing work to edit research papers.

Professional memberships

I actively contribute to the business writing community. As the Wellington Branch Coordinator of the Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand (TCANZ), I promote professional development, networking and support for writers and editors.

I am also a member of Te Awe Māori Business Network.

Contact

Tel: +64 4 3863840

Email: sarah@wordsatwork.co.nz

Website: www.wordsatwork.co.nz

CV:  Sarah Maclean

Posted on TCANZ website on 13th August 2011.