Feedback from publishing professionals
Once again you have done the impossible!’
- production editor, Wiley Blackwell
Hazel is an exceptional editor. She has an incredible eye for detail and makes suggestions for cuts and amendments to the texts which vastly improve the flow and strength of the prose. Her queries were always thoughtful and considered and have been extremely useful for the authors. This was a complicated project with lots of different elements, but Hazel handled everything in a calm and professional way which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. It’s been a pleasure to work with someone as skilled as Hazel. Thank you.’
- Emily Pedder, The Academic Edit
I had the pleasure of working with Hazel on two multivolume encyclopedias. Hazel is highly organised and efficient, consistently meeting tight deadlines. She possesses the clear communication skills and adaptability of a successful project manager that enable her to understand her client’s needs, plan several steps ahead, and proactively provide alternative solutions. She is extremely reliable and committed to producing a quality product. On many instances, she has gone beyond the scope of her role to add value to the project. No matter how complex or challenging the project was, Hazel always managed it superbly and I strongly recommend her.’
- Genevieve Looi, production editor, Wiley Blackwell
Hazel has worked as Project Manager on a number of large, multi-volume, print and online reference works produced by my team. She has a deep understanding of the publishing process and an analytical mind. She works closely to the brief, whilst also being unafraid to suggest intelligent improvements to processes and solutions to problems. She is always professional and helpful, striking a good balance between meeting the needs and requirements of the client and delivering a quality product.’
- Louise Barnetson, Production Manager, Wiley Blackwell
Creative and other non-fiction
I have the pleasure of working with Hazel – consummately professional and helped lift the writing in [the journal’s fourth edition] to a new level.’
Jay Armstrong, editor of Elementum journal
SERVICES
Creative non-fiction should captivate while informing. It’s about taking the reader on a journey with a purpose, a message or a story.
Academic
You’ve done an amazing job. I really appreciate the calm and accomplished way you’ve dealt with all the complexities and unusual challenges of the project.’
Production editor,
Wiley Blackwell
SERVICES
In academic editorial work, a fine balance is needed between established conventions and the author’s personal style. Neither can be neglected, and combining them well can make a publication exceptional.
Hazel is one of the best project managers I have worked with in over 30 years of freelancing. She provides thorough, detailed briefs, and I am always confident at the start of a project that she has taken its measure and anticipated most of the problems that are likely to arise. Clear-headed and calm, she is an excellent project leader. She is good at making sensible decisions but also does not hesitate to modify a principle if something isn’t working. Hazel is always a pleasure to work with: she treats freelancers as collaborators and with respect, and often copy-edits alongside other freelancers on large projects that she manages.’
- Jacqueline Harvey, freelance copy-editor
Thanks for being so thorough in your emails – it is really great to have the problem all laid out clearly along with a summary of the questions or suggestions for solutions. Makes life much easier!’
- production editor, Wiley Blackwell
We really enjoyed working with you and were super impressed by your positive, flexible and resourceful approach throughout. We also greatly appreciated your collaborative relationship with [the designer and publisher]. [The author] made an especial point of saying how much she had enjoyed working with you.’
- professional society representative on a collaborative textbook project
It was a great pleasure working with you as your emails were very explanatory and the instructions were crystal clear. Thanks for being very supportive and providing instant feedback on the quality of the proofs.’
- Swapna Srinivasan, typesetting project manager, SPi
Hazel is a very organized and detail-oriented freelancer. I have worked with Hazel on multiple projects and have always found her diligent and proactive. Her suggestions are quite useful especially in managing big MRW projects. I trust that the final product has met the standards and all the errors and inconsistencies have been resolved. I would highly recommend Hazel and really enjoy working with her.’
- Mansi Wasan, production editor, Wiley Blackwell
Education and textbooks
Thanks to ... Hazel Bird, copy editor, whose intelligent and thoughtful attention to detail has been nothing short of phenomenal.’
Sara Lister, Justine Hofland and Hayley Grafton, editors of The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures, 10th edition
SERVICES
Educational publishing is ever-changing, thanks to new curricula, digital environments and trends. But at the end of the process there is always a student, and that student deserves clear and complete materials to help them on their educational journey.
It has been an overwhelmingly good experience working with you on the final stages of our massive International Encyclopedia of Anthropology. I’m particularly grateful for the meticulous care you have taken to support our many authors whose first language is not English; and for your patience and readiness to go “far beyond” in order to resolve my many queries. It has been a huge project, and I look forward with some trepidation to seeing the finished product online and in print.’
- Hilary Callan, director emerita of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
You have been very thorough and easy to work with. Thank you!’
- Jane Wiggins, Director, FM Tutor & Associates Ltd
Thank you for bringing your meticulous eye, extraordinary patience, and implacable intelligence to this book. I’m tremendously grateful to you for all your wonderful work.’
- Aysha Pollnitz, Assistant Professor of History, Grinnell College
I could not have asked for a better copy-editor than Hazel as we worked to prepare the book for publication. I recognise all the hard work she put into this task, and appreciate it greatly.’
- Peter Messent, Emeritus Professor of Modern American Literature, Nottingham University, UK
In the seven books I’ve written, you really have been the most thorough and professional editor I’ve had the pleasure to work with.’
- professor of history, USA
In the beginning I questioned the expense of a copy edit, but I really think you have been worth every penny. Your meticulous attention to detail has been stunning throughout and I really feel that you care as much as I do about the finished result.’
- Christine Lewry, author of Thin Wire
You made no changes that seemed gratuitous, and made no more than necessary. I am equally amazed by your skill and by your temperament. You have made this process not only more efficient but also more painless than I thought possible.’
- Deborah Tannen, Professor, Department of Linguistics, Georgetown University, USA, and author of You Just Don’t Understand
I would like to thank ... my copyeditor, Hazel Bird, who has edited six of my books, including this one, with sense and sensibility.’
- Yair Neuman, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
I am a (mature) PhD candidate who was advised by my examiners to seek the help of an editor in order to complete the changes they wanted to see in my dissertation. Hazel’s contribution was precise and efficient and her accuracy reminded me of the way I was taught to write English 40 years ago but over the years have forgotten. She commenced work on exactly the day she said she would, completed ahead of schedule, and was able to get my second round of comments in more quickly than expected. Her willingness to answer ad hoc questions as I ground through my own work was a tremendous added value to working with her. In short, a pleasure to work with and I could not recommend her more highly.’
- Adam Gower, PhD student, UCL
I couldn’t imagine a more expert handling of this process, especially given the complexities of this manuscript.’
- Todd Lewis, Professor of World Religions, College of the Holy Cross, USA
Hazel has been really great to work with. She is steady and consistent, and has made my job less crazy-making. She is one of the best I have ever worked with.’
- professor of anthropology, USA
Hazel’s copyediting was meticulous, well-judged and thoughtful. She has a wonderful eye and helped craft my rather chaotic manuscript into something far more scholarly and accurate! Her communications to me were always swift and clear, and it was a pleasure to see her at work.’
- Ben McCann, University of Adelaide
Encyclopedias
Thank you very much for all your hard work. You have done a magnificent job with a complex and difficult book.’
Harry Sidebottom, academic and author of the Throne of the Caesars trilogy
SERVICES
Here be monsters. But they can be tamed.
Feedback from business and charity clients
Hazel has been my secret weapon for more book projects than I can remember. Seriously, I don’t know how she does it; she spots things I would never have seen in a million years. I wouldn’t even consider sending one of my books to print without Hazel working her magic on it first.’
- Paul Choy, international documentary photographer and author
Bringing any publication to market is always a challenge and part of that challenge is never really knowing who you are going to end up working with. We have been delighted with the service provided by Wordstitch Editorial. They have been consummately professional, have a can-do (and will-sort) attitude and they have protected us from a lot of the usual aggravation that can come as texts are prepared for publication. We have certainly seen many books that have been published riddled with errors, but we really are not seeing that this time. We would really like to work with you again. Thank you!’
- Mark and Bernie Fishpool, authors of Software Development in Practice
Thanks so much for your help over the years – I’ve always been able to send the magazine to the printers with 100% certainty that there will be no typos, howlers or spelling mistakes included thanks to your thorough work on each issue!’
- Dom Hall, Content Manager, Royal Osteoporosis Society
Thank you so much for your careful and thorough work on this. Wonderful job.’
- charity client
Charity and public sector
You made our work read a million times better so for that I am extremely grateful.’
Public policy foundation
SERVICES
Charity and public sector communications are as broad as the world is diverse, but vision and mission should always be at their centre.
Business
Just read your comments – very helpful! Particularly when you would catch the cadence of a page and then spot the part (even one word) that didn’t fit!’
Multi-award-winning international management consultant and author
SERVICES
Sometimes business writing aims to kick the world into a new reality. Sometimes it just needs to accurately describe how a project’s funds were allocated. Whichever is the case, there is an audience and there must be effective communication.
I think the job that Hazel Bird has done is excellent – my compliments to her and to you [i.e. Wordstitch’s client] for finding her!’
- author of a business memoir via a ghostwriter client
My thanks to Hazel for her work on this – it’s been of a consistently high quality and she’s been incredibly helpful throughout the entire process.’
- researcher/writer for a charity’s report
Hazel was startlingly efficient, in both negotiating the work with me and in doing it when she said she would, and exactly as I’d asked for. I’m not used to people being so dynamic, given how sclerotic our work lives have become. ... She rose to the challenge brilliantly ... and she acted with impressive initiative. I’d give her AA for adaptability and acumen. An N for niceness too. And a very big E for efficiency and effectiveness.’
- Dr Jo Stanley, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
I’ve checked through the proofs and you’ve made everything incredibly clear.’
- charity client
I have worked with Hazel on three books now – two were mine, the third and most recent was for an important client. Hazel is a delight to work with when one is short of time and naturally impatient. She is thoroughly professional and has the instincts to pick up a writer’s tone of voice and rhythm and match it through the value she adds to the manuscript. Her returned versions are easy to understand, adopt and go forward with.’
- Tim Baynes, consultant and author
Ready to find out more?
Get in touch, or click through to find out more about how I can help to move your project forward.
