Padmini Smetacek

I make any material I work with linguistically and grammatically immaculate and readable, crafted to resonate with the target audience, in the style required by the client. When working on fiction I read the manuscript and offer the author my suggestions to improve the story – in terms of structure, characters, plot, style, details. My lifelong love for reading, including children’s books (which I do to this day), helps me in this. I try to understand the subject of the manuscript and research it where needed so I work from a background of knowledge. I interact throughout the process with the author/client, asking questions and, if need be, debating, making suggestions, and ensuring the authors’ meaning is always clear, their style and viewpoint respected and the goals of the publication achieved. I advise and interact with the authors on content and structural changes and improvements required, or do it myself in the case of urgent editing jobs (e.g., of reports, draft proposals, etc.). Quality is of paramount importance to me, as are punctuality and keeping to deadlines.