CJB Editing - I Sweat The Details.

  • Louisville, KY 40242 (map)
  • (502) 727-5222

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Editor, Proofreader, Ghostwriter (Dissertation Specialist & Microsoft Word Doctor)

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CJB Editing - I Sweat The Details. • Louisville, KY • $20-35 per hour

  1. You'll be asked a few quick questions that will help describe your needs.
  2. You'll be asked to provide your contact information so that Chris Bayer will be able to get in touch with you.
  3. You'll have the option to get competing quotes from other qualified service professionals, saving you time and money.
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With 16 years experience as a professional copyeditor, I can provide:

Perfect copyediting (plus formatting and layout) services for students, academics, non-profit organizations, corporations, and private businesses.

Camera-ready documents in highly technical research areas including cardiology, social science, criminology, disaster management, psychology, leadership education, legal/justice administration, corporate development, any Liberal Arts curricula, and countless others.

Revised content of intricate research proposals, business and web advertisements, web pages, training manuals, scientific data, marketing reports, speeches, surveys, journal articles, screenplays, cover letters and business correspondence, fillable forms, newsletters, brochures, questionnaires, and resumes. I've also helped writers with their memoirs and children's books! Any manuscript at all--I'm up to the challenge.

I SPECIALIZE IN DISSERTATION WORK, producing dozens of doctoral dissertations and master's theses, and helping candidates graduate at institutions across the nation. One of the biggest challenges candidates face in the dissertation process is meeting the formatting specifications required by graduate schools and UMI (tables, section breaks, figures, TOC reconciliation, APA references*, consistency of layout and typesetting, etc.). I can help with this! Even if you don't need me to proofread or line edit your content!

*I'm an expert with American Psychological Association (6th ed.) publication manual.

I can also make you some fetching logo designs, graphics, and figures. (See above.)

Background:

Member, Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), October 2007.

Eleven years experience as Sr. Production Manager of an international social science research organization.

M.A., English Literature and Critical Theory, University of Louisville (2001, Master's Thesis: a 69-page book of Poetry "Casualties of Want")

Awarded 6 creative writing scholarships, 4 full scholarship service assistantships.

Following is an abbreviated list of customers I've worked for (and with) over the years. For many of these folks, it was a pleasure assisting them to get that extra set of initials after their names. Also included is their affiliated organization, business, or educational institution.

- A. Karem, M.S. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Justice Administration)
- A. Noe, CEO (NOE INK., web development)
- A. Schwendau, M.S. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Justice Administration)
- A. Spas (short story author)
- B. Goldberg, M.S., D.M.D. (self-help, hypnotherapy)
- B. Risner, M.D. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology)
- C. Binkley, Ph.D., D.D.S., M.S.P.H (University of Louisville, Dept. of Epidemiology and Population Health)
- C. Hughes, Ph.D. (Sullivan University, Police Studies)
- C. Potts, LPCC (Seven Counties Services, Inc. & Jefferson County Public Schools--SEAMLESS Project)
- D. Cambron, CEO (DC Creative, Inc., video editing)
- D. Easterling, CEO (Prosoft Nearshore website)
- D. Gerlach (personal memoir author)
- D. Johnson, CEO (Schultze-Johnson Systems, LLC)
- D. King (short story author)
- E. Nillar (Spalding University, College of Education)
- F. Jones, M.D., M.S.P.H. (University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Pediatrics, Sleep Research)
- G. Bingham, CEO (SRS Marketing, Inc., New York)
- G. Lawrence, M.A. (University of Florida, Dept. of Communications)
- G. Perry (website entrepreneur)
- G. Romani (educational children's book author)
- G. Romane, M.Ed. (Fordham University)
- G. Sanborn, Ed.D. (Spalding University, College of Education)
- J. Busch, Sc.D. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Sociology)
- J. Johnson, M.S.S.W. (Seven Counties Services, Inc.)
- J. Kaplan, D.H.A. (University of Phoenix)
- J. Morgan, Ed.D. NCC, LPC (Spalding University, College of Education)
- J. Mullikin, M.S. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Justice Administration)
- J. Roberts, VP of Development and Communications (Maryhurst Child Welfare Agency)
- J. Tucker, M.S. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Justice Administration)
- K. White, Deputy Commissioner (Kentucky Dept. of Corrections)
- L. Miller (ERA Kepple-Keene Realtors)
- L. Thomas (TV reality show concept/treatment author)
- M. Johnson (political manifesto author)
- M. Sabo, Executive Director (Prison Consultants of America)
- M. Wilbon, Sc.D. (Ohio State University, Dept. of Sociology)
- N. Delaney, Ph.D. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Educational and Counseling Psychology)
- N. Gargala, M.S.S.W., Ed.D. (Spalding University, College of Education)
- P. Cummings, Ph.D. (Seven Counties Services, Inc.)
- P. Ehlers, Ed.D. (Spalding University, College of Education)
- P. Foster, Ph.D. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Justice Administration)
- P. Ping, M.D. (University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Cardiology)
- R. Blango (poetry collection author)
- R. Brown, Ph.D. (Saybrook University)
- R. Larkins, Fire Chief (Highview Fire District)
- S. Childs (YUM! Brands, Inc. [KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell])
- S. Harrison, M.A., Project Director (Central Kentucky Community Action Council, Inc.)
- T. Messer, Ed.D. (Spalding University, College of Education)
- V. Pusateri, Ed.D. (Spalding University, College of Education)
- Z. Pan, Ph.D. (University of Louisville, Dept. of Urban Planning and Economic Development)
- Z. Rapport, Ed.D. (Alliant International University)

Reviews

  • March 23, 2012

    I have worked with Chris on several editing projects. His is a pleasure to work with and offers great advice. I look forward to working with him on future projects!

    – Gabriella

  • February 11, 2012

    Chris was an immense help in proofreading my first attempt at writing a novel. He offered guidance along the way and provided me with valuable insights in making my writing sharper and interesting for the reader. Chris was also very diligent throughout the process often working above and beyond the call to push through a sometimes tedious process. I'll definitely use him again.

    – Brian

  • December 2, 2011

    Mr. Bayer is courteous and professional. He was able to edit and format my thesis and return it to me in a prompt manner. I would highly recommend him and will likely use him in the future.

    – BR

  • July 10, 2010

    Chris was the editor for my dissertation which I recently defended. While I expected a "word smither", what I got was an ally and co-calaborator. Chris would never change my concept or ideas, but, instead would suggest and mentor me along the way. For six years Chris "held my hand", nudged me, and inspired me to make the best of my dissertation. He was, at the same time, efficient and effective in his timeline and worked many times over and above the call of duty. Chris was much more than what I paid for or expected!!! I would highly reccomend him for any size or complexity of editing or writing...he really does "sweat the details".
    Nick Gargala Ed.D.

    – Nick

  • May 17, 2010

    Chris has provided editorail support for me on several occasions involving the development of reports for federal and state funded research projects. His work is excellent and he seems to figure out a way to meet multiple deadlines while remaing very calm when many others are being very demanding.

    In addition to workig with me, I have recommended Chris for others, including faculty, students and others who have asked me about editioial services.

    He is one of the best i've seen or worked with over the years.

    – Price

  • May 15, 2010

    Chirs helped me with a paper that I worked on for a History of the U.S. class I took last semester in college. It was on a boring and sad topic of the Great Depression. The teacher chose it and what more could I possibly say about it? Chris helped me with getting some main causes of the Great Depression together.

    The teacher loved it and I got an "A" on that paper! It was just what I wanted and needed in that class. Thanks for all your time and help Chris!

    – William

  • May 12, 2010

    Chris handled a sophisticated 30+ page Offering Memorandum for me. The document contained numerous charts, graphs and other complicated elements. In my 15 years of investment banking experience, I can honestly say that I have never produced a better-looking, harder-hitting document. I have Chris to thank for that.

    I would also point out that Chris turned around drafts in a very timely fashion, and was extremely accommodating as to the work schedule. At times, we worked into the wee hours of the night to get the document completed.

    I highly recommend Chris.

    George
    New York City

    – George

Write a review

Question and answer

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. There are basically three phases of producing a final dissertation (once the content has been approved, obviously). I can perform these services independently—depending on your needs—or altogether. (They are applicable, of course, to theses or academic material of any level/grade/volume, etc.)

Formatting includes:
• paginating correctly
• generating a Table of Contents (TOC) as well as List of Figures and Tables (if required)
• entering section breaks
• making margins and vertical spacing consistent
• making headings, typography, and APA style specifications consistent
• rebuilding tables into a consistent format
• adhering to all specs according to your Graduate School dissertation or thesis guidelines
[Note: The formatting process can be involved and lengthy because it is based on the kind of quality assurance required for any print publication.]

Line-editing includes:
• close reading of every word/sentence for grammar, syntax, structure, typography, etc. and making corrections (use of serial commas, clarity, concision)
• paying attention to content in order to flag any discrepancies in flow of information (continuity errors), or to flag needs for citation, etc.
• inserting Comments/Queries using Track Changes in Microsoft Word so the author can address issues caught by the editor

Reference reconciliation (what we sometimes call a ‘crosswalk’) includes:
• making sure every citation in the text appears in the References Cited list and vice versa (I will flag those that are extraneous or missing)
• formatting the Reference List according to APA 6th Edition specs; this sometimes can require the editor to go online to find incomplete or missing sources

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. According to Jennifer Basye Sander, an expert in the publishing industry, there are eight players (excluding the original author) in the finalization of any written product:

- Developmental editor
- Production editor
- Copyeditor
- Proofreader
- Interior designer
- Cover designer
- Copywriter
- Indexer

I have experience with each of these roles, and from top to bottom of that list, the work involved ranges from “intensive” to “light,” respectively. Each demands a degree of tedium and creativity that makes them challenging for most writers.

I have spent most of my experience working in that first role: developmental editing. But with my amalgam of experience in all these roles, I have become what Sander calls a “Book Doctor.” Let me help heal your broken passages and torn-up pages; I will even strive to bring your slaughtered manuscript back from the dead, and give it a face-lift, too.

In short, I offer services beyond editing or ghostwriting content. I can provide a one-stop shop that includes formatting, layout, attractive visuals (figures, graphs, tables, collages) and more. I can produce easy-to-read questionnaires (including SurveyMonkey surveys), as well as eye-catching resumes, cover letters, reports, newsletters, posters, monographs, fliers, brochures—anything conceivable to desktop publishing.

One further endeavor with which I have years of experience is grant proposal submission. In nearly a decade at a non-profit scientific organization, I have been instrumental in obtaining tens of millions of dollars for our center to conduct longitudinal research projects. I am extremely familiar with Grants.gov’s thorny and painstaking specifications, and can offer support and assistance in submitting to NIH and its many sub-organizations, the CDC, the Department of Education, and other institutions. With the government’s newly streamlined submission process, I can edit and format your proposal, then actually submit the grant for you remotely, even though the grant proposal will be delivered via your organization.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. For one thing, I like the people I get to work with. Every idea or need is different and new. Usually, the process of editing something as complex as a doctoral dissertation requires a significant amount of time with a person, even if we never meet face-to-face. Email and cell phones are wonders. Collaborating on a project that people have put their heart and soul into affords an opportunity to get to know someone in a uniquely intimate way. I am fortunate to have established some solid relationships with my clients over the years, many of whom I now regard as friends. One friend referred to the process of finalizing a dissertation as “giving it birth” and I was her midwife. And I’m okay with that.

Also, there is the technical side. I find an intellectual reward in reworking embarrassingly incoherent content into polished academic prose, in restructuring surveys with rudimentary formats into instruments administered to tens of thousands of respondents. My eye for detail is nearly compulsive, my commitment to accuracy is unending. Ultimately, it’s in my nature to transform a disastrous-looking document into a PDF-ready, high-quality representation of its authors.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Always, people want to know the bottom line: How much will this cost? Currently, I charge $35/hour for academic and technical writing. Given the services I am able to provide, this is about half the going rate. (Do a Google search to confirm this.)

One thing to consider are what kinds of things you can get for $35 in an hour. The average lawncare service charges $20 - $40 for cutting your grass (which invariably grows back and must be cut again). A full-service car wash runs from $25 - $60 (and your car will get dirty again). Dinner for two even at a modest restaurant can easily eclipse $50 after gratuity—and that's without drinks!

Estimating the time a project requires, or the price of the final bill is tricky. There are a number of variables to consider—how much fact-checking I will need to do and how much research I will need to do in order to reinforce a concept or thesis statement, among others. But the primary factor depends on the fastidiousness of the author. If the content is written on a “lower register,” and needs to be elevated to a scholarly level, then it requires more consideration and time. Simple proofreading and copyediting of well-written composition takes much less time. Conversational content, such as fiction and similar prose, incurs less cost as well. All final fees are negotiable based on your budget.

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