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To arrange a free 30-minute consultation with me, please e-mail me at debdoyle.com.au or phone me on +61 401 028 926 (0401 028 926 in Australia).
EDITORIAL TRAINING SERVICES
Since 1995, I’ve been delivering face-to-face short courses for groups and individuals, in writing, grammar and punctuation, plain English, editing, and proofreading. Most of my clients are in Sydney or Melbourne, and some are regional or interstate.
Public courses
2008–24
Centre for Continuing Education, Sydney University: Over these years, I’ve been a casual academic regularly teaching A Course in Grammar and Punctuation Fundamentals and A Course in Advanced Grammar and Editing. In 2021 and 2022, I also taught A Course in Writing Effective Paragraphs.
2023–24
Inner West Council Libraries Program: In March 2024, I taught The Nine Parts of Speech, the first of three three-hour sessions about foundational grammar. The April session is entitled All Your Sentences Sorted, and the May session is entitled Perfect Punctuation. In September 2023, I taught a six-hour session entitled Grammar and Punctuation for Grown-ups.
2009–19
Australian Writers’ Centre: Between 2012 and 2019, I regularly taught Grammar and Punctuation Essentials and Editing Essentials. Between 2009 and 2011, I regularly taught various grammar and editing courses, including Grammar and Punctuation Essentials, Edit with Confidence, Perfect Your Proofreading, Better Business Communications, Writing Letters and E-mails, and Write a Killer Press Release.
2004–19
WEA Sydney: In 2019, I taught The Nine Parts of Speech, Construction of English, and Perfect Punctuation. Between 2004 and 2018, I taught the multi-session Professional Editing course.
2004–10
NSW Writers’ Centre: I taught a multi-session Professional Editing course.
2014
Sydney Community College: I taught two six-session English Grammar courses.
Council of Adult Education (CAE): Between 1999 and 2001, I taught Basic Editing and Proofreading; Editing and Proofreading Non-fiction; Editing Non-fiction; Proofreading Non-fiction; Editing Documents; Proofreading Documents; Editing and Proofreading; Editing and Proofreading for Publications – Level 1; Editing Documents – Workshop; and Proofreading Documents – Workshop.
1999–2001
Society of Editors (Tasmania): In 2001, I delivered A Grammar Refresher. In 1999, I delivered A Crash Course in Copy Editing.
1997–2003
RMIT Short Courses: I taught Corporate Editing and Proofreading; Grammar, Editing and Proofreading; Grammar and Punctuation for Writers and Editors; Copy Editing and Proofreading for Beginners – Level 1; Copy Editing and Proofreading for Beginners – Level 2; and Improve Your Written Expression.
Society of Editors (Victoria): I delivered Edit This! An Introduction to Copy Editing. In 2001, I delivered Grey Areas and Gremlins: A Grammar and Punctuation Refresher. In 1997 and 1999, I delivered Pens, Post-Its and Liquid Paper: The Copy Editor’s Craft.
Victorian College of the Arts: In 1997, I taught the subject Editing in the Bachelor of Arts, School of Studies in Creative Arts. Victorian Writers’ Centre: Between 1999 and 2003, at a number of Melbourne venues, I taught The Writing Basics: Grammar and Punctuation, The Copy Editor’s Craft, and The Perils of Proofreading, and at a Daylesford venue, I taught An Introduction to Editing and Proofreading.
Australian Society for Technical Communication: I delivered various short courses in both Melbourne and Sydney.
1995–97
RMIT TAFE: In the Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing), I taught the compulsory subject Editing 1 in 1995 and 1996 and the elective subject Editing 2 in 1997. RMIT TAFE Koori Education Unit: In 1997, I taught Editing to a student who was undertaking the Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing).
Private courses
SAL Consulting: From June 2023 to January 2024, I delivered a fortnightly 16-session course to a group of Australian clinical psychologists, via Zoom. The duration of each session was 1.5 hours. The first 12 sessions, entitled Advance Your Written Expression, were comprehensive lessons in foundational grammar and a customised editorial stylesheet, and the last four sessions were about the ‘six P’s’ of report writing.
Service NSW: In 2023, I delivered Grammar and Punctuation: The Basics to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office: In 2022, I delivered Grammar and Punctuation: The Basics to two groups of staff members and All Your Sentences Sorted: Simple, Compound, Complex and Compound–Complex to one group of staff members, in Sydney.
NCOSS: In 2020, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
Sydney Trains: In 2019, I delivered Grammar and Punctuation Essentials to two groups of staff members, in Sydney.
NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office: In 2018, I delivered Grammar and Punctuation Essentials to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, Australian National University: In 2018, I delivered Editing Essentials to two groups of staff members, in Canberra.
Classification Board, Department of Communication and the Arts: In 2016, I delivered Grammar and Punctuation Fundamentals to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
SBS: In 2016, I delivered Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling to four groups of staff members, in media communications, graphic design, promotions and marketing, in Sydney.
Hansen Yuncken: In 2016, I delivered Grammar, Punctuation and Editing to internal-document writers, in Melbourne.
Sydney TAFE: In 2014, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
Dexus Property Group: In 2013, I delivered Perfect Your Proofreading to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
Police Leadership Centre, NSW Police, University of Western Sydney: In 2012, I delivered two courses – Grammar and Punctuation Solutions, and Writing Letters and E-mails – to groups of police officers, in Richmond.
Education & Training Command, NSW Police Training College: In 2011, I delivered two courses – Grammar and Punctuation Solutions, and Editing Customised Documents – to groups of police trainees, in Goulburn.
Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA): In 2010, I delivered Editing RTA Documents to two groups of staff members, in Sydney.
Wizard Home Loans: Between 2005 and 2007, I delivered grammar, punctuation and customised-editing sessions to groups and individual staff members in the business’s Corporate Communications division, in Sydney.
HarperCollinsPublishers : In 2007, I delivered six Grammar and Editing sessions to a group of in-house editors, in Sydney.
AMP Public Affairs: In 2005 and 2006, I delivered AMPlify Your Writing, Editing and Proofreading Skills! to five groups of team members, in Sydney.
AMP Treasury and AMP Mergers & Acquisitions: In 2005, I delivered Grammar, Punctuation and Customised Editing to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
MYOB Australia: In 2004, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Nillumbik Shire Council: In 2004, I delivered a grammar course to a group of staff members, in Greensborough, Victoria.
Tweed Shire Council: In 2004, I delivered a course in grammar and report writing to a group of staff members, in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.
Productivity Commission: In 2002 and 2003, I delivered Improve Your Writing Skills to six groups of writers and researchers, in Melbourne or Canberra.
Allens Arthur Robinson and Baker & McKenzie law firms: In 2002 and 2003, I delivered multi-session editing and grammar courses to groups of staff members, in Melbourne.
Australia Post: In 2003, I delivered a grammar and editing course for 10 groups of staff members, in Melbourne.
School of Information Technology, Deakin University: In 2003, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to two groups of undergraduates, at the university’s Burwood (Melbourne) or Geelong (Victoria) campus.
Australian Industrial Registry: In 2003, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Victorian Auditor-General’s Office: In 2003, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Sensis: In 2003, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Blackwell Science Asia: In 2003, I delivered A Grammar and Editing Refresher to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Australian Motoring Services (AAA Tourism): In 2003, I delivered A Proofreading Refresher to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
CAE Virtual Arena chat room: In 2003, I delivered editorial training to a group of scientists who wrote top-security documents for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), in Melbourne.
Building Commission Victoria: In 2002, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Victorian Electoral Commission: In 2002, I delivered The Perils of Proofreading to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Swinburne University of Technology: In 2002, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of PhD students, in Melbourne.
East Gippsland Shire Council: In 2002, I delivered a grammar and editing course to a group of staff members, in Bairnsdale, Victoria.
CSL Research and Development: In 2001, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Tennis Australia: In 2001, I delivered An Introduction to Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Grant Day James: In 2000, I delivered Grammar, Editing and Proofreading Advertisements to a group of advertising copy writers, in Melbourne.
Refugee Review Tribunal: In 2000, I delivered Grey Areas and Gremlins: A Grammar and Punctuation Refresher to a group of staff members, in Sydney.
Refugee Review Tribunal: In 2000, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Monash Mt Eliza Business School: In 2000, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
Darebin Writers Inc.: In 1997, I delivered Grammar and Editing to a group of writers, in Melbourne.
Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia: In 1997, I delivered Improving Client Reports to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
William M. Mercer Pty Ltd: In 1997, I delivered Editing and Proofreading Client Documents to a group of staff members, in Melbourne.
PRIVATE TUITION
I provide individual tuition in person or via Skype, e-mail and/or phone.
2021: Thushara Senaratna, local-government employee. 2020:Liz Gearing, corporate employee; Blake Tierney, corporate employee. Sonia McKertish, corporate employee. 2019–20: Kevin Mac, graphic-design student. 2019: Albertus Mitchell, law student. 2018–19: Nicholas Pike, insurance investigator. 2017: Sarah Howard, occupational therapist; Maggie Horwood, student; Demetra Allen, writer; Carrie Arnold, copy writer; Anthea Parker, writer. 2015–16: Sally Otton, publications co-ordinator. 2016: Jeanette Hrvatin, author and administration manager. 2015: Aleksandra Zajac, school principal. 2013: Catherine Pranic, lawyer. 2011–13: Melissa-Jane Grant, personal assistant. 2012: Daniel Powell, publisher and editor. 2002: Lyndall Hall, editor. 2000: Melanie Smith, public-relations officer; Lucy Clarke; Christine Niven; Troota Gilligan, Law Partners. 1999: Lyndall Hall, editor.
For enquiries, e-mail deb@debdoyle.com.au
PRESENTATIONS
2023: Australian Society for Technical Communication: ‘When Your Modifier Is Dangling or Misplaced’
2022: Australian Society for Technical Communication: ‘Personification and the Comma Splice’
2019: Revesby Writers: ‘What Is Editing?’
2018: Sutherland Shire Council, A Day of Writing Dangerously: manuscript editing and author discussions
2015: Shire Writers’ Festival: ‘All about Verbs’
2006: ASTC annual conference: ‘Know Your Parts: The Building Blocks of Sentences’
2005: ASTC annual conference: ‘Punctuation’
2004: Society of Editors (NSW): ‘ECAB: Eradicate Corporate-speak And Bureaucratese’; Style Council: ‘ECAB: Eradicate Corporate-speak And Bureaucratese’
2002: Holmesglen TAFE – Chadstone Campus: ‘Freelance Editing’
2000: Australian Society of Indexers: ‘Teaching Grammar, Editing and Proofreading Skills’; Council of Adult Education and Box Hill TAFE: ‘Grammar and Editing’; Holmesglen TAFE – Chadstone Campus: ‘Freelance Editing’
1998: Australian Society for Technical Communication (ASTC): ‘Why You Shouldn’t Edit and Proofread Your Own Work’
1997: Society of Editors (Victoria) and Australian Book Designers’ Group: ‘From Designer Briefs to Dyelines: Editor and Designer Reveal All!’
1992: Australian Businesswomen’s Network: ‘What Is a Freelance Book Editor?’; Society of Editors (Victoria): ‘Advertising Your Services as a Freelance Editor’
LIVING PROOF – BOOK EDITING
Since 1989, I’ve been a self-employed editor and proofreader of fiction and non-fiction publications, including academic and educational books, novels, reports, manuals, official forms, brochures and correspondence.
I’ve created many editorial stylesheets, which are A-to-Z lists of commonly occurring and unusual words and expressions.
My clients include corporations, government departments, publishing houses, small to medium enterprises and self-publishing authors.
Please see Projects for a comprehensive list of the publications I’ve edited and proofread.
IN-HOUSE EDITING AND PROOFREADING
April–June 2009: Publishing Officer, Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW
1996–2000: Penguin Books Australia – Explore Australia by Four-Wheel Drive, first edition, 1992 and sections of second edition; Fly Me to Cuba production house; Hannan Corporate Resource; The Craftsman Press; Publicity Works; the Board of Studies Victoria; EMERGE Co-operative Multimedia Centre; Sport and Recreation Victoria; RMIT Business Process Re-engineering Project.
WRITING AND COPY WRITING
My wordsmithing projects include ads, articles, back-cover blurbs, bios, blogs, book and record reviews, brochures, columns, course notes, editorial reviews, leaflets, presentations, promotional dossiers, proposals, short stories, speeches, summaries and synopses.
Since 2003, I’ve been self-publishing my text-workbook Grey Areas and Gremlins: A grammar and punctuation refresher, for classroom use and as a standalone resource. The book is available in print form via mail order for $60 (no GST), including postage or couriering within Australia. Buy the book HERE.
Please see Projects for a list of my writing and copywriting projects.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2020: Australian Writers’ Centre – Copywriting Essentials course
2004: Style Council Conference – participant and speaker
1989–97: Society of Editors (Victoria) Inc.: Workshops, seminars or master classes about structural editing, grammar, proofreading, design, costing a book, copyright, defamation, starting a business, electronic publishing and the Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship
1996–97: Galley Club of Victoria: Seminars about electronic publishing and acquisitions editing
1990: Women in Publishing: All seminars and workshops at First National Conference, The University of Sydney
COMMITTEE AND OTHER MEMBERSHIPS
Professional member, Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd), Editors NSW branch. Member and political candidate, Animal Justice Party
2005: Committee member, Australian Society for Technical Communication (NSW)
2002–03: Meetings Secretary, Society of Editors (Victoria)
1997–98: Secretary, Society of Editors (Victoria)
1996–97: Joint Freelance Affairs Co-ordinator, Society of Editors (Victoria)
1990: Membership Secretary, Women in Publishing (Victoria)
COMPUTER SKILLS
Hewlett-Packard Pro; Microsoft Office 365 Business Standard; InDesign Creative Suite 5.5
Familiar with Macintosh wordprocessing software
Keyboard speed 60-plus words per minute
EMPLOYMENT, 1977–88
April 1987 – November 1988: Editor, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board (VCAB, now the Board of Studies Victoria)
Editing and managing all publications through the production process, including advising authors about how to prepare material; rewriting material; marking up copy; co-ordinating artwork and design; liaising with in-house and external suppliers; editing on screen; and typing own correspondence. Editing and proofreading VCE(HSC) examination papers, including liaising with authors and creating illustrations as required, maintaining editorial standards, and helping develop editorial guidelines and production policies.
June–December 1986: Publications Co-ordinator, Fringe Network, Melbourne
Supervising four trainees – two in journalism, and one each in graphic arts and office administration – in a six-month Community Employment Program project to upgrade Fringe Magazine; co-ordinating work schedules; writing, editing and proofreading copy; implementing phototypesetting and new layout formulas; designing and advising about graphic work; teaching WordStar software and Dictaphone skills; liaising with advertisers, printers, contributors and subscribers; co-administering a $64,000 budget; editing the official program for the first Spoleto Fringe Festival; co-ordinating mailing lists for media and festival participants; writing press releases; broadcasting daily event listings on three radio stations.
November 1982 – March 1984: Publications Assistant, Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales
Helping mark up the Local Government Bulletin, annual-conference papers, promotional brochures and other publications; liaising with advertisers; maintaining mailing lists; keying to disk and manually typing bulletin copy and correspondence; helping the public-relations officer prepare publications; maintaining stock, invoicing advertisers and filing documents; illustrating the Community Services Manual.
April 1977 – November 1982: Activities Assistant, University of Sydney Union
Designing and illustrating publicity for student activities such as concerts, dances, dinners, movies, tuition classes and competitions; creating the text and illustrations for the Lent, Trinity and Michaelmas term calendars; co-ordinating helpers; typing correspondence; filing; undertaking general office administration.
EDUCATION
BA, part-LLB, The University of Sydney, 1978. Subjects: English Literature and Language, American Literature, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Legal Studies, Public Law and Common Law (Contracts and Torts)
DRAW ON
Since 1977, I’ve been a freelance illustrator specialising in black-and-white line drawings and cartoons.
THE DEB DOYLE MUSIC ARCHIVE
In 2010, Sydney’s Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (the Powerhouse Museum) acquired The Deb Doyle Music Archive, a collection of my full-colour and black-and-white posters, handbills and ephemera I created from age 12 to 31 as a keen fan of pop-rock music and culture.
The archive also contains the articles and columns I wrote for rock magazines during the late 1970s as well as the music I created with two pop-rock groups, The Proteens and Café Society, between 1979 and 1985.
2015: I created a colourful animal-rights poster I captioned ‘Give pigs a chance’, which I sell online HERE and at vegan and cruelty-free festivals and expos.
2019: I completed two courses at Waverley–Woollahra Art School: You Can Draw Anything, with Richard Byrnes, and Life Drawing, with Joshua McPherson.