You write because you have something you want to communicate. Poor writing can make it difficult for your readers to understand what you are saying. Spelling mistakes and typos are a distraction. Factual errors make you lose credibility.

By using my services you can be confident that your writing is

• clear
• concise
• accurate
• consistent in style and formatting.

And I will make sure your writing uses language appropriate for your readers.

The services of an editor provide you with a safety net – a cushion.

Sara Donaldson of Northern Editorial on why copy editing is important to good writing:
Copy Editors Matter

Here is a recent article written by someone who knows the value of a good editor:
The Better Angels of Our Writing

John E McIntyre of the Baltimore Sun writes about what proper editing is:
What they think about when they are editing

This op-ed piece from The New York Times explains the effect that using the passive voice can have:
How Texas Teaches History

My name is Maureen Lee. The services I provide include content editing, copy editing, writing and research.

For over 20 years I worked full-time as an editor at the New Zealand Parliament, editing text on a wide range of subjects. My duties included copy editing, proofreading, fact-checking and checking formatting. I developed editing style, wrote style guides and training material, and trained people to be editors.

I can quickly get to grips with any subject so that I can edit copy on it.

I work with any writing in English, including fiction and non-fiction, academic writing, writing for children and young adults, memoirs, histories, reports, and training material.

I look forward to working with you.

• English degree from the University of Auckland
• Experienced editor of text for people whose first language is not English
• Experienced editor of text that includes words and phrases in Te Reo Māori
• 15% discount for members of the New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ).

international consultant writing reports on a new law

Institute of Directors in New Zealand: proofreading online training course

doctorate student

therapist developing advertising material

author of a series of booklets to be published on a personal development website

academic applying for another position

holder of knowledge of the history of an iwi who wants his knowledge to be available to his fellow iwi members and their descendants

family of a young New Zealander who kept a diary of his trip to the Antarctic with Captain R F Scott on the ship Discovery in 1901-03

author of a 63,883-word story of ‘love, friendship, betrayal, adventure and the power of matakite’, set within a Māori context and drawing heavily on Māori beliefs

truck driver writing about his life on the road, and his journey to enlightenment

author of children’s book, a sequel to Awatea’s Treasure

a company’s KiwiBuild proposal, involving several technical documents in different formats, done to a tight timeframe

HUIA Publishers: content and copy edit of 78,000-word young adult manuscript incorporating Māori concepts,

Institute of Directors in New Zealand: review of training material (multiple documents over several formats)

MBA student’s property development project: editing and fact-checking

Institute of Directors in New Zealand: report writing (12 reports), including some Te Reo Māori words and phrases

builder putting together a Look Book and TradeMe advertisement

author of military history The Compleat Guide to HMS New Zealand

Institute of Directors in New Zealand: report writing (100-plus reports)

tertiary student writing report on sugar tax

author of 80,000-word love story

author of children’s book Awatea’s Treasure

tertiary student writing a report on waste reduction at building sites

author of an editorial for a medical publication

author of memoir / recipe book A Lighthouse Keeper’s Cookbook

Institute of Directors in New Zealand: editing multiple training documents

Fill out this contact form or email Maureen directly at info@cushionediting.co.nz