SERVICES
Editing Services
InfoSpin senior editor Sandy Sampson performs different levels of editing depending on customer needs. Editing capabilities range from proof reading and line editing documents for grammar and style, to substantive editing, in which InfoSpin examines documents for content and tone. Substantive editing may include rewriting and reorganizing portions of text.
Sandy also provides developmental editing services, in which she works with customers on determining content, direction, style, and appropriateness of language and layout. Developmental editing may include editorial mentoring services, in which she provides detailed feedback to writers and in-house staff to help them shape and improve their own writing and editing capabilities.
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A sample edit that Sandy prepared for a client gives examples of substantive, developmental and simple line editing. |
InfoSpin adjusts tone and style to suit the client. Sandy is familiar with
style guides such as The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook,
the Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological
Association (APA) publication manual, among others.
Additionally Sandy develops custom style guides and
manuscript formats to accommodate the particular needs
of individual customers.
Writing and Analysis Services
Sandy has experience with the following types of Writing and Editing Projects:
Advertising copy
Articulating value proposition
Brochures
Business and technical writing
Business plans
Case studies
Company profiles
Competitive analysis
Copy editing
Copy writing
Direct marketing flyers
Disaster recovery plans
Documentation
Editorial mentoring
Market study and analysis
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Marketing collateral
Newsletters
Positioning papers
Product profiles
Proposals/RFPs
Sales sheets
Speech writing
Strategic planning and analysis
Surveys
Technical editing
Technical writing
Technology writing
Web content
Web site review
White papers
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For a broad listing of subject areas on which Sandy has written or edited, see InfoSpin Report Topics. Sandy will provide a detailed bibliography on request.
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Don't forget: Writing, editing and analysis skills are transferable! If you don't see what you're looking for, ask! |
TESTIMONIALS
In the words of customers, peers and partners:
"Sandy is the best writer I know and a gifted analyst. She writes with intelligence, insight and a rare ability to make technical discussions fun to read."
--Nancy Meachim, a client and former colleague
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"Prompt service and excellent work."
--Regarding an editing project for an HR consulting firm
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Thanks for your work on the ... ITIL paper. ... I am very impressed at your turnaround on this and at how quickly you grasped the subject – it was something that we weren’t looking forward to writing particularly. The paper turned out really well. I appreciate your independence on it also.
--Regarding a research and writing project for an information analysis firm
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"You made excellent recommendations and changes [to my dissertation]. Thanks."
--A Ph.D. candidate
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"[InfoSpin's] articles were clear, concise, and easy to read ... the perfect thing for the 'consultant on the run' to read on an airplane."
--A sales executive at SAP America
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"I can't begin to tell you what a terrific job you did [...] and
how much I enjoyed working with you. Few authors have the ability to take a
really difficult subject and make it (1) informative and (2) fun to read.
To think that you were able to do this in concert with learning a product
pretty much from scratch AND holding a submission schedule on your FIRST
Dummies book puts you in an elite minority.
Now, you're a known quantity
--an author who "gets it.""
--Kyle Looper, Editorial Manager,
Hungry Minds, Inc.
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"Sandy Sampson is able to reduce sophisticated technology topics to terms that even "dummies" can understand. Using humor and a conversational manner, she explains how to utilize the various components of Unicenter TNG and
she makes the topic fun and easy to read."
--Charles B. Wang, former Chairman and CEO,
Computer Associates International, Inc.
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"Fantastic work! Thank you so much."
"You
provided fantastic information which I was able to incorporate into my
industry profile. The profile was very well received by my clients. The other members of the team liked the information you provided them
too."
--A marketing analyst at SAP America
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"Thank you. You really did a wonderful job on the paper."
--A public relations manager at interBiz
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"I just wanted to let you know that everyone thought the paper was very well
written. We are extremely pleased."--A public relations manager at interBiz
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"You're the greatest. As I
explore other [freelance analysts], I appreciate you more and more."
--A senior consultant and editor at Patricia Seybold Group
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"Thanks very much for all of your help so far.
I look forward to working with you again."
--An industry analyst at
Enterprise Management Associates (EMA)
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"Thank you so much for this.... All your comments are good ones.... What you did was PERFECT."
--A director at EMA
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"You write so beautifully."
--A senior VP at interBiz
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"You are a jewel of a writer."
--Robert Cole, Journalism Professor,
The College of New Jersey
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"Bravissimo!"
--eMetaprise Research principal analyst
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CUSTOMERS
InfoSpin customers represent diverse industries, including
software, information analysis, publishing, education, consulting, and
non-profit firms.
Industry: Software
For software companies such as SAP, InfoSpin principal analyst Sandy Sampson collaborates with
corporate teams to prepare competitive analysis for internal
newsletters targeting sales and management personnel. She also
writes and contributes to white papers, proposals, business plans, and
other documentation.
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Sandy's ability to deliver targeted sales literature and management reports is not limited to the software industry. Writing, editing and analysis skills are all transferable!
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Industry: Information Analysis
When writing for information analysis firms such as Gartner and EMA, InfoSpin principal analyst Sandy Sampson draws on her experience as a managing editor and computer industry analyst at McGraw-Hill's Datapro (now owned by Gartner). Sandy assumes multiple roles as writer, editor, and computer industry analyst. Often she takes the lead as editor and writer, and collaborates with analyst teams to develop on-target analysis.
Industry: Education
For online university Kaplan College, a division of the
Washington Post, InfoSpin senior editor Sandy Sampson draws on her considerable editorial expertise,
editing quizzes, tests and lessons plans for grammar, content, accuracy, and style.
In another project, Sandy provided substantive editing for a doctoral dissertation. Substantive editing includes reviewing for grammar, clarity, organization, adherence to style, and content.
Industry: Publishing
For publisher IDG Books, InfoSpin senior writer Sandy Sampson authored a For Dummies
book, which required her to learn a complex technical
topic and explain it in simple terms while adhering to the
very specific For Dummies format.
WRITING SAMPLES
Technology Writing And Analysis
Sandy Sampson authors technology reports for external publication and also for internal publication only. Her works for information analyst firms include surveys, white papers, product reports, and vendor profiles. See the subject areas about which Sandy has written detailed reports.
Contact Sandy for sample technology reports.
Business And Magazine Writing
Sandy Sampson writes for businesses and community organizations, producing newsletters, marketing collateral and other communications. See the article Wild Wild Web: Legal Exposure on the Internet for an example of Sandy's magazine writing. Other samples are available on request.
Authorship
InfoSpin Principal Sandy Sampson authored Unicenter TNG For Dummies, a 424-page technical source guide about Computer Associates International's enterprise management software. Unicenter TNG For Dummies made project editor Kyle Looper's list of the "Ten (or so) best books that I worked on." He writes:
"Author Sandy Sampson does a wonderful job of making this very difficult topic approachable. Masterful!"
See what else Hungry Minds editor Kyle Looper says:
"Sandy Sampson and Unicenter TNG For Dummies rock!! I can't decide whether this book is a weighty tome (because of its wealth of terrific
information) or just a romp (because of its light-hearted humor and approachable tone). Actually, I think that it's both! I give it five stars for
quality, and I'm not easily pleased. I'm proud to have my name in the book as one of the editors. Well done, Sandy!"
Unicenter TNG For Dummies is part of John Wiley & Son's highly acclaimed For Dummies series. The first Dummies book to be written about a CA product, Unicenter TNG For Dummies can be purchased on-line (from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders, among others) and at major bookstores.
Newsletter Clips
Short, informative articles enhance any newsletter. Most of the articles InfoSpin writes are based on custom research. Contact Sandy for samples.
Creative Writing And Commentary
Read Sandy's vision of a memorial for 9/11 victims (previously published in the Philadelphia Inquirer): Memorial.
Historical Novel
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Sandy is writing a historical novel about the legendary Jersey Devil. Tentatively titled Spirit In The Pines, Sandy anticipates publication within the next year. Contact her for more information.
Click on the thumbnail images for more detail. |
For additional writing samples and professional references, call or e-mail Sandy Sampson.
CERTIFIED MASTER WRITER
InfoSpin lead analyst Sandy Sampson is Brainbench-certified, with a Master Level certificate in Business Writing (testing at the 95th percentile of more than 9,100 test takers) and Technical Writing (99th percentile of more than 2,500 test takers).
In addition to professional certificates, Sandy holds degrees in English, computer science, and business. Her MBA focused on marketing and management information systems (MIS).
Sandy won McGraw-Hill's top award, the prestigious McGraw-Hill Award for Distinguished Achievement in New Product Development.
Sandy is active in a graduate-level writing program led by a University of Pennsylvania professor.
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Contact
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